Sounds like another shambles then. I can't say I was too impressed with Lyon-Fraser or Bullock when I saw them play but Crow often impressed me which is why I was surprised that he seemed to fall out of favour last year.

If they have been told that they need to find new clubs it sounds like they aren't going to be sent on dual registration to South Wales which is a shame for them because they are players who would actually benefit from playing there. As for the rest of the squad I just don't see what they are going to gain from playing in South Wales. For some it won't provide much benefit and will just be a massive pain in the backside having to travel down there when they can't get a first team game or a loan deal elsewhere.

Didn't our Chairman vote against the changes?

No, Leeds together with Wigan were the ring-leaders behind pushing through the changes.

Why would Wigan push through something that doesn't benefit them one little bit?

i believe there are multiple versions of event being told, wigan being for and against depending on who you speak to.

It saves them money which is what getting rid of the u20's was all about. Just stains and wire objected, but where they have both managed to find a partner club, Wigan of course hasn't, which is quite ironic really.

Going O/T slightly I know, but like you I was also impressed with Crowe and thought potentially wise he was up there with Burke and Carberry in his age group and expected him to kick on further last season. Obviously John Winder had his own ideas and for some reason, I'd be interested to hear what it was, he didn't appear willing to give him the game time to do this. In the couple of games when he did get some time on the pitch, I think it was Widnes and Warrington away, he certainly showed what he could do when given the chance.

Hopefully if/when he does go elsewhere, he doesn't come back to haunt us in the future.

Back on topic, as you say what is the point of sending players like Burke , Powell and others who now have played Super League out to Scorpions, they need at least a Championship team or better still a loan to another SL club, but I think Wigan may have missed the boat.

But if we want a team full of academy products which IFL has constantly said is the dream, then why would we jeopardise that by getting rid of the U20s? Just doesn't sound right to me.

From what I understand he got "convinced" of the proposal by Hetherington and got behind it 100%. What was Hetherington's motivation I'm not sure (but he is from Yorkshire who are stereotyped as being tight-fisted when it comes to money). Certainly Wigan and Leeds have the two biggest catchment pools from local amateur clubs at youth level so never go short for quality recruits whilst there are numerous other clubs just looking to cut costs anywhere at the moment.

I certainly don't think Wigan's development staff supported the idea (but didn't get a say) and once the realisation of how many players already contracted outside of u19s eligibility and the first team 17 panic mode set in at Wigan.

These players now caught in limbo at Wigan are the unfortunate victims. There is various criticisms about Warrington's link-up with Swinton but it does at least mean that probably six or so players are still being developed in a fulltime environment who would otherwise be lost to that level of development.

Lyon Fraser tore his hamstring in pre season just before Christmas so couldn't play until the game at South Wales. ,

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.