... made by Phil Clarke tonight:

"it's interesting that both Watts for KR and Gledhill for Wakey both started out at the Tigers but left for some reason"

When you add Boyle et al to this growing list of young players we are letting go to play first grade at other clubs we should be very concerned.

a) out small squad could do with such additions
b) we are keeping ones such as Massey instead????
c) despite being one of the strongest SL clubs at junior level year in year out, why do we blood less than all the other clubs?

Owen and Westerman came in a few years ago now.
I'd argue we've added nothing of note since to our first grade set-up (Thompson might work out, but whereas dozens of other players are getting regular rugby at stronger clubs, we're sending him out on loan).

As to all the above - WHY?

=#FF0000 Massey. Is that why he's getting so much more game time than Boyle did


Watts. Man management, Justin Morgan must have what TM doesn't
Gledhill. How many more are we going to drop before the team does

Tell me one thing Massey has EVER done?
I don't think I've ever seen him make an impact tackle / hit the advantage line / make an off-load.

Boyle - regularly came on and lifted the side, what he lacked in size, he made up for with determination and passion.

* I honestly, really didn't want his to degenerate into a knocking Massey thread it was just one of many points I initially made.

I love it. People are quick to judge and abuse Massey based on very few appearances yet want Matterson to play the kids.....YOU'RE CONTRADICTING YOURSELVES!

Nonsense, these people are judging Watts, Boyle and Gledhill based on what they are doing on the pitch for other clubs when they should be doing it for Cas Tigers. They have all shown what they can perform to a high standard, Massey hasn't---for whatever reason.

The player development at Cas is pathetic-----end of argument. Ask yourself how many really promising kids you've seen over the past 5 years, just how many have made it in the first team at CAS TIGERS?

The set up is run by amateurs who should be kicked out

=#8000FFIt's not the people who coach the kids it's MATTERSON not giving them a chance and bringing in thug Aussie nobodies like Faumuina and cast offs from other teams like Cooper, why not play Gledhill instead of Faumuina in spells last year? why not give him a first team contract for this year? why get Cooper when there's WALKER and MASSEY already at the club!

I remember after our grand final win in 2007. Matterson said in the interview on sky after something along the lines of 'we can bring these kids through the juniors we have in our area.' Other than Westy and Owen who else have we allowed into the team for a prolonged run? There does seem to be a reluctance from the management to give our kids a go in the team. I remember the first game away to Leeds this year. Matterson talked up John Davies and how he wouldnt hesitate giving him a go. Then against Bradford (i think it was) we see Ryan Clayton picked ahead of him. Not knocking Clayton but he hardly sets our team alight..and surely having someone like Davies in the side is better for the player and his development.

There is no contradiction here, whatsoever.

I have never stated we should arbitrarily throw a load of kids in - on the contrary, in fact, I'm saying that's not an option because the talent pool has seemingly dried up - partly down to letting them go to other clubs and, ostensibly, because over the last half-decade we are not turning top academy players into first-grade standard ones.

Is Matterson not in charge of this bunch of Amateurs? Because I include him in my reckoning!!

In the past I've been all for the youth development at Cas. We've brought some good youngsters into the team in the past couple of years and admittedly, right or wrong, let some go elsewhere (Lunt, Gledhill, Watts, Boyle). However, with all the spin the club was giving at the start of the year (Davies, Thompson, Brierly etc) I was expecting to see some exciting fresh blood in a Cas shirt this season. I can't help but feel let down.

The current injury situation seems like the ideal time to be bringing in the youngsters, but instead, we seem to have gone for loan options (Ainscough over Thomson, Cooper over Davies). Now don't get me wrong, I am happy with the loan signings, they are decent players, but it makes me wonder why we have signed them when we have youth on the sidelines.

Presumably, these players are not ready in the eyes of the coach, which begs the question; why are they in the squad? I know they will develop by training with the first team, but I'm starting to wonder if some of these younger players are being put in the squad for nothing else but to tick a franchise box. Are they going to get a run out? Are they even good enough? Or is it just a case of saying "We have [ix[/i number of academy players in our first team squad and they have been in the starting 17[i y [/inumber of times (regardless of if they step foot on the pitch)".

You can scream cynic and conspiracy theorist all you want, but after my initial optimism at the start of the year, I am really starting to question the decisions of Matterson when it comes to youth development.

i think it's niaive to think they are in the squad for any other reason than to pad out the numbers and tick a few franchise boxes....oh and they're cheap. cas have no money to contribute to the squad!

I'd rather have Ainscough in our starting 17 then Thompson. No pleasing people sometimes.

Cas fans always like a good moan.

So would I.

The point I was trying to make was...why are we being told we have exciting youngsters coming through and then they don't play? It seems like it is a load of tripe being fed to the RFL to tick a franchise box, which in turn makes a mockery of the whole system. I am pretty sure, if this is what is happening, that Cas aren't the only club making their youth potential out to be more than it is.

Anyone know how long Matterson has left on his contract ?
I ask this because the bloke seems to have no youth policy and with certain players over the years no man management skills.Also some of his positional choices baffle me.
Matterson must be doing certain things right i am over the moon with the teams effort this year, but he has many faults.

End-2011.

Had a good game on Saturday imo

who

Davies, ( the one I highlighted in bold)

He had a really good defensive sting when he first came on.

ps [url=http://www.castigers.com/video-player/157Davies on Tigers TV[/url (registration required) Includes the idea of steady development of players from Steve Gill

I'm glad Davies got a decent run out. I only watched the extended highlights on Sky and didn't see much of him. Probably just how it had been cut.

nothing wrong with being a big head IF you have the talent to back it up..

and it seems this kid does