With not watching the reserve sides what youth players do you thinks Smith will include in the squad for next year. Is Ben Evans good enough to make the step up? Are the half backs as good or better than Gareth Obrien?- Heard a lot about Goulding junior just wondering if he will be up to his dads standard.
Personally I would like to see us produce some decent props and second rowers and wondering if there is anyone likely to step up. Opinions please.

Simon Moran's car roof and door handles better watch out, then

Gaz O'Brien does indeed look at cracking prospect, I just wonder if he'll get the opportunity now we've signed Ratchford to play alongside Myler as Briers long term successor in the half backs

Why's that?

Its no good just sticking them in because they have came threw our ranks. Correct we should be looking long term to do so but the players have to force there way in when they get the chance and then take it, not relying on them.

Mr Goulding Snr had a nice habit of dancing (with rugby boots on) on the Leeds owner's shiny Jag, and doing something inappropriate to the car door handles, about 20 years ago

This

Gotta be good enough to take the man in their positions place. if they are home grown, brilliant, if not then so be it, gotta deserve the spot

Very few players would be able to do this though. Look at Saints' woes through the first few months of the season with Foster, Makinson, Lomax and Gaskell thrown in. You have to give them time to gain experience and develop.

A player who could force his way into the Warrington 13 would already be an international quality player, you don't get that in many young players. You've got to remember that winning every game is no longer essential and it pays to blood young players.

Fair point sad one

But I believe Saints did this through necessity not choice. If they'd have had a fully fit squad all year, then they wouldn't have got as much game time.

We have rotated players for some of the games and I am sure O'Brien and Evans would have got more if not for injury

I think James Laithwaite has what it takes to make it in SL, down the track Ben Currie might too.

Still not convinced that Warrington is the best place for an aspiring young player due to the reasons mentioned above.

I've got to disagree there. You can't wait for them to magically become good enough for SL without giving them game time. While we've got the luxury of squad depth we've got to give game time to some of our youngsters to bring them on and sure some won't make the cut but we won't know until we give them the opportunity to prove it, otherwise there will be a point in the season where we suffer some serious injuries and there won't be a replacement.

On Saturday both Saints and Wigan had ten players who played in that game that have come through their respective academies.

Leeds had ten on Friday, Warrington had two.

Wire are getting there but it's not an overnight process.

Well said Rogues. Developing a decent youth system takes time & in the 3 years that John Bastian & Ben Lazonby have been in place they have started to produce players that are breaking through to the 1st team. It will take quite a few years to get to the same position as Wigan & Saints

I've said it before, giving up the youth side of things in the DVDV era and then just paying lip service to it for the next 5 years really hurt us. It will be at least another 3 years before the current work being done really pays off. Once it does though, we'll be laughing.