Bateman at Bulls looked a decent player, maybe not this season though.

Indeed. I'll bet the mother in law on him being a strong prospect for future full international honours. Looks like Tom Burgess is laying down a market too, following the departure of two of his brothers for Oz - he has something to prove, and likley will do IMO.

How refreshing, too, to see such a positive and thoroughly good, informative and interesting thread! Take a bow, everyone!

Good shout. Early signs suggest he has a very bright future in the game.

Bateman and Leeds Rhino Stevie Ward are the most exciting forwards coming through in that 16/17 year old age group imo.
At under 18 level keep an eye out for Castleford hooker Daz Clark,

I have already mentioned Wigan fullback Matty Russell who i think is the next superstar of British RL.

look out for Eloi Pelissier for the Catalans - seen him in the two friendlies - looks a quality act in the half-back area

FC have just signed 2 young lads, 1 from Scotland called Chad McGlame and a lad from Cumbria called James Newton

Watched Bradford's pre-season trials and Bateman has been amongst their top performers by some way.

At Widnes, there's a few with potential. Kelly (SR / P), Gore (S/H), Craven (Utility), Brown (W) and Lunt (HK) should all get some significant game time this season.

how has Olivier looked so far ?

Very good call. I watched him yesterday v London Scholars at Orrell and he was very impressive, quick and elusive.
I also think Liam Carberry, Danny Bridge, Jack Hughes, Greg Burke and Ryan King are showing great promise.

Jamie Murphy for Crusaders. I can't see him getting much game time ahead of Schifcofske unless he's injured but one for the future and has a couple of tries under his belt in the friendly against Widnes.

Also very excited by quite a few players at Scorpions who I expect to grow as players this coming season and hopefully make the step up.

Really exciting time in Wales. I am confident we can produce top quality players in years to come if both clubs continue to operate at their current level and keep the player pathway in place. My main worry is Crusaders but hopefully we put the turbulence of the last few years behind us and have a steady few seasons ahead.

The way I look at it is if Wales have produced top class players in rugby league over the years without a player pathway and many players actually playing it as their main sport from the off then if we now have teams both ends of the country and more players in the game than ever before then the players will be produced. It's just a matter of how long that will be. There were 4 Welsh players in the Warrington U-20 team that played Rochdale Hornets recently with one of those discovered through the Crusaders/Scorpions scouting system and player pathway. A healthy Welsh set up is not only beneficial to Wales RL but rugby league as a whole.

Current superleague champions Wrexham Crusaders have signed a promising young scrum half from local rugby union side by the name of 'Rampaging' Rhys Llanffair-Jones from Rhosddu Rhinos for a fruit shoot, 2 bags of gobstoppers and a sherbert dib dab.





Young Rhys's agent and mother Miss Ceredwyn Llanffair-Jones (19) said

“My son is very excited and appreciates the opportunity Crusaders have given him. He has always wanted to play rugby league and to do it while he is still young will be a great experience. Rhys has always loved Rugby League and has supported Bradford Rhinos since before he was born. He looks forward to being coached by Iestyn Harris as he is a very knowledgeable Welsh coach who will no doubt better his football. He has enjoyed his time with Rhosddu Rhinos over the past five years and is very grateful for their major input in his career, and without them would not have the opportunity to join the Wrexham crusaders. Over the next thirty years he hopes he can enjoy success and happiness with the Crusaders and can’t wait to meet the team and all the fans. Right. Thats what it says on the card. Was that ok butt?? Now wheres Rhys's cowing sherbert dib dab you promised him? He says he's not getting changed unless he gets it”


7 year old Rhys was heard to say 'Rugby [iLEAGUE[/i you say? I've never heard of it. Does this mean I get out of double Maths on Friday afternoons? Mammy does me Findus crispy pancakes with alphabites on Thursdays. Tidy."


Rhys's father could not be contacted as Rhys's mother doesnt know who he is.

Way to try and derail a thread. Why not crawl back under your rock.

At Saints i would look out for centre Tommy Makinson. Very good centre, was England academy captain prior to injury and hence missed out against the Aussie Schoolboys.
Lee Gaskell may also start to get a few runouts in the halves. Much depends on how the Kyle Eastmond saga turns out.
Carl Forster the young prop or second row is also very highly rated at Saints probably will get a run out later in the season.
Tom Armstong, be interesting to see how he goes on loan at Leigh this season. I reckon he will cream it in the championship.
Sean Magennis also should get more gametime and is a really talented footballer, held back due to injury.
Gareth Frodsham another young forward reputedly going out on load. Former England academy captain with a big pedigree, who has unfortunately suffered from serious injuries in recent years that have stilted his development. Still only 21 years old though.

Ive excluded the likes of Jamie Foster, Gary Wheeler, Jonny Lomax, Andrew Dixon and Matty Ashurst as they are pretty much established 1st team squad players now despite being 21 years of age or younger.

We've got a few

Nick Fozzard, Danny Orr And Ryan Hudson.

Elima has been quality.

Just what you want from a forward, his defence is brutal, he makes great metres and he never comes out of a tackle the worse one off!