Nice idea, but here is my take...
It doesn't have to be either/or. We can do both (as funds allow)
If we don't have an academy it relies on...
We can spot players that other teams are prepared to release.
We can beat "competition" to,their signature including their current club.
Bringing in players to learn Leigh's way of playing is hard. Better to develop them from young. E.g Ryan Hampshire prefers half back- but it's seen as a gamble to do that - had he been at the club since 16, it would be an option for us)
Leigh is a hotbed of talent - the academy would show young players a way to become a pro if that's what they want.
Cheers, p.

Do Leigh not have a scout? I can see your way of thinking which is logical. Just not to sure who would get second dabs on them.If the academy at lets say Wire is so good,then why are they handing out contracts to young Union wingers..

Thats a 2015 Super League Academy Accreditation..I would say the game is going backwards based on that. Hence no 2016 assessments.

Would that be the same team that carries success! Success being the key word.How do you entice players other than money,to a club in SL. Lots of bridges,communication and pathways still to built before we are a Super League club. First port of call,is staying in it.

It wasn't my advice Mr C..Look again..I was sat in Championship watching it happen.

Clubs that shouldn't have been in SL to start with.Reserve sides being abolished,community clubs feeding others.Yes the opportunity was there many years ago to build at Hilton Park but others had more interest in taking their investments back.

As you say Mr C..To build the foundations will take a number of years,not convinced the pool of youth being fed to these established academies is proof of a pathway.Or even if there is enough youth in the game to feed to them to start with.

One thing I do know,we need depth to survive in SL and we don't have it.

Yup, A, Bongser agrees. When he was a lad, he and many others dreamt of playing for their hometown club. Not so now. If Leigh stay up, do the marketing, training in local schools perhaps we can tempt them away from the PS4, X-Box or whatever and onto the playing fields of England, more specifically of Leythe.

Another factor is the silly money in Premier League football and even big bash cricket. Virtually no-one makes it there (looking at the numbers involved) but we need to get back to having kids idolize the other kids from their school that get signed up. That creates, not just potential first teamers, but more bums on seats. Double win.

How many new youngsters are joining each year Mr C..Are the figures declining?

To fair you would expect them to fall away at 15,16.Often big decisions to be made at that age.With very limited pathways to further their sporting career in RL.What age group do Super League academies start from?

RL at adult level is a declining sport , it is quite simply too physically demanding , and potentially dangerous , I told my own son , you only play RL if you are getting paid , you don't play as an amateur , if you want to play sport as an adult , play football

We don't actually need amateur adult RL , we do need junior RL

If your board agree with your suggestion your club will never achieve long term success. All the recently successful clubs have a clear development plan for their youngsters. They invest in the future because they have proved over the years that it is the best way to advance their club.

Just thinking you can pick and choose good young players from other clubs just when you want them by offering extra cash is pie in the sky. Saving £200k will not go far on players salaries.

Your suggestion is backward and blinkered.

Never heard anything as stupid as we don't need open age rl,so ur saying as soon as someone turns 20 (not good enough to play pro)they have to stop playing something they might have played since they were 6 yrs old because there's no open age rugby available,you would lose the heartbeat of most clubs because if kids are not good enough to play pro they still can have ambitions to go on to play for the 1st team or represent their country at international level

I didn't realise you had to play to drink

Women shouldn't play RL

Masters isn't RL

All IMO

Others may not agree

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Unfortunately open age RL is also a licence for nutters to commit assault without retribution , I recal Lee Hansen coming into work with his face almost ripped off after a pleasant encounter with Queens

A friend of mine recently came near to losing his job ( and his ability to walk ) after a particularly nasty tackle , this was a former pro