Played at Crigg as a junior over two spells from u10's to 14's came back and played in 16's after a short spell elsewhere, older brother also a good player in his junior days, can play half but plays his best games at loose, is a local lad and along with his Dad are WAKEFIELD supporters.

I think Chris Ackroyd has got some potential and his game management is class, needs to work on his size over the next year or so but he is a real good HB that in years to come could become a regular first teamer if he carries on his progression. He played open aged Rugby at 16 yrs old for Illingworth to get used to the physicality of the older game and he was outstanding for them. He sure will be one for the coming years.

Ackroyd is the most naturally talented half back we've had in our junior ranks since Brough. However he's a way to go yet and I can perhaps see him getting a run out in next seasons friendlies if he really comes on over this season.

However we all know it's notoriously difficult to spot them at this age, especially halfbacks. Cain Southernwood and that lad from Cumbria 2005ish looked like world beaters at U19's but neither did anything. I give Ackroyd a 20% chance of making it and for that he will need a first class attitude, luck and a far more enlightened club management - best of luck kiddo.

Was talking about him at a recent game and we couldn't think of his name, anyone help with that?
Wasn't it McNally that brought him down from Cumbria?

U 19's won at Hull tonight, 22:14, well done!

Campbell

Liam Campbell

Thats him blonde haired kid just lacked size ended up at barrow.

U19s won tonight away at City of Hull Academy

Ackroyd scored a try and controlled the game while James Batchelor scored 2 more tries taking his tally to 8 in 4 games. Hatricks against Leeds & Warrington and 2 tonight against Hull.

I don't watch anywhere near as much junior rugby as I used to, but Cain Southernwood is/was the best junior player I've ever seen.

Possibly so. But as Vasty is pointing out he's currently playing for Batley, yet at the time we all thought he was going to be
a SL Superstar!

A couple of things stopped that from happening in my opinion. Some were physical and some were choices that Southernwood made.

I've heard from many sources that his attitude stank. I don't know him so I can't confirm.

However I have some sympathy for him. Scrum halves by nature are meant to be cocky, arrogant and impulsive - that's what makes them special. I'm not saying it's always the case but it's often enough. These days we are sanatising charecters out of the game in the name of structure and frankly that's not the British mentality. It's not even in the Aussie mentality anymore, the NRL is awash with talented rougues and is all the better for it IMHO. To me the problem lays within our coaching structure. In the NRL they seem to be able to get rid of the worst of the flaws in these players and with the occasional exception they go onto be great players. Here unless they are class prefect material like Sinfield we bin them, what's wrong Coachy to much like hard work?

I think SL has forgotten that it represents the peak of ability not reliability and size, SL is the one that needs the showmen and we just don't seem able to nurture genius. Sad really, and as I say if Ackroyd doesn't have a really good attitude and inner dicipline he won't make it and even if he does he's fighting the common perception that only Australia produces playmakers.

Spot on.