No correct, but then the likes of Sinfield, Harris, Newlove, Westerman all made debuts at 16. The likes of Clark, Graham, Watkins, were all 17. There is an abundance, and not just on this side of the globe, it is the same in the much appraised NRL.

Age is not a deciding factor.

I'd flip he argument slightly and say, if a kid is ready from an ability, mental and physical perspective, age shouldn't be the only thing stopping them playing in Super League - though I think it will be very very rare someone under 18 has all this - Chev did play at 16, but he was a physical freak for his age.....

The NRL side of your argument doesn't really stack up in the modern era though.... The rules in the NRL were amended a number of years ago that prohibits an under 18 playing NRL. The Roosters had a bit of an injury crisis last year and applied for dispensation to debut Latrel Mitchell (17 years and 10 months) but got it knocked back - Mitchell is a Chev type freakish specimen for his age. The last players to debut in the NRL as under 18's were Mitchel Pearce, Wade Graham and I think Jarrod Crocker.

Quite a few backs have played SL at 16, I can't recall anyone in the last decade, I can't remember the last forward to make his debut at 16? Burgess was 17/18 IIRC, Chris Hill was 17, but started in the halevs.

Asking any kid to play in the forwards at any open age level will take it's toll, and if you look at the injury problems the majority of forwards who are brought through at a young age seem to suffer it seems to suggest that exposing them to open age rugby at such a young age may not be beneficial to them in the long term.

Yep. Not to mention the physicality of RL has increased massively in the last 10 years.

I know it's an exception but Craig Huby debuted at 16.

Scott Moore debuted at 16 for st helens, in 2004.

I've seen Cameron play a few times & he has always impressed but I do hope he lives up to the hype because lots of physically developed 16 year old lads do fail to shine when pitted against bigger, stronger men in the 19's/first team.

That's ok

The thing is though, even those 'exceptions that prove the rule' didnt become regulars at 16/17. Its not like they were first team players at that age. We are talking about 16/17 year olds who make 4/5 appearances, and dont start playing even half the games until they are 19/20.

I dont think those couple of games at a young age have all that much positive of an effect on their development.

Smith is an odd one because he is excellent physically and you wouldnt want to hold back his development, stagnating and not being tested, on the other hand he is very young and his skill development shouldnt be put on the back burner so he can prepare physically as being a first team player would necessitate. Certainly at this stage i would far rather he spend a year focussing on the ball rather than the weights.

Similarly though i dont think a challenge cup game or a couple of stints throughout the year will break him either. I dont really think it matters a huge amount either way whether he gets a few games in the next few years.

Agree with andy gilder. Leeds don't push young players to bulk up, strength work follows the work of Dr kevin Till and is essentially exercise based. There were no mose masoe or ben flower who needed tackling in the Old days. There is a duty of care of here to young players like cameron smith and a sensible need to protect your long term investment. I don't want to see cameron smith or any other 16/17 year olds in first team in the future.

I agree with you on the whole mate, but you do from time to time get generational freaks who are monsters and physically ready at 16/17.I remember when Andy Farrell broke through and he was a beast of a bloke at that age.Guess same applies to Sam Burgess who was playing for England at 18 and sitting established NZ enforcer Moi Moi on his aris with one of the best hits you will ever see!

I remember watching the Slammin' Sam programme they did whilst still over in Aus. Mentioned that at Bradford before he could make his debut he had to bench press a certain weight (might have been his own body weight) 10 times before he'd be considered for selection for the first team.

And in Wigan you just have to smash 10 pork pies down your gob and you're ready for battle

I'm fairly sure Sculthorpe scored a brace against Cas playing stand off as a 18 year old. He might even have gone to Saints as a 19 year old.

Not a great example. Nearly 20 years ago, and a player whose body was f***ed very early into his career

Sculthorpe was 19/20 when he made his debut according to wiki.

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This says different.

Biff take the point about freakish guys like sam burgess and andy Farrell, however they are very rare and sam burgess had encountered serious issues with both shoulders by the time he was 19 resulting in surgery and missing 2008 World Cup. Farrell was alright because he had a lower centre of gravity probably due to pie diet mentioned before and at 17 had a backside the size of a small car.

Look at the last guys that slotted quickly into the first team at Leeda from the academy Stevie 'brittle shoulders' Ward and Sutcliffe.