Had my thinking head on last night and was wondering what would come of next season. I can hear you saying, "this season isn't over yet". But was wondering more about the fringe players.

Starting with Hood, Watson, Chisolm and Vickery. I expect these to leave at the end of the season. The first 3 should have had a bit of game time at least by now. Not at all the same time obviously, but with Brain Macs rotation policy (which is non existent) I think these guys have been given a raw deal so far. I am open to suggestion and could change my mind if things change but I doubt the 3 mentioned will get a look in now. I think Vickery will probably go home rather than stop to play in the Championship (if any one wants him).

That takes me on to the U19s. I expect Briscoe (who is so average), Foster and Mcavoy to stay in the first team squad next year as they are still quite young and Sunley, Sutcliffe and a-another will join them from this YTS advanced apprenticship thingy - maybe they will go to Hunslet dual reg to mature. Sutcliffe and Foster might get a glimmer of a look in for a game, but about the same chances as Hood, Watson and Chisolm have had IMO.

I believe many of our U19s are coming of age this year i.e. most have to leave as they are too old - so it's good night Vienna for you guys and thanks for services rendered. Where does that leave the likes of Duckworth etc? Championship sides will be full of older fringe players from the 2013 season and also the new fringe players from 2014 dual reg so the only place for these guys is Championship 1 or lower.

Finally I don't see the Rhinos changing much in the next 5 years, maybe Sutcliffe being groomed for McGuire as cover but the writing isn't very pretty for the young guns coming through. If anyone says these are the best since the Burrow/Mcguire academy days, it maybe the case, but aren't the U19s playing 16, 17, 18 & 19 year olds each week where as Rhinos is a team of predominantly 19 years olds? I haven't seen the games this year but just going by what I have heard on this forum. I did like the U20s because it allowed SL players to play too - I remember when Leeds U20s played Wigan U20s and they had Pat Richards, Charnley, Dudson, Gelling, L Tompkins, etc. Shame you don't see that now.

Anyway just my thoughts.

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This is Doug Laughton's fault. He started the cult of youth among some Leeds fans with Cummins, Holroyd et al.

I very much doubt Hood and Watson will be going anywhere. They'll be loaned out at the most. Vickery doesn't cut it really and what with us being linked to Dixon then he'll be off (probably to Wakey)

Cant see anyone in SL being interested in taking Vickey.Championship at best if he stays in UK or back to OZ.

Ooooh, a random speculation thread.

Ace.

I have total faith in Gary's squad/ retained list each season afterall his record is far better than every other clubs equivalent during the super league era is it not?

I got as far as "Had my thinking head on last night and..."

Is the rest of it more moaning about not filling the first team with academy players, or should I invest my time in reading it?

No don't invest any time reading it. I would prefer people like you not to waste your time. Bet if I put Ryan Hall or Zak in the heading you would have been all over it like a rash.

Should I read it too? Or is it boring and filled with idle speculation about fringe players for no apparent reason?
Is Ryan or Zak in it? If they're not then I'm not reading it.

Liar. Bet you did read it

You make some good points, but you're only leaving yourself open to abuse from the sychophantic-holier-than-thou-McDermott-and-the-club-always-know-best contingent.

I do it to wind up the hard liners. You know the type; those that think we have a team of 20 players.

and so fixated on Ryan Hall, Zak and Peacock they don't even know who is who in the academy.

Anyway as it happens this original post wasn't about flooding the team with academy players. It was a question of where do they go next year as there is no place for them. I even think many will struggle to get into the Championship as it will be awash with SL fringe players and next years dual reg.

I thought this thread was a welcome change to the bile that some people put on here. Something constructive for a change.

We can always talk about golf on a rugby forum if we run out of topics!

Given the clubs recent history and that I've been fortunate to coach a good number of Leeds 19s and many at other clubs, I'll accept that tag

Not sure I've actually posted on a thread with Hall or Hardaker in the title in recent times...

By "people like me" I assume you're just being blatantly racist.

