I think this is both true and somewhat misleading.

First off, an acknowledgement that our youth development has yielded disappointingly little in recent years. The criticism we received in our first few years in SL was unfair, given our standing start. However, at this point it is clear something was wrong. Whether that was a talent pool issue or a system issue, i don’t know. Probably a bit of both, I imagine.

I don’t want to come across as demeaning the achievements of St Helens, Leeds and Wigan, and that will be hard. However, those associated with those clubs like to emphasise the value of their youth development, and imo downplay the value of incumbency as top clubs and their bigger rugby budgets. The last is a more relevant measure than the cap and is a big part of the answer to the question that starts ‘if all clubs are spending the same on salaries...’ For most people it is easier to believe nice things, so there is greater focus on the building blocks of success that are considered virtuous.

We started emphasising bringing through young players in 2012, and that was when we started to go backwards on the pitch. The problem was that we were doing it as part of an effort to build a sustainable business more than to build a successful team, with predictable consequences. Jamie Peacock tried to reboot a gradualist bottom-up approach to team building in 2016. And because it was Jamie Peacock and he was saying something nice, many found it plausible - briefly.

Developing more players would help us, undoubtedly. But when I look for patronising advice, it is from the Calder area - from people associated with teams that are striving to achieve as much as they feasibly can, rather than fannying about trying to indulge somebody else’s fairytale. I know all that sounds bitter, but truly we have that right on this subject.

I think that was the idea behind the joint academy, that both Hull clubs would have the pick of the local talent but its probably taking longer than anticapated though.

Bringing the youth through is the answer but that’s easier said than done it’s no coincidence that the most successful teams Wigan Saints and Leeds have brought through loads of players and seemingly integrate a couple each season with ease although that is made easier when your a top side

It’s not a coincidence that they’re the wealthiest clubs.

I’d love us to have their academies and i’d love us to have their budgets. If it came down to a choice, then it’d be their budgets - and by a LONG distance. But it isn’t and we have neither. So the examples i’d look at would be Cas (remember when they were cack but used to get a pat on the head for bringing through Shenton, Westerman, Richard Owen, Daryl Clark, Joe Arundel and the like?) and Wakefield who were in a bigger hole a few years ago than we are now.

We all see the world and rugby league differently. While i’m not a psychopath, when I did psychometric test a while back, the examples of famous people with the same personality type as he included Vladimir Putin. It’s a curse in a couple of ways.

26-42.

It’s a defeat, it was 8 tries to 4 and we were up 12-0 early so there may have been an element of them starting slowly, so i’m not getting carried away.
However, with a pack missing four props, plus Lannon, Tomkins and Greenwood, that seems creditable imo. It’s baby steps but hopefully something to build on.

A decent effort today,plenty of effort and in the end i feel the score flattered saints.If we can show the same effort and spirit against some of the lesser teams we should be ok.

I think the score line flattered Saints we gave it a real good dig today and they got a couple of tries off us trying to force something late on the difference for me is when they brought Walmsley and Roby back on it turned the game for me

Far better effort, With players due back hopefully can do the full 80. Few need releasing though come end of the season.

I dont really like to single players out but Vaivai, he's turned into Kris Welham. We know there's a player in there, he showed us last season, but he's just gone backwards.
Better effort today which is what we needed to see, a couple of soft tries conceded again and a couple of dubious decisions again but we looked dangerous.
Now we need to back that effort up next week

Much better today and we had them rattled.Keep that level up and that should result in some wins which we desperately need. Think the score flattered Saints, not helped by the man with the whistle allowing Saints to get away with some blatant offences otherwise the score could and should have been much closer, or am I been too biased?
However a good display today, shame about the result.

Thought Oakes played well today Vai Vai for all his strength and power is lazy and never seems to do the hard work coming out like the other backs do

Happy with a lot of what we saw today, Remenbering how good a side saints are. We will cause a few upsets before the seasons over.

Yep. We aren't as bad as some portray. Quinlan and the props will shore us up.I want to see Crooks and Hall reunited but the left edge is a concern

Totally unrelated to the match but I think that it is worth a mention how much of a class act the Saints players were at full time. To be as good as they are and still so gracious and humble in victory is an absolute credit to them.

I think that they realised how outgunned Rovers were (not really a surprise) but our players earned their respect and our fanbase too for sticking with them.

Was brilliant to see.

I remember the 84-6 or was it 86-4 At home to Wigan few year ago and for all the negative reaction from oppo fans Sam Tomkins before the game and afterwards spent time on the pitch with the youngsters and was the only player from both sides to do same after the game,bearing in mind it was artic that day it was similar to Saints today. Class is being a good winner as well as a good loser.