What was your defence like last season? If it was poor then Potter will improve it in time. As I said, we were fourth worst in the league. We got to the Grand Final, so it can't have been that bad! (Even though we lost again, obviously) So I wouldn't worry over much. It's all relative. We'd had the best defence for most of Anderson's tenure so to slip to fourth best in two seasons was disconcerting and we were all relieved when Simmons made an improvement in defence a target.

I can also remember a few sides with good junior teams that never translated into a good 1st team, recently Wakefield and Hull KR spring to mind (KR prefer to sign overseas players by the looks of it). I also remember Leeds regularly winning the old alliance league but never winning a trophy at first team level.

But it is true, is it not? Surely I find, in my experience, that the development of the players is far more important than winning the Valvoline Cup? I understand that winning it breeds success, but Warrington's academy finished below ours last year, and as long as the players are moving along at a steady rate, and the players are drip feeding into the first team doing well (as they are) then for me, I find things are progressing well.

Yes, but if they are not beating other youngsters that are coming up in other teams, then thats does show a positive side...

Indeed, but like I say, if they're coming through to the first team at a steady rate, where they can learn and progress from the likes of Langley, Lynch, Diskin etc, then they'll learn much more through that route.

There's got to be a happy medium where there is a modicum of success but with a steady progression of players from the U20 into the first team squad. Success in the VC shouldn't be a be all and end all but likewise underperformance should be looked at.

I'd be interested to understand how established the U20's are? My impression (but there are others better qualified to comment) is that the U20's have been playing together for a while at this level (maybe the wingers are new to this level?) and the pack could [ualmost[/u do a job at Super League level as only Tom Burgess doesn't have experience

I underlined almost for a reason

This raises an interesting point about youth development within Bradford, and something I thought after watching Boots n All's shameless piece on how Warrington, Castleford and Saints are shaping the future of English RL. So:

[url=http://wp.me/plxHx-3qAre we the forgotten club?[/url

I think you misrepresent that programme. Only Saints and Castleford were discussed in detail but to be fair to the Sky guys, they did say 'among others'. They really couldn't have ignored Saints when discussing young players, for two reasons: firstly, since 2007 we have topped the table when it comes to playing 'home grown' in our team, most of which have been young players (but obviously some seniors, like Wello and James Graham). Secondly, due to our horrendous injury situation last season, a whole raft of our young players were permanent fixtures (between injuries) in the first team. Castleford are in a similar situation this season. They have replaced Shenton with a young home grown, and their young hooker - Walker? - is only 19 and looks very good. Castleford have a long history of producing locally grown players though, and they always perform well in the high school comp so have quite a tradition. However, in discussing us and Castleford in depth the Sky guys did not give the impression that everyone else didn't produce young players or that their young players were unworthy of recognition. Sky would have had to have produced a two hour programme to discuss everyone's young players in as much depth, and those days are long gone unfortunately!

Cas's hookers are Milner and Clark. Clark's only 17 and looks as good as any hooker I've seen at that age.

I think I can recall Warrington being mentioned simply off the back of Rhys Evans. But yes, you are right about Cas, and definitely about Saints. Their production line is the envy of Super League, and probably one of the few SL clubs that we're behind in terms of producing genuine quality.



Without blowing my Bradford trumpet too much (is that possible?

), we were in a horrific situation re: an injury crisis last season and forced to fasttrack several of our youngsters into the first team.