Have we been on another fishing trip ? Nobody said anything when the squad for the friendly went up last week, but there is a Ryan Jones listed in there. So I am wondering if it is the Leeds (or ex Leeds ) England U19 player who has jumped ship to us. He still qualifies as an U19 for 2017 so would go straight into our Academy team. Since he plays centre or wing, that would seem to fit with our future needs. And presumably he knows Morgan Smith pretty well too.

Or is there another Ryan Jones.

Lewis Hatton was in the squad as well who I think captained St Helens Academy and plays second row.

Yes looks as though you are correct. I think we have picked him up from the now defunct Salford Academy and as he will be overage next year he will slot into our Reserve squad.

I am also hearing that it is the England Academy Ryan Jones that has signed for us. If anyone is interested you can see a compilation of his recent games on YouTube. Very good signing imho.

Mr Winslade, is the reserve comp. still up & running as it doesn't seem to get a lot of publicity ? I think it is vital to the game though because the step up from under 19s to superleague it much too big.

Looks pretty handy based on those clips - fast and strong. Apparently, he was Yorkshire's fastest junior at 400 metres. Another recruit from Craig Harrison's agency and joins Ben Currie, Rhys Evans, both Kings, Pat Moran etc.

Yes, I believe so. I suspect the delay however is due to discussions on which clubs will be entering the competition and dates and venues. I think the RFL have distanced themselves from organisation as its a bit of a hot potato. Uncle Gary doesn't want it, quite a few clubs think it is very important, some clubs would like to have it but don't have the cash to support it.
Meanwhile the coaches for the Reserve and Academy sides will be swapping roles I believe, so Lee will now look after the Reserves in 2017.

And I'm in your camp when it comes to the value. We should perhaps also remember that David Thompson, Daniel Murray and Sean Kenny didn't have a club at the start of last year but were taken on by our Reserves and have now got permanent slots with other clubs. At the very least that means the youngsters have not been lost from RL.

Yes, I don't know much about this agency but they do seem to attract a lot of quality youngsters. I wonder if they have an eye for the talent or if they are just the best known agency such that it's an automatic choice ?

He does have a big personality and high profile in the game and does get some criticism in some quarters but Simon Moran seems to have a good relationship with him and we appear to benefit from that.

Have you got a link to these clips. Thanks

Quote: Smiffy27 "Have you got a link to these clips. Thanks'" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AAoSW0HQCE Black skull cap.

Quote: Smiffy27 "Have you got a link to these clips. Thanks'" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AAoSW0HQCE Black skull cap.

He's a strong runner and a good finisher, my only doubt would be his lack of size. Wingers need to be as big as forwards these days.

He's a good kid is Lewis Hatton. He won U16's player of the year at saints and U19's player and players player of the year at Salford last year.

Seems odd that St Helens would allow him to leave then.

He didn't get much game time at 19's at saints. Bit of a combination of a different coach with different opinions plus, very good senior 19's players in his position at the time such as Savellio and Luke Thompson.

Ryan Jones has signed for Doncaster (in League One).