GAME ON: Toulouse Olympique v Toronto Wolfpack. Sat 14:30:00

Quote: Him "Hirst was signed by Batley elsewhere and Walmsley played about half a season for Batley if I remember having joined from his uni side. I hardly think we can call that player development.

You are never ever going to get a network of amateur clubs spring up in places like North America without a pro club to provide the impetus. It’s never going to happen. We have to do it the other way around as soccer has done. But it’s daft to suggest that after 2.5 years a club would have a fully functioning player production system. If in 10 years time we’re still seeing no progress then yes it’s an issue. But not now. Right now the issue is why are established heartland clubs providing no players, fans or sponsors to the sport. Whatever failures Toronto have at the moment pale into insignificance compared to the massive, crippling failures that are our heartland clubs.'"

It's a debatable point what constitutes "player development". Pretty much every player that joins a professional RL club will have spent time playing previously the game either at an amateur level, or perhaps in an educational establishment. The problem for clubs below SL is that they'll always find it difficult to keep hold of young stars in the making as there'll always be the lure of SL to tempt them away.

Some clubs run reserves, and others have academy teams, both of which can help develop players. However, a lot of players will move between a number of clubs before establishing themselves, and it's probably arguable which of those clubs did most to "develop" them.

Anyway, well done to TO for their win yesterday, as well as the support they managed to get into the ground to watch it. It wasn't played at their usual 4,000 capacity stadium - did make a special push for this one - well done regardless. The Championship looks like being a belter of a competition again this year, with 8 teams looking like they'll be battling for the top 5 spots at the moment.