I think it's safe to say that any game time is valuable to the player, whether it's in Super League, League 1, or the Reserves.

I also think that it's very much dependant on the player in regards to where they are sent and if they will benefit, for example - Cory Aston linking up with the club where he's played 3 years of rugby previously and his Dad coaches. That's a perfect fit for him IMO.

It seems to me that a lot of clubs are saying “we’re in favour of a reserves comp but there aren’t enough clubs in it to make it worthwhile”. This is a very convenient argument as nobody then takes responsibility and they can all carry on as they are. Meanwhile the RFL and SL provide no leadership. The RFL say they’re disappointed. SL say nothing at all.

It’d be interesting to know why the figures quoted for running a reserves team differ so widely. From £130k quoted by Leeds to £60k quoted by Wigan and £30k quoted by Wakefield. Something’s amiss there and it appears as if the main opponents of it are inflating costs as a way of arguing against it.

Game time is massively important and many players aged around 18/19 don’t get enough of it. I agree that it very much does depend on where the player gets the game time. For some a long term loan can be a good thing.

Where I have objections is where players can be sent off to their DR club for a few weeks, have to learn new patterns of play and gel with their new teammates only to be recalled given a games or been part of a 19 man squad and then sent back out again. In some cases a player can appear for 2 or 3 different teams in a season. Some players never actually train with their DR club and just do a “captain’s run”. This way of developing players is never going ensure consistent, continuous development. Players end up feeling like they’re not valued and lose their love of the game. This happened very recently with a young player at my club. The talent pool is already small so why risk making it smaller?

I think its more of a reaction to wakefield fans over reaction and out right paranoia regarding their club and they often try to undermine every post, and then use something like this to point score and be all self righteous, see the tom Johnson debate, think people just use the stadium issue as a default reaction to Wakefield fans over reaction to everything. this thread and their chairman's outburst being one example.

I am sure most fans would love Wakefield to get the stadium they deserve, i know i would be. would like all teams to finally move there facilities out from the Victorian era.and into the 21st century.

Meanwhile back on topic....

No it's nothing to do with the topic end of, it's just the knee jerk reaction of someone who can't argue his case.

Its a response to the question, and it was not me who brought up the stadium issues in the first place.

So back on topic you have still not answered my question put to you on your suggestion for the future academy reserve team formats. can you answer that one before claiming somebody else cannot argue their case.

Nice try.

I've clearly stated what I want a full reserve competition - what part of this don't you get?

explain why you do, what do you believe the merits are. i also have stated i would prefer a reserves comp, so why are you arguing with me and making out its a Leeds v wakey thing, when its not.

Preparing to get shot down here,.. But... Is it really. Who's come through Leeds academy in the last 4 years to cement their place in the team. This is Leeds who would have their pick of World class juniors. Again I saw a post from a cas fan regarding all the players on DR. Cas have hardly brought any one through in the last few years. We've massively benefitted from Cas's generosity so certainly nothing against them.

I agree with Printer. Its not one size fits all which is exactly the reason clubs should be forced to run reserves. Loaning out to a championship club will benefit the more advanced junior players as it's a higher level. The reserves allow those not quite ready to continue playing rugby league and not been cut off the sport at 19! The argument isn't about what's better, it's about creating as many pathways as possible for junior players

Four years seems an oddly arbitrary time limit to put on things, but of the squad numbers that have been announced today, nine of the players with 1-20 (so players who are likely to get a decent level of first-team game time) are from the club's academy (and outside of that first 20, I'd expect Ashton Goulding and Cam Smith to get a good amount of game time).

For the record, I've neither the time nor inclination to compare that with other clubs, but I'd say that it's a healthy number.

Yes, the cohort of players that all came through circa 2003 hasn't been replicated, but those are very rare events that aren't unique to Leeds or RL - Manchester United are still looking for the next "Class of 1996". There's no such thing as a "conveyor belt" or "production line". However, one way that you do make those sorts of cohorts more frequent is to do one of the very things that Hetherington says in the article in which he's apparently "spouting rubbish"- take the money that you're spending on reserve teams and put it into encouraging grass-roots participation.

I'd like to see a full reserve competition again. I don't feel that DR is the answer as putting a player into a club often means that a player from the DR club has to step aside to accommodate the DR player. What does that do for his development or his confidence/esteem. Play a week miss a week play a week miss two weeks.
I agree with Michael Carter on this one and would hardly label it, as some have, as an 'outburst'. It's his opinion that's all.