I didn't quite hear it properly but before Sunday's game there was an announcement along the lines that Brooksbank school had won the championship of some age group and as a result will be playing at Wembley in a curtain raiser to the Challenge Cup Final. This got me thinking about amateur/junior rugby in Halifax. Alongside Brooksbank we have Halifax college unbeaten and national champions whilst Siddal top The Conference Premier League. Not bad for a town of our size, it's just a pity this talent doesn't feed through to Fax. I sometimes wonder why we bother with a junior set up just for SL sides to swipe the best talent Halifax produces.

Brooksbank year 7 have made the challenge cup final curtain raiser on a few occasions over the last few years. My son played in the 2011 final, a major factor being that the teams are coached by Damien Ball.
Plenty of the older lads at Brooksbank over recent years have gone on to play professional rugby. Most notably Cruise Leeming, a very very promising young talent.
Not sure if Halifax RLFC even knew he existed. But with SL clubs looking at these young lads, how can Halifax possibly offer them a more attractive package??

I can assure you the club knew all about Kruise at a young age, trust me on that.

MM, that's pretty much my point. We can see these local lads, recognise their ability but cannot attract them

How do you know he wasn't on scholarship at Halifax at 14 year old ?

If he was then that just proves my point. We cannot offer to the young prospects the same as the SL teams can. I'm not looking for an argument, of anything I'm defending the club by saying we cannot offer the same as SL clubs.

Brooksbanks year 10's got to the final in 2003. The game was supposed to be the curtain raiser for that years CC final at the millennium stadium but at the last minute they had to play it next door at Cardiff arms park, the RFL told them they couldn't play at the millennium stadium as they would ruin the pitch. Ben Kavanagh now at widnes played full back for Brooksbank that day, he now plies his trade as a prop forward

I attended 3 of the schools finals watching my daughter and there are a number of the lads that played now plying their trade around SL and Championship. Really good times and plenty of good rugby.

My nephew Liam Lodge is playing this year No 8 for Brooksbank, bring it home kids your doing the area and yourselves proud!. Long may it continue.

At the time of the most recent scholarships at Halifax RLFC, it wasn't the fault of the club. The RFL pulled the rug from beneath their feet & scrapped the scholarships, the kids ( my son included ) then all became free agents for other clubs to come & pick up.

And some folks wonder why i'm pee'd off with the game in general, if only they knew of some of the rubbish that goes on. I've already been told this week by someone involved at Bradford Bulls that if/when they get relegated at the end of this season their academies will still play against the SL equivalents. We'll see if it comes to fruition, time will tell.

I can understand that. Their academy is fantastic, has produced many a team for then. The Bulls have never paid for players they can't afford to buy trophies with money they haven't got.

Oh hang on.……