I'm a big fan of the Leeds Academy, Dean Bell did an exceptional job setting it up a number of years ago and he then went on to replicate the job with Wigan.

Lots of players have graduated from the Leeds Academy not all of them into the Leeds Rhinos team but if you look around the super league clubs you'll find ex-Leeds Academy players everywhere.

Wakefield have done a pretty good job of producing some fine players themselves the likes of Jay Pitts, Gareth Ellis, Ben Westwood, Danny Brough, Keith Mason, Matt Blaymire, Steve Snitch etc etc.

What I would really like to see is for a club or clubs to start producing next-generation players, an evolutionary leap forward as far as English rugby league players are concerned. I don't expect clubs to start turning out Greg Inglis clones but I would like to see a glimpse into the future with one or two players bringing attributes like size, speed and athleticism that is a step above what we are seeing at the moment. I suspect that the Leeds rhinos might be the club that starts to do that before anyone else.

I'd like to think that little York City Knights had a little hand in the development of Danny Brough, Matt Blaymire and Jason Golden.

Oh, and Peter Fox and Ian Kirke too.

I wasn't been harsh or critical, I was just giving an opinion.

I am not disputing Watkins been the potential star. All I was saying is that he looks no further improved now than he did 2 years ago. For me that is down to lack of games at the top level. Academy rugby is absolutely no good for the kid. He needs much more games if he is going to improve. If that is not going to happen at Leeds this season then putting him out on loan to another super league side.

I know McShane had been out for a while, but again was not saying he is not capable. I made the comment that him and Ambler for me did not take the opportunity that came their way yesterday. Fringe players will only get chances by standing out in these sort of games, neither of those two IMO stood out.

I see Manning mentioned a couple of times on this thread also. Again, he did well, but for me he was completely overshadowed by Pitts who is not getting a mention. Pitts looked far more accomplished for an higher level, and you could tell he had played super league games before.

Gotcha,the fringe players will get more opportunities to make an impression during the pre-season and when the new Acadamy season kicks off and i'm also sure Watkins will get 1st team chances this year wether at leeds or short term loans elsewhere.
All things considered like i said i thought you were being a bit harsh and over-critical with yer assessments of these players.

Maybe get GH on the phone to Nobby and see if we can get some game time for the likes of Ambler and Watkins down at Celtic this year.

Which is exactly the point I was trying to drive to.

Celtic having a team of aussies is going to do nobody any good. Other super league teams should be doing a favour for them at this time. Yes they got in their own mess, but now because of player shortage they have little choice but to look overseas, unless clubs do them a favour.

Players like Ambler and Watkins, and McShane out on loan at a club like that could be so valuable to the future of Leeds.

And the futures of Crusaders and England/GB.

Thought Burgess stood up really well in the early exchanges - given the relative inexperience of those around him he was the "old man" of the front row and took the lead impressively.

Amor showed terrific leg drive in contact and put himself about off the bench, as did Manning (poorly timed challenge apart). Impressed with Liam Hood's service from dummy half, much more snap to it than McShane's.

The backs went OK, although in contrast to Gotcha I thought the right hand side with the more experienced Donald looked significantly shakier than the left where Bush and Watkins went pretty well.

Playing Webb in the halves shouldn't be considered an option - ever. Some of his decision making and passing in the second half was like watching the kids at half-time, absolutely appalling.

Stand out performance of the day was Jones-Bishop for me though by a distance. Secure in defence, strong with the ball in hand and picked some great lines in support.

Considering Wakefield put out a strong pack featuring the likes of Moore, Newton, Korkidas, Henderson and Ferguson together with arguably their first choice half-backs it was a pretty impressive if perhaps flattering result.

how did Coady play against Wakey?

I personally thought he did well and created a good try for Webb and nearly scored himself when held up short although he could of put Pitts or Donald in.
He's a big lad and looks to have plenty of potential which can only bode well for the lad and the club.

Always good to see former players doing well. It's been a massive step for him going from loughbrough uni, the dons then to leeds in the space of 12 months.
Good luck to him and well done Leeds for giving him a chance.

You must have misread my posts if you thought I said anything different. I too thought the right hand side looked shackier. I only commented that Watkins does not look to have improved on the star we saw 2 years ago, and IMO needs much more game time at senior level in order to realize the potential we all know he has.

I agree by the way with most of the things you put also. Although I repeat again, I have seen a few posts on here about Manning looking good, yet IMO Pitts completely overshadowed the kid and he does not have the same discussion.

Pitts was very good i completely agree but i think the main reason the likes of Manning,Hood and the new boys got more of a mention is because they are the new kids to come through and Pitts is already seen as a 1st team squad member.
That's the only reason i can think of.

I think someone needs to decide which way they are going with Jay Pitts - is he going to bulk up and become an out and out front rower, or is he going to retain more mobility and feature in the second row.

I'd say Manning probably gets more of a mention because he's at least a season behind Pitts in his development, given the amount of game time Jay got at Wakefield while Dane was still playing amateur rugby.

I know it's fashionable to scapegoat but I thought Donald's attitude on Boxing Day was appalling. His decision not to be bothered chasing the kick from the scrum in the last minute kind of summed his day up.

I didn't see that kind of attitude from him at all. I thought he put lots of effort in all game, including chasing back several times and stopping Wakey scoring when they'd made a break.