But w!g@n, Leeds & Saints all have access to a quality academy competition, we don't. They all receive large sums of money from the RFL, Sky, Sponsors and fans so they can buy up any young player who even shows the slightest hint of talent, we don't. Obviously they are the clubs you want to emulate and what you want to be doing but to suggest that where we are at the moment we can do anything comparable to their academy setups is daft.

As far as I am aware, Leigh are not permitted to run an Academy or Scholarship program and have not been for some time now.

Exactly.If clubs have the option to opt in/out when they please,how can there be structure.

So you congratulate them for winning a weak league two seasons on trot , then pull out cos it's gonna be stoner c,mon

I'm not doubting what has been achieved,I'm doubting the structure around it.You could end up with only 4 reserve teams next season,what benefit is that to anyone.

Whatever your club enters and wins the team should be congratulated on, then evaluate its benefits if in doubt

You seem to name the top 4 in SL as your answer.Do you not think SL for Leigh would carry a similar response..Would it not be in the interest of East to see Leigh in top flight?

Why do you think I'm a Wigan fan?

Why do you think I have a son? (Might have one in Mexico but that's another story)

Winding people up, I'm giving opinion...... if I'm winding you up, don't read it hahaha

It seems Huddersfield are not running reserves as well Keith.

How many East or Miners players are in the SL 17's week in week out? Manfredi, Moore, - anyone else?

How can a championship club attract the best kids? The best kids will migrate to the best facilities, the best clubs, the best opportunities and the best career path - that will not be Championship.

so virtually no leigh lads in SL then

Anyone know were the youngsters are going?

in the key age groups of 13/14/15 there seems little Leigh elite presence, hardly a shock when the local schools barely play the game these days.
Wigan/Saints/Wire have over 120 players on their u16 academy squads. They will always suck in the best as long as we are in the championship

Can you clarify what you mean in that?

Hes obviously missed the current intake of under 14s lads from Leigh on various SL clubs scholarship programs plus regular links with the pro clubs for those players who havent, to ensure they dont slip through any nets.

I am not fully sure of the numbers but there is a good quantity of Leigh lads also on the u15s/u16s pro club programs as well

Wigan have Kibula on there books who has also represented England, Josh Woods who has just played and won a grand final with the Wigan lower grade teams, I also know Lee Hansons lads are doing well for themselves.

Thankfully the game isnt limited to the local schools and East & Miners are doing the town proud in providing a lot of lads to clubs, pity the Centurions don't want them as i am sure if you asked most of the lads a good %tage would love to play for there home town pro club

Its the same with Fax, how do we attract the good young players from the area when you have SL scouts and teams like Hudds and recently Bradford on your doorstep. There must be 10 Fax lads alone in the Huddersfield squad and then when you factor in all the ones at Warrington, Salford, Bradford etc its easy to see the area does produce the talent but the only way they end up back at Fax is when they are deemed not good enough for their SL teams like Ambler, Saltonstall, Fairbank etc etc.