What he said.

The License is already in the bag

We need momentum from results/performances next season to go into the SL era full of positivity and a belief that we'll be able to compete at that level.

Will defo be some silverware on it's to Widnes this year

Karalius Cup?

ah 2011 fax is different, home grown we have a few now that seem to have shot out of nowhere in the last 12 months.

Jones, S. Barlow, J. Barlow, Bowman, J. Haley,

its only 5 but every journey starts with the first step.

but with Fax already 1 fifth of the way to the 25k needed for the under 23's surely in 3 years time were going to be Widnes's position of being guarenteed the franchise spot.

Future's bright, futures blue and white

You could be right. I heard we are taking the Grand Final trophy everywhere we go.

It's amazing how Steve O'Connor let such a stupid club bitchslap his Super League bound pet project into oblivion last year.

Thats not fair Littlerich.......it wasnt just Halifax that did that last year, it was most sides in the league.

He does know there isnt a higher league than SL dosnt he? I just wonder if he knows they cant be promoted again by been the leagues whipping boys when they get in there.

All three Halifax fans in one place. That's got to be some sort of omen somewhere.

You're right it is a start and Fax are at least heading in the right direction. The only issue I should point out is that for a player to count as home grown they need to have spent 3 continuous years at the club before they reach 21. You can't just sign a player in his mid twenties (for example) and if he's originally from your home town then that counts as home grown. From the list you have made Jones, Sam Barlow and Josh Barlow don't count as home grown - still two is better than none. It not really about where a player comes from, it more about your clubs contribution to (young) player development.

Additionally having a strong presence of amateur rugby league in the town does not count either.

Spot on there from the last two posters, especially about the club's involvement in the actual development. The club itself will benefit in the long run (so long as it's "finds" aren't snaffled up by the SL clubs for free). It's a policy in the right direction and it is one that Widnes have taken seriously. The key for all the clubs now is to assess how many of them are converted into regular first team spots. It's no good Hull KR crowing about how many youngsters they played on Sunday (and they played well) if actually none of them make it to the regular first team squad because there's too many prefered overseas players blocking their progress. At Halifax a few year ago we had a back to back championship winning youth squad - only one of them converted in the three years at the top. At £80k a year, that's expensive. Conversion is the key and all clubs are as yet at an early stage to judge whether we're successful or not - especially when measuring ourselves against the Ockers.