Don't know why Leeds fans are getting all defensive about this. Rogues Gallery is right. Other clubs are now producing better juniors than us.

The probalem Wigan had in previous years was they'd rather let them go and replace them with an expensive overseas supposed 'star'.

Now they've realised the Leeds model for success I expect them to be at the forefront for a number of years. RL is cyclical and it could now be Wigans turn.

Thank you.
What I was trying to do was to get a reasoned response from real Leeds supporters as to why the junior sides have slipped so far quality wise over the last four or five years. I'd be very upset if it happened at Wigan.

The majority won't give you a reasoned response as they're too precious.

Leeds success in the last 6 years is from a previous batch of good quality juniors as we all know. We still have the odd one or two but the Mcguires, Burrows, Sinfields etc were a freak crop. Once these are gone what do we do?

But as has already been pointed out, you'd expect that due to the number of fans they have compared to Wigan ....

There are a lot of older Leeds fans, especially going back to the days of Winter rugby, who don't like Leeds United and going back a little further in time, when both sides broadly played at the same kick-off times, you had to make the choice between one or the other.

Like in the parish of Hull, you were either Rovers or FC, in Leeds you were either rugby or United.

The problem with wanting a reasoned post is that you've confused it in with having a pop at Leeds and previous whinges ....

As a Wigan fan i can't be bothered getting in to these childish rant about Leeds/Wigan. I was at the Wigan V Leeds Under 20's game yesterday and Leeds had a player stretchered off. Is there any news on how he is? Looked bad as the game was stopped for over 5 mins. Hope the lad is ok. Sorry don't know his name.

It was Liam Hood and he was taken off the field with a head injury. There has been no official news on how he is, but Willie Poching said that he was taken to hospital for pre-cautionary tests and naturally the club hope he will be ok.

you make a good point and rogues raises an issue, I think Leeds can still produce stars for the future from the acadamy with out winning everything. What you might see happen is Wigan/saints academy lads at a lot of sl clubs like there are Leeds lads at lots of clubs now.

Leeds will still have thd likes of bjb, mcshane, watkins, bush, bravo, chisholm
and manning coming through playing with hall, ablett, burgess and the younger kids we have signed like pitts, amor coady and ambler.

I really dont think it's a huge issue but obviously one that the club will want to keep on top of!

If you were a prospective junior player, you'd still want to think about taking a chance at Leeds ....

- If you're good enough, there's nothing to say that you won't join the first team roster at some point in the future like so many players in the current squad.

- If you don't make the grade, there's no shortage of other teams willing to take you on at both SL or NL level, when Leeds release you for whatever reason.

All good points wilko there's a few u18's that are been tipped for top through their current potential also.
There is a few who think that it's "jobs for the boys" with the likes of Cummins and Barrie Mc getting coaching jobs but i personally don't think so.
Many have spoken highly of Cummins' attributes as a Coach and Barrie Mc went through he interview process like every other candidate when Bastien followed Smith to Warrington.
The more SL teams produce young talent the better imo but just because the youth teams are losing it doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't any talent or 1st team potential amongst them.
I'm sure if there was a "crisis" within the acadamy ranks it would be sorted asap by GH.

That was certainly my experience, I grew up with friends who while they may have been interested in both, they could only really follow one in practical terms.

I followed the Loiners (through family ties initially) and in any case I didn't like the atmosphere surrounding the few Leeds United games I experienced.

As it turned out for me I love rugby and don't watch any football whatsoever, so thanks dad.

yep we have alway been an rl family but followed utd when possible! I have my grandad and dad to thank for a life of rugby league.

Whereas I agree there are some youngsters, these are as yet unproven.

It could be that BJB, Watkins, Mcshane, Bravo, Chisholm etc are a successful new crop. They could also turn out to be another set of Smith, Gibbons, Vassilokopoulos etc.

Wigans current crop are proven. Pitts, Amor, coady, Ambler dont count and in fact go against your argument as we've brought them in.

Always followed both although in the last 2/3 years i can only afford to attend the Rhinos and that's only because my season ticket is part saved up and birthday present.

How much is a LUFC season ticket these days - last time I went it was £25 per head for a match day ticket (but that was a few years ago now when they were good)?

Good points D but they are starting with plenty of "potential" ala Sinfield,Diskin,Burrow,Mcguire etc etc which shows at that level we are still showing possible 1st teamers and far from the crisis that RG implies imo.

Quote ="LS16_Rhino"How much is a LUFC season ticket these days - last time I went it was £25 per head for a match day ticket (but that was a few years ago now when they were good)?'" www.leedsunited.com/page/SeasonT ... 73,00.html Way too much imo,but papa smurf says that's what's needed to keep the club running etc.

Quote ="LS16_Rhino"How much is a LUFC season ticket these days - last time I went it was £25 per head for a match day ticket (but that was a few years ago now when they were good)?'" www.leedsunited.com/page/SeasonT ... 73,00.html Way too much imo,but papa smurf says that's what's needed to keep the club running etc.

I’m assuming for that you get twice as many games as I do with my RL season ticket, free home and away shirts and a couple of nights with a top class ‘escort’ girl.

Isn't it a couple of nights with 'our Ken' with a Rhinos season ticket.



Interested in or followed and over what time-frame?

As the Admiral points out you couldn't do both (although I suspect we're talking back in the early seventies or at least I am) where the choice of a Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock might have been Headingley or Elland Road or Central Park or Stamford Bridge.

typo

When i was younger mate my old man took me to LUFC first then i started going to watch the loiners with him about a yr or so later.
We didn't have season tickets it was when we could afford to go and which he chose we went to.
It was when we were relegated under Allan Clarke when i first started going to ER and David Ward had his testimonial Iirc when i was first going to HQ.
I missed god knows how much of both when i joined up in 91 but still managed to get to both fixtures now and again when on leave.

I dont care if we lose every game we play at that level.

As long as we are bringing through one or two players who will become first teamers most years thats fine. The players are coming through, we see it in the first team. We have brought Watkins, Burgess, Mcshane and Hall who are all now in and around the first team. Not to mention Smith, Tansey, Ratu and Gibson who are now elsewhere but have still come through the leeds academy in the last few years and BJB out on loan.

i think history shows we are doing that, and as long as we continue to do so i will be happy

And thats they key given the high attrition rate for those who rise up from the academy and do actually go on to make it big. In the early 90's, Saints junios were indifferent, but Keiron Cunningham and Steve Prescott came through. Would you have had those two, or the academy trophy?

I think RG's point though is that Leeds have tended to have very accomplished sides, which in turn increases the probability someone will come from somewhere

what have the Wigan lads proven? not a huge amount,.

and a fair few of the ones Rogues listed Hansen, Prescott, Joel Tomkins, and O'carroll are from the previous generation of young players, these are players who would have played youth rugby against Ablett, Hall and Burgess who started coming through only 2/3 years after the golden generation when naturally there was always going to be a drop off

Of the other players mentioned, Watkins is a year younger than Ainscough and had it not been for his injury and Ainscough getting richard owens gig at Cas they would be at a similar level developmentally, Farrell and Davies are getting less gametime right now than Bush and Clarkson

So not good enough for Leeds first team then. What's your point?



Why?