Why do you need to go to Cas, we have those kind of players in our own youth teams - ours just don't get a game.

Unfortunately, I feel that some of you are missing the point. The club has sent some of them out on loan to lower league clubs to play whilst also training full time still, such as Jimmy Davey, Danny Cowling, Russ Spiers and Keiran Hyde. The only ones that havent been sent out, or spent any time playing first team this year are Chris Annakin, Adam Slater and Dale Morton. Adam Slater is playing every Reserves game and now Annakin and Morton are starting to feature at that level more due to the age restrictions changes. Liam Kay has played first team this year, as has Matty Wildie, and both are featuring heavily in the Reserve grade too.

Walshaw is starting to get first team opportunities when not injured, and kyle trout is also starting to play a part this season.

The real issue though regarding younger players is that, whilst its alright saying send them out to lower league clubs, there needs to be a lower league clubs who needs another player, and also they need a player that will be better than their current available players. So whilst sending them out on loan/ dual reg is the ideal situation, it is not always the most realistic of options.

To be fair to the club, if you manage to get two or even three players a year that are able and starting to make the step up to playing first grade then you will be doing well. This year so far we have seen Lucas Walshaw, Kyle Trout, Matty Wildie, Liam Kay all play a part, 3 of which I expect to see again this year at some point.

There are also some good prospects currently playing in the reserves that are part time, players such as Tom Lillycrop, Jordan Grayson, Sam Fletcher, Josh Hardcastle, Ryan Wright and Adam Gledhill which could all potentially end up going full time at some point. And then there is Sam Doherty who is playing for England at u18's level too. The reserves/ u20s are also playing really well at the moment which bodes well for the club.

My point is that the club are making steps in the right direction which is all you can ask for. It takes time to implement changes, it will be years rather than months before we see a team with Wakefield produced talent throughout the squad. Have patience and faith. It will happen.

I completely agree with you, but I have a feeling I'll be in a minority...

The club took a bit of a kicking over the last few years losing Pete Riding to Huddersfield and then Richard Tunningley to Castleford.

Youth development needs a longterm plan and losing the people that are put in place to oversee that will really cause the philosophy of the club to change.

Wakefield wrongly in my opinion held too many players back in the 18's under Kear, mainly I think with a view to ticking a few franchise boxes by picking up an Academy title rather than thinking about the correct development for the players.

The key now is that the staff overseeing development are retained and Wakefield really make the effort to retain the best Scholarship players, something they do not have a good record at doing. I appreciate you may not be able to compete in terms of money but opportunities must be made available for pathways through to first team level.

With the greatest respect it should be easier for young players to break into first team level with Trinity at the moment than it is the likes of Leeds for example.

Duel reg is also a must in my opinion, forget about winning jr trophies and start thinking about developing players ready for first team.

The ethos of the conditioning team was also in my opinion not condusive to producing first team players from within the club, I suspect under Martin Clawson this attitude will have changed significantly from what it was under Colin Sanctuary.

You are at the early stages of your development in relation to this, nearly back to square one, but it is vital that the club learn from the errors made in the past and build a strong philosophy and clear pathways to first team rugby from the grass routes.

As I understand it this is happening but it will take years now to get right, but at least you seem to be moving in the right direction in relation to this for the first time in years.

In the minority on here, but not in the real world.

I accept what you are saying to a degree and I am pleased that it is at last being viewed long term. As I have put earlier, WT have traditionally produced top class players only for other clubs to get the benefit of them once they have made the grade. If what you say comes to fruition then there will surely be less need to rely on imports many of whom disappoint!

I can live with the waiting time it takes to set up a positive youth structure, it will take time and i don't think you are in a minority. I think most know the lads in the past have struggled for various reasons.

I am also a big fan of whats been done at Cas over the years with younger players.

My one small gripe is the lack of info coming from the club with regards to the set up and the plans for the future, only a small gripe but i feel we should be making noises about this.

Especially as we are directly paying for it

Yes i suppose so, i just think the club could make more of it but i am trying to be positive.

Haven't been in an RL squad since school, so please excuse my ignorance. First thought was that isnt it better to play youngsters in our squad, as part of wider team cohesion- building process, than farm out elsewhere.
Having said that, the comment about training as full-timers whilst playing for championship sides got me thinking. When on dual reg. would they fully train with full WTW squad ( rehearsing moves, drills, etcicon_wink.gif as well as with 2nd club ? I Would have thought that would be an head-bender, unless the lads are very sharp up-top ( or indeed would that be part of process of sorting out the potential super-leaguers from nearly men?).
Would be interested in explanation from those who'be been on the inside.

All full time players train together during the week. Those on dual reg then train with their spouse club on an evening.

So if you're dual registered you get to do double training??

Agree.