played against a keiron LAcey from there, he was a good player too

Yeah, remember this. Ridiculous signing.
My eldest lad is 12 and to predict which players will make it (to the highest level) at that age would be difficult at best - if not impossible.

It's all changed now due to the academy and scholarship systems.

I agree. Just as ridiculous as signing Andy Powell.....

I remember him turning up in a limo to the presentation evening around then, he was a few years older than me and had a beard, the sign of a good amatuer player

He went to Blackbrook in a limo?

You would think so;)

However, it still goes on, clubs approaching 12 yr olds giving them the "wink".

IIRC officially there is a "window" of when clubs can make scholarship offers, and a deadline day where players with more than one offer have to make a decision. That's at 14. I know clubs have to start somewhere but still seems a bit young to me, and causes all sorts of problems with the amateur teams.

Wasn't there a rumour Wigan paid Liam Farrell 20-50k to stay at wigan at a very young age? sure i heard this about 8 years ago as another code was chasing him?

How does it even work at that age? They sign a contract and get paid to do what, be trained by the club? They don't even do service area teams anymore do they?

they can't sign for any other team and they hold training sessions depending on the age they then will join in training with the under 16's. Its not usually money its usually freebies they get paid.

First year of scholarship is U15's. They don't get paid but are registered with that professional club by the RFL. They train usually twice a week, compete potentially with the U16's set up/league. They get physio and medical, nutrition advice, education, welfare, conditioning, 1:1 coaching etc etc. Whilst still training and playing for their amateur side. And doing their GCSE's!



Not sure about when/if they get to Academy.

Before that registration when clubs give the wink (which officially they aren't allowed to do), it's just a kind of verbal thing - nothing else.

That's the one! I remember reading this article. Thanks so much everyone!