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.

what a shame there wasn't a place to offer him, I think the RFL has cocked up with messing around with the age limits

we can only wish him well over in aus and hope that he can returned a fitter stronger and faster player

Good luck Adam

Ditto. Could be the making of him.

In a few years do you think he will return? If so he'd be a great player to have back at the club.

Could be the making of a lot of them, perhaps more so that playing academy/reserve grade.

It could and i'm sure we all hope it will be, sadly it shows what a poor state the games in over here with so many youngsters going down under.


Best of luck Adam.

spoke to a lad that worked in a fitness shop that was signed with Cas and he too is have to try his luck in Aus

its all most like there's not enough clubs over here

To be fair its a cracking opportunity for these young lads and as has been said they're likely to be playing at a higher level than if they stayed put. Lets hope the club keep tabs on the youngsters they've released, as I'm sure a few could come back as better players for their experience.

Reduce Superleague to 10 as many seem to want to do and even more will be going.
Great way to expand /develop the game.
I really do despair at times.

More clubs, more places available.That seems more logical to me.
And if the so called salary cap was really enforced we would see a more even spread of players and different clubs coming to the forefront.