final score 34 - 24 to giants

excellant game

Good to see Huddersfield with a decent academy side again

Shame the same can't be said for us...

Like that for few years now. This years service area teams aint meant to be too clever neither. Looks like its genuinely poor talent all round at moment.

Bring back Dean Bell

other teams have finally started investing in youth now, meaning we ain't getting all the talent from Cas etc.

You don't need a team full of talent just one or two to come through the ranks each season.

True enough.

There have been times where we've had all conquering alliance sides but not much to show for it afterwards in terms of first team regulars and ultimately the latter is all its really about.

But surely the bigger pool of talent you have the greater chance of one or two coming through - you only have to look the difference at international level between us an the Aussies to see that

Rubbish. There is loads of talent around. Its picking the right ones, and more importantly developing them correctly. Unfortunately, something we are lacking in over last couple of years.

Is that since John Bastian left?

He only left at the end of last season though.

Bastian left end of last season. We have been on a downward trend since Hallas went, and more importantly the quality set up we had with Wilkinson and Powell before it. Although continuity with Bastian might have stemmed the trend.

Hallas was only here a year wasn't he?

Yes, but he continued the structure of Wilkinson and Powell. Things have changed dramatically since that time.

What if the coaching staff are doing a better job than the previous setup but the players are just not there?

The number of quality players that we have had come through the ranks in recent years has been unbelievable and won't happen again for a long time to any club imo.

And was "only" the Senior Academy coach.

Which is what I dont agree with. I watch a lot of amateur junior games, and there is some class potential about. At least the equivalent in quantity as what they were in previous years.

It is certainly not harming Cas, Huddersfield, and more importantly Saints, who are picking up these kids and developing them well. Wait and see in a couple of years.

Your comment about the number of quality players we had not been repeated for any club is incorrect also IMO. For example, had Wigan not had Noble as coach you would see a completely different line up over there at the moment with probably more success. Something that would equal what we did with the quantity of homegrown players.

Youngsters are involved wit hthe club set up for 5 or 6 years before they hit the 1st team. How much influence can Hallas departure after 1 year have really had?

Aren't you really just knee jerking a little?

The first team is, on the whole, still relatively young. Allied to that there are several quality youngsters not yet established as first teamers but just on the fringes. Players like McShame, Jones Bishop, Allan and Watkins.

I will have to disagree with you on this one DISA, name me a wigan line up that would be as good as

Smith
Hall
Gibson
Watkins
Calderwood
McGuire
Burrow
Bailey
Diskin
Ward
JJB
Worrall??
Sinfield

Mathers
Tansey

Kaye, Golden, Fox.

I tried to pick players with a bit of first team experience at leeds

Scott Murrell, Chev Walker

Nick Scruton at prop would allow Ryan Bailey to cover second row or Danny Williams played a couple of times there. Scott Murrell has made a name for himself at the back of the pack so maybe a bench spot?

But I wasn't saying Hallas was instrumental. I said gone downhill since he left, but more importantly since Powell and Wilkinson Left.

When Hallas was brought in as Academy coach, Wilkinson was actually the head of youth development. Wilkinson left through whilst Hallas was here, and Hallas although not the same title took on a lot of Wilkinsons responsibilities. Soon after this Hallas also left to Hunslet.

We had a good set up with 1st Powell and then Wilkinson which as you say was over a longer period. The club did not plan for the eventualities we have, and nobody running youth development for a period of time was a big mistake. This then followed by Bastian also leaving, whilst in the meantime coaches have been put in place with no proven ability, and sadly appear to be lacking.

Therefore far from a knee jerk, I saw this happening 2 years ago, and have continually posted the same since.