What is happening to them? One of, if not the strongest reserve teams in the game. It is fair enough that they have been beaten, but they have been whalloped to date.

Does anybody know the reason? Is it the likes of McShane and Watkins creating a bigger hole than anticipated, or just one of those years where the current crop isn't the best?

We have had this problem before. We tend to move a lot of players into the first team squad, which weakens the reserve squad a lot. I believe the current crop is mostly from the old 18s age group, although somebody may correct me if I'm wrong. I think there is a philosophy that they're not too worried about the results the academy/reserve side achieve, provided each crop has a few players who emerge ready for the first grade.

A lot of the guys who were down to be playing that level this year are in the first team.

It also appears that we are sending all our best players out on loan to get them used to playing first team rugby. This seems to back up the claims by Rouges (I think it's him) who claims that the reserve grade rugby in this country is $hit.

Who is out on loan from the reserves?

The attitude at Leeds is, and always has been, that the lower grades exist purely to produce players for the first team and that once those players are good enough then they'll either be in, or out on loan playing first team rugby elsewhere.

Results are an irrelevance at that level to all except the players and staff involved. Any team which celebrates winning a reserve grade championship clearly has nothing better to focus its energies on.

Except to us when we were carrying all before us at that level but not winning at the 1st team level.
My concern whenever I've watched the academy or reserve teams recently is the lack of size of our pack, where is the next generation of homegrown packmen to come from?

It is clearly down to the number of key players who have been moved up due to injuries. the likes of Allen, Watkins, Mcshane and Gibson were all regulars last season, ben Kaye gone to quins, Howie and Sheldrake contracts not renewed and gone to Hunslet, scrum half Moore loaned to Halifax, and Anselme gone to toulouse, Worrell injured etc etc. there is almost an entire side that played a lot of last season in the reserves that are not at present. even Burgess, Hall and smith made double figure appearances for them also last season. There are a large number of under 18's in the side now, and a few 16/17 year olds.
Watching the further depleted team against wigan, who fielded around 6 first teamers, including Mathers, Smith and Goulding etc, there was only ever going to be one outcome. I am sure when injuries clear, there will be a rapid improvement.

Is Ryan Gaunt getting any game time? If so, how's he getting on?

Gaz Moore got sent back from Halifax.
Always thought big things were expected of Howie / Howey?
Ratu & Broughton must be veterans of the 21's reserve grade



Brian has took best outta what is available Allen / Watkins & Mcshane.

How is Scife looking?

Is Kashley Watkins still on our books?

It was me.

Last season Sam Tomkins strolled through without ever having to stretch himself.
Leeds U18 academy were awful as were a lot of the other teams.

Wigan and Saints had a free run at both levels.

It shouldn't be like that

I love watching young kids come through but they need to be playing competitive rugby which in 80% of the games they play isn't happening.

What good does a 10 - 66 scoreline (Leeds v Wigan reserves) do either team?

Ask him yourself, i know Clarkson has

Wigans youth has done them good last 10 years hasnt it ?

Not seen him for a while.

I think he played the celtic game but thats it.

Apart from Leeds which other club has more players who have come through their academy in their first team than Wigan.

The whole competition from Superleague down is not producing the required standard, as was so well demonstrated in October / November.

St Helens at the moment. The other week against Hull KR they had 9 out of the 17 in their first team that had come through their academy ranks.

With watkins,mcshane and allan coming into the 1st team squad i think the next batch will be manning,liam brown,ambler and jodie broughton.
I would like to see ratu added to the 1st team squad and given a run out at SL level because he did well imo on boxing day and i think it's time he got a chance unless he's to go out on loan again.

This does highlight a serious gap compared to Aus. Here you may have 4/5 players moving up to senior level each year, but every club would expect to replace them at junior level PLUS replace those who are obviously not going to make it with players of potential.

howey isn't good enough for hunslet, never mind a good team

He showed stacks of potential when he first broke through our acadamy but it has been mentioned on here he suffer's from attitude!!

I know the guy personally, he didnt play against Wigan, i dont think he has played at the moment either.. good player mind, wooped it in the Brigshaw v Temple Moor games.

The Leeds v Saints fixture is just smidge of a step up from the one mentioned

Gaunt played while moore at fax, and moore chose to return not sent back. According to RL Weekly John Kear is close to signing Moore on a permanent deal for next season, so gaunt will get some game time.
Howey was one of the better forwards when he wanted to play, it was his attitude that let him down.

I would start working on Clarkson for first team long before any of those players. He has far more potential.

Still might not make it like. But his potential is certainly there.

Yeah he was in my year at school.