Looks like we have Tom Spencer and another Lad training with us at present.

Who do you feel will get the best from a season at the LSV before kicking on in SL 2014?

Rhodri Lloyd and/or Greg Burke/James Greenwood.

I am disappointed that John O'Donnell appears to have been released, as I feel he still had something to offer. This restructuring of the academy systems is stupid imo.

I would like to see Liam Carberry given a shot at Leigh.

He really impressed at hooker with the youngsters, but when asked to fit in at 13, he started to bloom.

Tackles hard, Runs hard and his skills are improving each year to a point where he starts to make plays like a 13 should.

if he gets a chance, I think he would take it well.

CD

George Hampshire - Big things are expected from all accounts, but I can't see him getting any gametime this year, Powell might struggle as it is.

Crosby - Decent potential but there are a lot of players in front of him at the moment

Burke and Carberry - Loads of second rowers at the club at the moment so I don't see these lads getting much if any gametime. We need to sort the wheat from the chaff. Also is Carberry being looked at as primarily a loose forward now? Logan Tomkins hardly set the world alight in his appearances last season and I was wondering whether Carberry was a better bet? I don't think McIlorum playing 80 minutes a game is a good idea long term.

I'd also be looking at the possibility of Super League loans for Tuson and Lloyd. Tuson needs to prove that he's worth keeping. I don't see how he got a new deal last time around, nor the amount of appearances he made. He looks like he tries hard but he just doesn't seem to have the talent. Lloyd needs a chance to make the step up and maybe push ahead of Farrell, Flower and Hughes if he's as good as people are saying.

I think we will see Murphy and Powell go out on loan to super league clubs which will do them a world of good.

I don't see any point in players being loaned out to leigh or the scorpions, it' s a lower standard than they will experience in super league.

So as for the forwards i think it would be useful to loan out tom spencer to prove his worth in keeping him at the club, it would be too risky to play him in our team and i think lloyd should also be loaned out maybe to widnes to see what he can do in super league as i dont think he is big enough in size just yet to boost our pack.

I rekon Burke and Crosby are big enough and strong enough to complement our first team so id like to see them making some appearances for the Warriors this season, Crosby will run through a brick wall at prop which shows he's keen and reminds me of a young Baz Mac, Burke has size, handling skills and footwork so if an opportunity comes in the back row im sure he would slot in just fine. Logan should also be loaned out to see what he is caplable of when playing more games at super league level, and i have to agree with grimmy if it was my choice id put carbs on the bench and see what he can do at hooker to give micky mac a breather.

But the problem is that now there is only an U19 comp with no overage players, so where are the likes of LLoyd, Crosby, Carberry, Logan, Powell, Murphy etc going to play. I don't think playing one game as sub every six weeks or so his going to help their development. I've always rated Carberry and with him being able to switch from hooker to back row he is even more of an asset, moreso imo than Logan.

The academy changes have made things really difficult for the teams who produce a lot of players, even more so now that the U23's in the Championship has been scrapped with only an U20's now being played at that level.

The U19's side will be excellent and will take care of itself, and the majority of them will still qualify at that age next year, plus this years unbeaten U16's will be stepping
up, and there are some top prospects in that side.

Ryan hampshire and george williams may get some loan time there or at south wales

I don'd think so they are both still only 18 years of age.

Seems that this will push more youngsters into SL at what coaches may feel is too young an age, and people will have different views on that. But what this will not alter is the fact that some clubs will STILL produce more young players than other clubs, and some will just sit like chicks in a nest waiting to be fed.

I'm hearing rumours that Carberry has been released.

Was he out of contract?

Could be he just didn't fancy being sent to play for South Wales Scorpions. I hear it wasn't an especially popular gig last season for those involved. Even worse this year with the additional travelling with the new teams that are involved. Can't say he's Super League quality for my money but I'm sure he could get a gig at Widnes or Salford (if they make the season) if he wanted.


Still only a rumour though.

That wouldn't surprise me. He didn't look good enough as a hooker and being moved into the back row would put him in competition with other young players like Lloyd, Burke, Lever and Connor Farrell.

Personally I prefer Carberry to Logan at hooker. Looks like Logan might be given a shot due to family connections, same as Tuscon.

Too sort this academy mess that the RFL have caused I would have liked them to introduce seven substitutes in pro game. Three (or four) should be under the age of 21 at the start of the season, and there should be no interchanges (once you're off you're off)

That would allow teams to keep hold of some of their promising players over the age 19, giving them time and experience in first team rugby.

The changes to the Academy format was not something the RFL caused it was voted through by the clubs themselves at Super League level after the idea was pushed particularly strongly by two clubs in particular with the rest bar two jumping on the bandwagon to save costs.

The changes were then rail-roaded onto the championship clubs.

Blame the RFL all you want but you know which clubs are to blame.