Was Harry Tyson Wilson the big skinhead (think number eight) who played in the academy game against us at Craven Park? If so before it descended into a Royal Rumble he seemed to be a really good young talent (not bad hands for a forward either)

Sure that was his brother, isn't HTW a halfback?

Cheers KD,

I must have mixed up my Tyson-Wilson's.

Number 8 is Bobby Tyson Wilson

As above, Bobby is the prop, Harry the stand off, him and his cousin Ryan Wilson look very good.

A lot of talent coming through, especially in the forwards, also good to have two exciting halfbacks on the books, as we haven't produced any halfbacks since Cooke/Horne.

Winger still seems a problem, who was the last top winger than we brought through our academy that came from Hull?

Are all these on Full Time contracts and with the first team now? It's an area that you really do seem to be pulling away from us in terms of getting the players through the academy.

I think both Hull clubs seem to be able to produce forwards and have done so with reasonable success. Backs seem to be a bit more scarce - my lack of knowledge of quality Hull wingers ends at Eastwood (although Briscoe and Lineham will have had some academy work done with them)

Most of them are FT, we have a select few who attend Bishop Burton FT for education and rugby.

HTW, Dean, BTW and Ryan Wilson are in in the first team squad.

Last top winger from Hull was Antony Sullivan.

I don't know if last season is an indication of FC's work on the academy or just an indictment on Hetherington/Agar regime, but the number and quality seems to be picking up.

If 2 or 3 of those are able to come through in the next year or 2 and the progress of Crooks, Lineham and Shaul can be maintained it changes the core of the squad markedly.

This is what AP is trying to do, he wants to copy the model of Leeds and Wigan.

Unfortunately that will take time and thats what a lot of fans fail to understand the previous owners lack of investment in the youth, has set us back a few years.

Agar didn't help with his reluctance to play hardly any young players, Gentle was much better and hopefully radford will continue this.

The above is the reason I am totally against the signing of the Fijian prop, when we have a couple of young props who need easing into the first team and he could potentially block their path.

The Leeds / Wigan model is the proven method of the way to go. Especially with the difficulty the Hull clubs find in attracting anyone from West of Leeds.

I find the Fijian prop rumour unusual, as from outside you seem reasonably well stocked in the pack. Mind you (after watching them) I found our PNG signings more bizarre, but I would assume players like that are cheap squad fillers - even if they may occasionally encroach on game time a junior might need.

I think its around 12 now and 17 in he new year.

Jack downs, backrower also been called up, that's 4 players from our 19's been called up to the England squad.

Potential pack for the future, all of these have played or been called up for an England team in the last 12 months.

Bowden
Parker
Tyson wilson
Turget
Downs
Logan

Wasn't the last winger to come through the academy Reece Lyne?

I think that Hull are expecting 2014 to be Ryan Wilsons breakthrough year. They have had him down at Bishop Burton doing 10 hour days and feeding him 3 times a day to try and pack some weight on ready for a go at Super League. He is a good player.