Realistically Aussie teams are not looking for players who need years of development, we will do that for them. That means that we will have Smithies and Havard until they are about 24 or even later. I seem to remember that players in The NRL generally debut later than Super League. Hopefully they can help us win something in that time.

Until the British game has a consistent reserve grade process this will only get worse, most young lads just want to play regularly.

Not sure that's true; there's a fair few teenagers on the NRL. Even front-rowers.

Does no one think that one reason we generally get the best academy players is because they know its a good route to the NRL?

but in general hes right, compared to SL

What often amazes me about The NRL is the number of returnees. I would have bet the house in Soliola being finished, having seen his last season in SL, but there he is still doing big minutes in NRL.

Corey Thompson! Just as good in the NRL as he was in SL.