I happened to be plonked in front of the TV tonight and watched a very entertaining 20-20 draw in the Batley vs Gateshead match on Sky

Couldn't help noticing that two of Batley's team were ex-Bulls academy players George Flanagan and Paul Mennel

I didn't think Flanagan was anything special, and his poor goalkicking ended up costing Batley the win. But I thought Mennel was decent, and the commentators obviously rated him as something of a star of Batley's good start to the season.

It got me wondering why he never even got a sniff at the Bulls. And seeing as we are so light in the half backs, why wasn't he kept on as a backup to Deacon?

He wanted more than he was worth and batlet offered him it and first team rugby..if stayed at bulls would still be in academy so he decided to go.

There was 3 players Nathan Armitage is ex-Bradford.

George Flannigan has been one of Batleys better performers since he arrived. Certainly knows his way to the try line from acting half. And provides plenty of go forward. Kicking was difficult last night due to the swirling winds up at the Mount.

Mennel has been improving and again bieng one of the better performers of late. But doesnt seem to keep it up for the full 80.

Mennell was, by definition, "decent", in order to have been playing in our Academy in the first place.

The question every club has to answer for each Academy product is whether, at the relevant time, they are able to step up to SL, and if there is a reasonable slot to step into.

It is no condemnation of Mennell, or any Academy product, that he is plying his trade elsewhere, it clearly doesn't mean we thought he was crap, and it is just as simple as this, some you keep, some you don't.

Some learn their trade elsewhere and then come back bigger faster and better for the experience. You never know.

Wasn't Mennell up for the NL Young Player Of The Year award last year?

but here's the thing, there's a very large gap between NL and SL. just look at salford and celtic this year

Was also playing along side Francis Maloney. Which helped him get up to speed of National leagues.

Are those the same Salford and Celtic that before last Week were one point behind us and one point in front of us?