From FC's perspective, if we keep making finals then the money from that will easily pay for a Hull FC-only academy set up. Rovers always seemed to struggle with a focus on youth development so unless you return to SL and make a strong commitment (finances permitting) then I'd imagine it would revert back to how it was.

Neither Hull or Rovers can afford or are prepared to fund their own competitive junior set up. The RFL pay 50% of the costs of COHA whilst Hudge and Pearson personally split the the other 50% equally between them. It comes direct from their pockets, not the Clubs coffers.
It is actually a very well funded and resourced set up, though at the minute I think the players are seen very much as guinea pigs.

For those who want to see an end to the merger, I suggest they get used to it because I believe contracts have been exchanged with the RFL to extend the partnership till the end of 2022 at the earliest.

Perhaps Hull just need to be smarter and stop Rovers signing the best players!


With regards the latest crop of Scholars. I believe that COH have now been back into the community game and made some more offers to different kids. Whilst these lads may be unfancied currently, and the best players have gone to Cas, it doesn't mean follow that they will still be the best at 16/19/23. Let's hope these new lads make the most of their opportunity and we are watching them in our first teams in years to come.

Seconded.

I have no idea if this is true, but with such a clearly biased coach at COHA one certain thing young players won't get is fair, impartial advice. This is where the whole thing falls down and dishonest intrigue has never caused Hudgell much discomfort. Like the failed Sirius experiment where a couple of dobbin cuckoos wormed their way in to shaft everything. The ambulance chaser will never let up in his attempts to sabotage Hull and the chance to act as a parasite on the cheap is manna from heaven to him.

The only way a combined academy could ever possibly work would be to have a complete outsider in charge and that's not likely to happen.

To be a bit more positive, two very good wins this weekend for both the 16's and 19's.

The 19's have finished 3rd and have been on great form which a big part played from the Hull players (despite what Rovers fans keep saying there have all the best players).

16's beat Wigan away and would have beat Saints as well a couple of weeks ago(was winning easily until they had a man sent off).

I was at the 16's game at Wigan. Wigan were probably the better team but Hull were much bigger and that told in the end as Hull scored two tries in the last four minutes to win the game. What I don't know is the age of the Hull team, but Wigan were an U15 side not U16's.

A good summing of the relative merits DGM.

5 x u16 from the team I saw.

On this occasion he does have good knowledge

Apart from the new 10k compensation rule

For those that watch COHA and the reserves, hows Cameron Scott gone for you? Probably went under the radar in our recent meltdown, but he was one of a a fair few crown jewels in our academy. Was one of the most sought after 16 year olds that we managed to keep hold of...before obvious events

Has all the attributes to be a special player so interesting to see how he develops with you