All 3 have not been released because they were given new contracts before the start of last season that last until the end of this season. I know 1 of the players contracts gave the club an option to sign him full time after 2 yrs which says to me that someone at the club, ie their coaches at the time Darren Fletcher / Pete Williams thought they had potential. So they obviously weren't seen as 'bit part players'

The way to see if that potential could be realised was by giving them decent game time, this of course didnt happen last season, with the new coach playing the same players every week, with these lads getting 10 mins off the bench or not being picked at all. Considering that 1 of them played in SOL's testimonial and was up against Cudjoe for an hour and kept him out of the game, was a surprise.

All of them did get several games with South Wales, all doing very well, 1 even getting MOM in a game.

Apparently they have now been told they need to find new clubs, I emphasise 'they' meaning to do it themselves.

Thanks to the SL Chairman, including our very own, they are now in limbo. It will be very hard for them to find a new club to take them on, especially without any help from Wigan as most clubs will have their squads sorted out. I could see clubs agreeing to take them on loan, but Wigan wouldn't want that as it would leave them still having to pay their wages

Leeds also have the advantage of being able to place players at their kick and clap club.

I thought Hetherington's motivation was the fact that he believes it is obvious as to whether a player is SL standard by the time they are 18/19. So there is no point in keeping these players to age 20 and above. I am certain he is quoted on this, but I can not find the reference at the moment. With a large pool of young players available to Leeds, he is probably not bothered even if he is wrong (Chris Hill anyone ?).

But to be fair for every Chris Hill there are probably 50 or more players who have come through the Superleague academy systems who are now playing lower division amatuer or not even playing at all.

As you know I have been one of those most against the changes this year.

That is a fair point. But remember, the RFL's own data show that for every intake of U16,s , only two will become SL players. So it is difficult to predict who will, and who will not 'make it'. Yes, there are stand out players of an early age, who everyone will agree are going to be stars of the future, but I am not sure about the rest. Could you with any certainty pick out who will, and will not succeed from the current Wigan U18's ?

Either way, getting rid of the U20 (overage) class was a horrendous cock up. There is nowhere to play the 1st team squad members as well as the over 19's. It has set Championship chairmen against one another, caused a furore within their supporters, created an awful lot of ill will towards the SL clubs, and seriously eroded the value of the Championship.

Some players are still growing at 19 and 20.