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.

this happens at Donny with the Hull players taking preference

WRT other clubs I think the idea some have that Wigan promote youth so much better than others doesn’t hold up. How many forwards do they have that came through the academy in the last several years that play regularly? Only Sutton really and he’s off and in that time they’ve signed the likes of Tautai, Isa, Hamlin, Naveratte, Clubb, Flower, Bateman whose leaving and replaced by Greenwood.

When Tomkins left first time they got Bowen them when Tomkins returned they still brought in Escare and now have Hardaker, where’s the youngster getting a shot a FB? Leeds have two young academy FB’s.

The one area they’ve been really strong in is wingers with 4 over the years but even that’s only because of Manfredi’s injuries and Burgess trying NRL opening the chance for Davies and Marshall. Those two are the only players to debut during the these last few years of them running reserves who are now in Wigan’s top 20 and Marshall is probably 4th choice and will have limited games if injuries don’t hit.

Realistically, what sort of standard would a reserves league be playing to?

Taking Hull and Wakey as examples - these are, after all, the 2 SL sides who've geared up for this - what teams, out of their current rosters, would these sides put out as reserves?

a) with, say, 2 injuries to their first choice 17s
b) with 6 injuries to their 1st choice 17s
c) with 10 injuries " " " " "

Each scenario is realistic at various points of the season. I won't over-complicate by asking you to factor in injues to reserves too.

Cmon you Hull & Wakey fans, indulge us; it is the close season after all.

I will, limited though it is would be the standard being offered by DR IMHO is no better possibly worse as it has an element of just doing it to keep fit. Well you can do that just as easily playing Halifax reserves.

So although I would wish it to be stronger I still prefer it. I certainly prefer it to Heathering's ludicrous theory that Lees Academy is their reserve! Yes Gary that's worked once in 25 years and perhaps twice for Wigan who don't expouse that theory.

Fair enough, I'm neutral tbh. My main concern is a lack of players to make it work. I'm no fan of DR but for Leeds, if it ever became a choice between academy & DR and reserves, then Id want us to keep the academy every time.