i would say that the biggest majority learn their trade with their amateure sides but it can only help their development playing for the school side.

for example at cas high yr7 they had over 50 kids apply for the schools rugby side this year.they were eventually put into two squads of 20 basically a first and second team, the first team is made up of 10 cas panthers players 8 from lock lane 1 from townville and 1 who has never played before,needless to say despite some indifferent performances they have never looked like losing a game and are getting better has a team by the game,the B team have only 3 players that play for cas panthers and 1 from locklane and the rest arnt at any club they have yet to get close to winning a game and are shipping in points galore.it certainly proves that playing club rugby helps although i wouldnt say you should right anyone off.

Steve Booth there a blast from the past, Steve started at Travs BTW with my Brother moved to Oulton later i believe and is another Airedaler

As as been mentioned Alan Hunte played at Eastmoor and Brian McDermott as well, I played there with Jimmy Leatham & Kieran Allen.

I meant Eastmoor High (as it was) rather than the club.
I know Jim well. Good lad.

Brian was at St. Thomas a Beckett

Alan went to Eastmoor High - I can't imagine that he didn't play for them.

D'oh!

Ryan aka Rocky has the best attitude I have ever seen in a young player. Will go far if he continues like he currently is.

Exactly John. Stays off the sauce and is completely in to his rugby league. Only person I've seen with that same attitude was Jamie Langley, if the bulls hadn't changed his game and used him as a battering ram and tackling machine then I'm pretty certain he could have made the England 13 jumper his own.

dont think for one minute that wakefield didnt try to get ryan. Ryan made his own mind up that he wanted to go to wigan and not even speak to any other clubs. i recieved several calls from the club and even had a meeting with jimmy regarding ryan. Since he went to wigan he has been well looked after, coached well and he has been moved in with a family. even though he had made his mind to go to wigan, wakefield rang me with a massive offer no other player got anywhere or club offered.

Dont think im speaking out of turn here but the club has set aside money for junior development and its now a case of winning the kids over and regaining the trust of the public. wakefield will now in the next few years put structures in place to sign top youngsters and eventually faze the overseas players out.

Things are looking up at the club, its up to the coaches and youth development to deliver and im sure you could see many more come from the wakefield area.

Not sure about the best but defo know the worse, Hemsworth High. If you wanted to play another sport than football you were knackard. Proper lame.

Good to hear and might shut up a few of the moaners on here who expected it all to happen overnight. People need to get back to reality and realise we can't just suddenly go out and attract the best youngsters and also keep all the best ones we currently have. It's a progression thing. What we should be looking at this season is developing the lads we have and this is where the likes of southern ali Morrison smith etc come in, they've all got bags of experience and can help the young guys out both on and off the pitch. When word gets round that at wakey as a youngster you are well looked after and are actively encouraged to interact with the 'stars' of the side then that is when we will be able to attract more of the right calibre of player to the club. We cant be doing that bad at the moment with being able to sign the likes of leering and Anderson to the academy and things in my opinion will only get better