To be fair,players were presented with awards at the presentation night.Yes I do agree that the HT ceremony was poor for the fans to witness.

As someone has alluded to how could he be guaranteed first team action.
Play him before Ali,Kirmond,Mariano,Washbrook or even Trout and Walshaw?
The problem is that their is no A team any more.
There youngsters gained real experience playing alongside and against both players of around their age and seasoned pros returning from injury.
It gave coaching staff the opportunity to have a real good look at them and then bring them in gradually as injuries ocurred or outstanding performances merited a first team chance.
Unfortuneately under the present system players are not willing to hang around not playing.
But on the other hand the same happened to Goulding Jnr at Warrington and who knows we may have unearthed a gem for ourserlves.
It is not easy to run a tight ship and maybe the money is going towards that extra prop many are baying for.

EI REY I fully agree (we also had a prop). It's ok publicising the signings of WILL and James but along with such as Sam Doherty and especially the very impressive Ben Shulver what is to be dobe with them now the pathways have been closed. Don't forget our club was one of those who voted for the present debacle. Do the origional principles of the 1873 scheme still exists in answer to Jacques no we haven't.

What makes you feel I was suggesting anyone needed to be dropped for him. I was only stating that it's a shame to be losing another young local product who from what I have seen and in my opinion and others after reading other posts, Adam could have developed into a very useful and dependable player for Wakefield when through the season possible injuries, suspensions and illness may arise

Will be interesting to see where his next move is after a year or 2 in Oz. A few ex Wakefield youngsters have gone out that way this year as have many others from other clubs.

I would expect most will come back much like George Griffin has done and continue with their Super League careers. They are going out for the life experience and a crack at getting noticed to move to the best comp in the world. Most will not make it and of those that don't a small percentage will settle but most will come back still young enough to make an impact.

I personally am in favour of the current systems as the Academy method and 20s method (the latter if which was treated as a joke by most clubs) was failing to produce top class players from top class prospects.

National League sides are starting to accept their role as feeder teams, and those that go to Oz will also hopefully develop into better players in better systems.

The frustration symbol followed my last line, meaning I personally find it frustrating to see Wakefield losing local young talent again

Evening Post says Slater in squad for Boxing day.
That seems rather pointless if he is on his way out January.
But who knows?

Agree with you more or less - the theory is fine. However I think you give SL Coaches and Chairman far to much credit. They are the problem with their short sighted policies and nauseating love of all things Australian - I just don't see them making it work and if anything I see more second string Aussies filling the gaps. Very sad.

Where Slater is concerned if and it's an if that he returns to the UK he will undoubtedly be a better player for it. Should we monitor his progress we should get first dibs - however should an Aussie player from the Dubbo Dingbats 2nd 13 become available at the same time I'm sure we'll take him instead of giving Slater another chance

If the competitions these younger players go to are of a higher standard than the old academy structure then this will work well, and those that do go to Oz if it works out will i'm sure have a life shaping experience.
I know one lad who went, and was back in no time at all, he couldn't get work, the brits weren't popular in the smaller clubs etc.
Wether this boils down to money saving or not, i guess we will never really know as the meritocracy of the old system hadn't really had long enough to prove itself, although i personaly think we are no further down the road to improvement than we were before.
"Journeymen Brits" going to ply their trade in Oz has a certain irony to it though, and who knows if we can send enough and flood their system and stagnate their own RL supremacy we may have unexpectedly stumbled on a way of reducing the gap.
As with other posters suggestions i hope the clubs are keeping an eye on these youngsters where ever they go, near or far - and keep them in mind ewhen a spot opens up and not just bring in a half crap aussie who cant get an NRL gig.

I think kinley you are being a bit disrespectful, how can you call lads of 20 years of age journeymen brits. From whats been relayed back to me their getting top class coaching and training much better than most of then have had. I can assure you the aussie teams in the queensland cup comp are super proffessional , the coaches are mainly young and up and coming ex nrl players or men who have come through nrl systems and flooded with players wanting to play for them and any british lad who gets a contract you can bet hes earned it.

You're right i was, i was trying to be ironic!!!

his dad took the assistant coach at Dewsbury, so I thought he would be playing there this year. However Rich got a promotion at work so stepped down from the Dewsbury role. Talking to Adam in the pub a few weeks ago he was really happy with the club and coaching at Wakefield and couldn't wait for the new season

Well the source on the forum a few weeks ago was right. Slater been released from Wakefield & off to Australia to play for Burleigh Bears for a year.

Shame, I thought he held his own on Boxing Day. As far as I am aware and from when I have seen him play, like Trout he isn't naturally a prop but when put there on Boxing Day he looked strong when taking it in and defended well. Good luck to him in Australia, the Qld cup looks a strong competition so should benefit him in his career.