Unlike that time when we had licensing and we dissolved much of the youth leagues...

when all clubs had academies, the number of overseas players went down and the number of british players went up?

Reputation , for being essentially the biggest but certainly the most famous RL club in the country if not the World

So all things will not be equal

I've seen it so many times , the tap room snobbery of a Dad , bragging to all and sundry that his lad was at Wigan Scholarship , despite the fact there were 20odd others within his age group and Wigan were only supposed to have 10

I wouldn't call "investment" and "working harder" clever sounding words.

Bradford have done all the above in the last few years and are seeing the benefits slowly but surely. Like I said, we're in our third year in the championship, have £250k central funding but have some of the most exciting juniors in the game. If we can do that and fight off Warrington, Leeds Huddersfield etc for these lads signatures, then other why can't other clubs like you suggest?

Again , explain how you ' Work harder ' in schools to improve junior players to sign for your Scholarship than somebody else's ?

You are reaping the benefits of your success 10-12-15 years ago , remain where you are for another ten and you'll probably abolish your academy , you just won't be getting the raw material to work with

This is Salfords position now

Ok , try ' Engage and creating a culture and pathway ' ?

Awesome, lets ring Wigan and tell them to stop trying to recruit talent, as it will come to them instead.

It is strange though. Your theory doesn't fit into the actual results of the academy, especially given the timing around success and a man called Ian Lenagan coming in and putting the emphasis on a certain part of the club.

Aren't you paying attention ? , just how many potential SL players are actually at the junior clubs , so if one club is taking 20 kids a year into their Scholarship ( WHEN RFL RULES DICTATE ONLY 10 ARE ALLOWED ) the rest don't have much to choose from

Read the similar thread on Totalrl to see what happens to amateur teams when Pro clubs pillage them of their best

Yes yes yes, and all those only want to be at Wigan because we are famous. So you have said. Might as well fold the first team as well then, for exactly the same reason.

No worries , you've no answers so leave it there

On the contrary my friend, you are unable to hear anyones voice over your own grumblings. Wigan have an unfair advantage because of their 'brand', but Warrington have been one of, if not the biggest threat to them in the u19 league over the past decade. Warrington certainly do not benefit from a strong 'brand'. Have you ever seen the wire win the league? Have you ... love.

If Wigan are stealing all the talent from all over the shot, why do we not see these coming into the first team? McIllorum and Hampshire are not Wigan lads, but they are the exception, rather than the rule.

Please do me just one favour. Never work for someone who isn't the market leader, because in your eyes, what is the point. Lets just get a monopoly in every industry and be done with it.

What's your evidence to support that viewpoint?

Are you saying those 16 and 19 year olds are joining the Bulls now do so because we were successful when they were 9 years old or 6 years old or successful when they were in nappies?



The Bulls first team has gone downhill in the past 10 years. We've been in admin twice. Yet despite that we have a "good" academy (better than many SL sides) and an outstanding "embed the pathway" scheme with community clubs.

This is done while having less money than all the SL clubs too.

Think kids choose the Bulls because they have a genuine pathway from community club to national side if they're good enough.

Now this I disagree with.
I am one of the strongest supporters of having a strong academy, but the rules as they are currently written do not mandate that you have an academy.

Any and every club has the right to choose how they run their own club. As previously mentioned, why would Salford bother when they can pick up Wigan, St Helens and Warrington youths or fringe players because those clubs cannot afford to keep them.

It might not be a strategy you like, just like I don't, but it is their right to do what they wish within the rules.

You can hardly blame Salford for starting all this, all clubs were complicit in the destruction of the youth grades. Thats when the ball started rolling, this is merely a symptom of the leadership of the sport not supporting youth, and restricting the top clubs ability to hang onto what they produce.

Genuinely, credit should be given to Bulls for their academy structures & success.