Also worth considering whether what you interpret as only being interested in 20 players is actually just me not wailing and gnashing my teeth if there aren't loads of 19 year olds playing every week.

When we actually stop producing young players for the first team I'll worry.

For the record, I see the same number of academy games as nantwichexile...

I don't know your creed, colour or gender so can assure you I wasn't being racist. But if I offended you I apologise.

only part of it

Just kidding innit.

I hate Creed though. Nasty pop-rock rubbish. Bit like Nickelback. *shudder*

Burrow will be at Leeds next season according to Brian Mc.

I know I am bias and love to whip up a storm. But it is about time they offered Watson a decent contract.

A hat trick for Hunslet on Sunday, no mean feat in a rubbish side I can tell you. Especially if they don't give you the ball.

Should have had a chance on the wing by now, what more does he have to do?

Probably most of what he has to do is be patient and take his chances when they come up. I question how helpful it is to bring these kids in for odd games if they have a planned development route that travels via Hunslet. It would make more sense to bring them into the fold when there might be a consistent spell in the side available to them. He'll be learning about being a full time pro in a senior side, he'll be developing physically. I don't understand the rush.

As with Stevie Ward, if he's as good as he looks like he could be, he might well be in the first team at Leeds 7,8,9 even 10 years from now. No hurry, let's get the development right.

Hall's wing spot looks pretty safe now. I'd see the other being more open to competition. That should be Watson's target, but probably next year. Good year at Hunslet, good pre-season, grab chance and put pressure on.

I'd guess Vickery is here because the club thought some of the young, exciting outside backs we have would gain more from consistent game time at Hunslet than sporadic appearances in the first team. Time will tell whether they're right. But while (contrary to your assertions earlier) I am not a believer that everything the club and coach do is right, or that the status quo must never change, I can see the argument for the approach the club are taking and am inclined to think they're deciding from a position of greater knowledge and experience than I am, and while I don't know what your background is, I'd guess probably you as well.

I fully respect your opinion, and unlike nantwichexile you appear to actually see these kids play much more than I do, I just don't personally agree with your philosophy on this stuff.

Cool - good points being made there.

Just don't want him becoming another Daniel Smith? Especially as its now Watson is doing the business.

I had a conversation with Gary H and he said to me at the beginning of the year, his words; "Watson has a chance and could make it". Guess we will not know if you don't extend him.

Some big calls to be made W55ARE I've seen most of the u19's games this year and like Watson and Keinhorst there's some potential future stars in that batch that are gonna be off contract and i personally rate them as highly as the team that Mcguire ,Burrow ,Mather ,Bailey et al all played for.
Off the top of my head we must retain Sunley ,Sutcliffe ,Baldwinson ,Minns ,Handley ,Tonks ,Minchella ,Briscoe and Mcavoy at the very least.
Then there's Mulhern ,Harper ,Duckworth and Foster who imo could also have good futures the team is that good .
In terms of Wingers Watson ,Sunley ,Handley or Duckworh should get a go there and give Watkins his RC spot back imo.

Accomodating this crop will be harder than it was to bring in the McGuire, Burrow, Diskin et al cohort though.

They were brought in during an injury crisis to a team that had, frankly done not much and was promising to do ever less as the Murray team reached the end of its shelf life.

This lot are graduating the academy at a time when the club have won 6 of the last 9 titles, whose beter players have a year or 2 left at least and already contains young stars in a number of key positions (Hall, BJB, Hardaker, Watkins, Clarkson, Ward etc).

We can't afford to lose them, but it's going to be a bloody tough balancing act to keep them happy without dismantling the current squad too quickly. I don't envy the club that job one bit.

It'd actually be interesting to see if any of them could get a year's loan next year at a SL club, or even the NRL. Whatever (I know, nothing, rhetorical question) came of the Souths link-up.

At the end of 2014 season the succession plan for McGuire, Burrow, Sinfield etc will be much more pressing, and it'd be fantastic to have players with a year's top-level experience behind them to step in....