We have seen last year, that buying players who are the wrong side of 30 gets you know were. Looking at the latest signings all the players seem to be early 20s which is what you need.

Get the academy set up, promote from within & get some decent signings when needed, I think that's the way forward.

It is but you do need a decent mix of experience with the youth

If your not experienced come 25/26 it's time to give up.

Ffs do one lol

We had Tommy Makinson ,Burguess from Wigan on our academy but when the big club come they go aka Chris hill too
So having a reserve side is great but the best get picked off

Then maybe academy/reserve rules need to be amended so the main club supporting their developement get first dibs.

Agreed. I'm sure we will see some experience added to the squad, but preferably not as much as in 2017!

Cheers mate

Doubt the rules will change unfortunately

the reserve / academy side cost about £90.000 to run .would imagine a minimum of £5.00 per match to watch, we used to charge 2.00 and most people complained,that's if they didn't sneak in without payment. To have stewards would put the expense up. LSV have to abide with rules so is really out of reach ( unless its some sort of knockout game)

quick run down on cost

Doctor £250. per match
Food for officials and both set of Players £100 per match
Kit and training kit unknown possibly sponsors required
coach for away game £5oo to £700 per match depending on where game is played
any wages for players unknown depends on status of players
physio unknown depends on who is available

doctor , food , physio , RFL rules compulsary
getting sponsors for kit could possibly work but needs lots of hard work selling the academy to businesses

this is only from my experience with under 18's under 21's and reserve team over the years
hope to god they are resurrerected in the near future as i FEEL THEY ARE NEEDED IN RUGBY LEAGUE for the future at all divisions

Won't most of that be in the budget

It should be if the club decides to run with reserves and/or Academy. It's the funding of that budget that would be the issue - i.e. who will stump up the cash?

thats extra to last years I did say sponsorship which obviously does not affect budget

Very expensive as figures suggest but rewards could or should be great

Academy is currently running...(play stains next week) reserves prep is on track for 2018