Might not have any option soon. The whole Academy system is under RFL/SL review. Some SL teams will lose their Academy license in favour of some Championship teams keeping theirs.

Thats my take on it. If we’d never seen Bowes and didn’t know at all what he could do it would make sense but we have and in the games he got last year he didn’t look out of place. A full pre-season under his belt i struggle to see why he wouldn’t be able to cope with half an hour spelling Woody. The experience would be invaluable.

Same goes with Brad Walker, unless he’s injured then i don’t get why he isn’t getting a go at stand off, he looked pretty good there last year. Even recall Conner Bailey from his loan for a while, he can always go back later down the line. Max is obviously available as he’s in the squad so he’d stay at fullback rather than moving him to squeeze in somebody else’s young player. I find it incredibly frustrating but they are here now so good luck to them.

Brad Walker I get, he's 22 baffles me too. But Bowes is still a kid in playing in the most physically demanding position on the field. It really is not the time, not in that position.

Bowes got a shot last year like a few others because there was no relegation, there is now. It was a risk we could take then.

I hope we can bring more Saints players on loan, put it this way if you selected our 1 to 13 to play against Saints 14 to 26 then the bookies would give us a start. As others have intermated we can have absolutely no room at all for emotion and sentimentality. We are staring down the barrel of relegation, we are in a battle for the very survival of the club. Those posters suggesting that there is nothing to worry about as Leigh are nailed on to finish bottom are kidding themselves, Leigh will be up for it when they play us and they could beat us twice, they could be playing one of the Cup semi final or final teams the week before a final and get an unexpected win. This season the difference in quality between Leigh and us compared to the rest is massive. Just look at the quality in the Hudds squad if you really want to worry yourself. We are desperate for a Hooker, I have not seen Josh play but if he is 23 and still on Saints books then he will be a decent player. He will be a better player than Bowes is now and that is the only thing that matters. Now is the time to get serious and simply do whatever it takes, not one single ounce of energy should be wasted worrying about how a junior player feels. We need to win some matches nothing else matters.

Agree with others who take a positive view on this . Bowes may well be one for the future , but this lad should be way more mature and experienced,
Imagine if Bowes was shoved straight in and proved not able to quite cope the very same ones who say play the young uns would be on his back and shatter his confidence,

This

Well said.