To be fair to Salford, it's a difficult place to get kids involved. Wigan is a big rugby town, (and to a lesser extent so is Widnes) and all the kids play at school, and know about the club, and it's ingrained in society.

In Manchester and Salford, rugby league is tiny in comparison to football. Most kids around here (south Manchester) know absolutely nothing about rugby. In Salford they may be slightly more aware, but still football is king.

Good luck to Salford anyway. Hope Feka can make a big impact, and if Stephen Wild gets back to his best that will be a great signing.

'tis true. I'm from Stretford and only got into league in a big way in around 2006 - I didn't have a clue about it other than having heard of the likes of Martin Offiah and Robbie/Henry Paul when I was very young - I would only be able to name Saints and Wigan as teams who played the sport. When I tell everyone I watch rugby league, it often results in a puzzled look on the face of the person I'm talking with.

There's a Cas fan who posts on these forums who has got kids playing it in Stretford High School so hopefully the game can start to be a bit more widespread over into Manchester.

Looking forward to seeing Feka play next year. He always seems to play well against us, hopefully will do the business for us now instead.

Sidlow came from Widnes. Adamson, however, did come through our youth system. We also had Turner come through the academy who is obviously at Hull now.

As I've said previously, we're losing experienced players at the end of this season and they need to be replaced with players at with a level of similar experience. Simply promoting players from the academy alongside our already fairly young squad would be suicide.

Echoing what 'talulah' has already said, it's a lot easier for the likes of Wigan, Leeds, Saints etc to attract youngsters, given the fact that they're bigger clubs with more success. I'd also hazard a guess that the difference in size of the pool of local players to choose from with these clubs is monumental when comparing to Salford due to the difference in popularity of the game and participation levels in the areas. Obviously it's something that needs to be rectified but it's difficult to compare the two because it's hardly a level playing field.

I don't have a problem with it, I mean look at some of the young British talent your producing, its impressive.

Sidlow is from Widness yeah, but Sneyd and Spencer get a game every now and then, to be fair we've got some decent players in the reserves but McCrea doesn't seem to choose them unless he definitely has to.

Totally fair comment but it's exactly why Salford's Super League status should be considered. It's not as though Salford are a new club in an area that has never had a Rugby League presence.

Sidlow did sign from Widnes, but is a Wiganer - he's from Whelley

Tbf Salford do produce players but they get signed by other teams eg. Myler.

Oh dear.

Frightening isn't it?

and Coley

Oh dear, oh dear

Salford signed Myler from Widnes and Coley from Swinton.