He is 25 soon to be 26 in two days time! 'Would make it' should read 'Should have already made it'.

Suprised vastman how people see things differently, one and a half games showed me molloy wont make it ,against hemel i gave him the benifit, against catalan he was in my opinion hopeless agar bringing hiom off so quick saved him more embarassment,doint know what contract hes on but theres a lad playing for titans u20s and getting rave reviews and if you know owt about aussie rugby youd know its not a long way from first grade who the clubdidnt think was worth developing thats adam gledhill im pretty sure thatl be one player thatl come back to bite us .talking about gareth ellis as a colt at wakefield he just made the team up, just shows that some players develop late if given the chance

Not sure, but I think he was taken off because he was injured (again), wasn't he?

Seems to be a lot of sense in that argument, al, although you'd know the details far better than me.

What I think it misses is the fact that when you compare our game to the game in Aus, you're not dealing with a national game here. Far from it. There are too many other sports to attract young lads at the age when they could be developing the skills they'll need for a future in top grade rugby league. The money and prestige that union offers is a big problem. You won't be a national hero by winning the RL world cup for England with a last minute try against Australia, but kick a drop goal against them in a similar comp in union, and the sky's the limit. Household name, money galore, commemorative postage stamps... Where's the incentive for young lads to pursue a career in RL at that age? Too many other attractions, and more lucrative attractions at that.

Our club probably should have done more, though. Glad the hear that things are changing, although it may take quite a few years before we see the benefit of that.

Sadly for both of you that doesn't matter much.

Richard and myself remain unsure.

We'll see I suppose.

TBF I was talking the last 25 years - I think in the last 5 years I have seen a far better attitude from young British players.

However there does seem to be a development void many seem to fall into between 19 and 22ish where unlike there Aussie counterparts they stop developing and even go backwards on occasion. I think when you are over 20 you do have do accept some responsibility for your development and it can't all be down to the clubs.

You will know more about this than me so I'll take your word that the club failed. However it contradicts the argument of others that for example that Anakin wasn't getting a run because he was acting the goat, then over the close season he pulled himself together and hey presto first team regular. That sounds a lot like the players fault and not the club so you can see why folk like me are a touch confused.

like many others ive seen chris annekin on a regular basis since he played u18s, his game is no different now than it was then ,tough uncomproimising never a backward step, this is where el reys point comes in, the right training ,mentoring and respect gives them the confidence to push on, chris was on his way out of theclub on loan,but lets give mr agar some credit ,he saw a glimpse in the pre season friendly at donny what us who have followed our academies had always seen in chris the same player now playing with confidence ,very few young players come ready made its how youtreat them andwhat you do with them that counts.

The impression I get is that the change in Annekin is not in his on-field performances, it's in his attitude off the pitch. There are well documented examples of that kicking around if you search for them. Agar proved with his treatment of Amor earlier in the season that he won't accept that (even if it is to the detriment of the performance).
From what I hear Annekin has changed that around and is now knuckling down and proving he deserves his run in the team, not just by his performances on-field (as we know we would have got that whenever he was brought in) but with his attitude off it.

I am not an idiot El Rey and have been involved in the game a long time.
I know that players need mentoring, guidance etc etc etc as do people in any profession.
But there are those who do not have that little bit extra to be a real success.
My son is a perfect example and I know he would be the first to admit it.
He played League and Union for Yorkshire schools and League for Yorkshire BARLA, but despite all the guidance from myself and many excellent coaches he was not able to make the step up to professional RL
I am retired now and I can tell you that in my Profession there were those who despite all the help ,advice, mentoring given to them were never going to be more than average.
Occasionally people came along with that little bit extra, took advice etc. willingly and forged ahead.
You cannot put in what is not there.

Have we actually signed this guy or what? Still nothing been confirmed. Lilycrop had a no nonsense style and we were very hasty to let him go 2.

Yes he does and no we didn't.

I'll have a £5 bet to charity with you that he never plays NRL or SL and will most likely play bush or championship Rugby.

Have to say you never fail to amaze me. You called every forward we signed a few years ago a midget (wrongly). Lillycrop who actually is a bit to small you got right, I'd leave it there.

I know we have strayed off the TT thread but at the end of the day, all fans want to see is success at their club and in the main, they don't get too stressed with nationalities of players, I am a fan. It's just my preference for a majority of UK based players at my club plus a few marquee players.
I understand the points from Vastman and Jacques, and cream will always rise to the top, however, as things have improved on the player pathway in the last few years, more improvement may lead to double cream and we may end up with other Super League clubs sniffing around our players so we make money of transfers etc.
However, I am a realist. I know full well that this will never happen as clubs will always chase the dream and the RFL will not impose regulations that are water tight.
Collis, T.Smith, Poore, Aiton, Mellors, Lauititi, = 46% of starting line up =overseas players.
Add TT and that makes 54%.
Mask it any way you like, that is high.

I think right now we have the right balance between established quality imports, english players and creating opportunities for youngsters from the academy to progress through to the first team. I've no idea how good Taulima Tauti is, but irrespective, i'd expect one import to leave for him to sign. We must allow the likes of Trout, Walshaw, Annakin, Cowling, Wildie etc opportunities. Granted they may not take these but there must be the chance to play 4-5 games a season.

I want to see a succesful Trinity side, but i want to see local talent flourish and players to progress from academy to represent our first team. It's no coincidence that sides who go onto win trophies do so on the back of sides with a large representation of players from their academies.

I'd expect Mellars to be on his way out and has Big Ali got another season left in his old bones?