The amazing thing is on so many threads you hear people talking about players even as old as 20 who in many people's opinion need to 'wait a few years' before they become regulars. It's bizarre. In the case of Ryan Hall - who came to league late IIRC so his age is a tad misleading - a few Leeds fans have been talking about him moving to second row. Thank gawd none of them are coaches.

To me it highlights a couple of problems - one being that the quality of the games played at Academy level are simply not good enough if kids are getting into the first team with glaring deficiences. It's no surprise that a number of clubs are preferring to loan players out to NL or even other SL sides rather than have them play Academy level. I still think sending out the best of each year's batch of English lads to train and play with NRL juniors would make an enormous difference to their development.

It's also a crying shame that absolutely average overseas players who will never improve their game are in some cases keeping young English players who are probably only marginally worse out of the team. That's the main reason we absolutely have to reduce the number of overseas players.

But seriously, when you read just about any club's MB on here, it appears that a significant number of fans seriously don't believe anyone can make regular first grade until they are about 23. That's as big a crock now as it was 30 years ago.

Folou is just a freak though, he's the exception, not the rule.

Most of the players mentioned are every bit as good (or at least can be) as the majority of young Aussie kids coming through.

Folou - that big winger who can't tackle and only seems to be good at cross field kicks? yeah special



Greg Inglis on the other hand, that kid IS special.

You may even have a credible point, but oh dear, far too much negativity fo me.

Well said.

The problem you have highlighted stems from the attitude of British coaches and Chairmen. Brian Noble consistently rambles on about "duty of care" which maybe applicable to 18/19 year lads who are just finding their way but he applies it to Sam Tomkins at 20 years old who has shown the maturity to be a regular super league player. But instead the duty of care tag gets thrown about and Tim Smith who is absolute gash is his replacement.

Sean Ainscough at 19 is the same. He has his deficiences of which you speak of but then Amos Roberts at 29 who like you say is never going to improve looks just as defensively poor as Sean Ainscough. He flapped under a high kick and was caught way out of position on numerous occasions in the match. People big up the breaks he makes but this is also applicable to Sean Ainscough who can create something out of nothing. I could possibly accept Amos Roberts playing every week above Ainscough if his performances were vastly greater but they aren't. Instead Ainscough is left to rot in the reserve league not further enhancing his development at all. Wigan leave it too late with youngsters. James Graham one of the best prop forwards in the league (If not the best) made his debut at 17. Sam Tomkins has made his at 20. Richie Myler made his debut (I think) at 17 and led Salford in NL1 to promotion at just 18 and look how far he has developed.

The other issue I have highlighted and again I have to use my club - Wigan as an example is this old habit of just going to Australia plucking out Aussies and hoping they will turn our fortunes around. Why? Why can't clubs see the success of Leeds and Saints comes from faith in young players and not just "projects" from Australia or people who as LeagueFreak once put it "come to super league to die". Overseas players should only be signed when you can't fill a position with someone from your reserve league who is of super league standard or if you can't find a cheaper British alternative. But this will mean showing faith in your younger players. Wigan are now searching for a new second row forward after what has happened with Gareth Hock and the first reaction from the fans was overseas, overseas, australia and looking for candidates to replace Hock - Why? When Lee Mossop is earning the plaudits of a team higher than Wigan. When Liam Farrell (relative of Andy Farrell) is tearing apart the reserves league?

Some clubs (Sadly Wigan) never seem to learn.

Is that the one who says tatt-ull instead of tackle?

Quote ="cadoo"Some clubs (Sadly Wigan) never seem to learn.'" Fingers crossed, things are slowly changing. www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=4894 =blue [iWigan Warriors are delighted to announce that rising star, stand-off Sam Tomkins, has signed an extended contract with the Club until the end of 2014. Tomkins, 20, currently had two years left on his contract but the Warriors have moved to secure his services for a further three years meaning he is now committed to the Wigan Club for the next five years. [/i

Quote ="cadoo"Some clubs (Sadly Wigan) never seem to learn.'" Fingers crossed, things are slowly changing. www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=4894 =blue [iWigan Warriors are delighted to announce that rising star, stand-off Sam Tomkins, has signed an extended contract with the Club until the end of 2014. Tomkins, 20, currently had two years left on his contract but the Warriors have moved to secure his services for a further three years meaning he is now committed to the Wigan Club for the next five years. [/i

Quote ="MattyB"Fingers crossed, things are slowly changing. www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=4894 =blue [iWigan Warriors are delighted to announce that rising star, stand-off Sam Tomkins, has signed an extended contract with the Club until the end of 2014. Tomkins, 20, currently had two years left on his contract but the Warriors have moved to secure his services for a further three years meaning he is now committed to the Wigan Club for the next five years. [/i'" Well you have to hope. Sign Sean Ainscough down with a similar contract and I will be more convinced.

Quote ="MattyB"Fingers crossed, things are slowly changing. www.wiganwarriors.com/news_full.asp?newsid=4894 =blue [iWigan Warriors are delighted to announce that rising star, stand-off Sam Tomkins, has signed an extended contract with the Club until the end of 2014. Tomkins, 20, currently had two years left on his contract but the Warriors have moved to secure his services for a further three years meaning he is now committed to the Wigan Club for the next five years. [/i'" Well you have to hope. Sign Sean Ainscough down with a similar contract and I will be more convinced.

Is he?

Jamal Idris, he is 6foot4, about 100kgs. He recently got in trouble of his high school principal because he did an interview on school grounds when he hadn't asked for permission.


These giant youngsters are starting to become the norm.


Go through the entire NRL and there are ridiculous athletes in every team. If you think Folau is just a one off.....I have some bad news for you.

TBF all people do on here is call something from what they have heard 2nd hand. They probably havent watched any NRL since 2006 and even then it was just in Walkabout on the screen on the roof.

Idris IS a freak. Go on Google images and check out how much flab he has. He has moobs ffs.

Doesnt stop him running over every one he plays though does it. In fact the only person iv seen out play him this year is Inglis and lets face it, who doesnt Inglis out play.

He's a kid, he's still in high school!

As are you.

I'm in better shape than him and I've never played RL. He looks like one of the fat kids that gets bullied at school.

brave kid that bullies someone like him!

That the one with 'bugger me boots' and constant reference to 'laying carpets' or something daft like that. It is quality though.

There's plenty of big ba5tardsin the NRL. Doesn't mean they are great players.

Having just looked at his chest/stomach area a few times, it made me wonder...where have I seen that before....?




Then I realised:



[uClose Encounters of the 3rd Kind Alien[/u

LOL

Has he had breast reduction surgery?

has he been feeding puppies lately ?

At the start of this season Saints fans - for the most part - were pinning their hopes on Kyle Eastmond. But after some stirring displays on debut and afterward Gary Wheeler and Jonny Lomax have surged into first team reckoning. Both of these talented kids appear to have jumped a year forward (at least) of their development plans.

Wheeler looks like he'll turn into a crackerjack stand-off/centre whilst Lomax (who may be the best of the lot) is all set to challenge Welllens for the full back spot.

I feel a bit sorry for Eastmond. His season has been blighted by injury. There's no doubt he's a special player. Give him any kind of space and he's off to the races.

Interestingly, Mick Potter has singled out second row Matty Ashurst for the most praise. His ability to run at gaps has troubled a number of defences.

The thing I love about this thread is that this young kid will be in the Australian side in the next few years and he is going to slaughter England ever single time he plays against them.....and its nothing special, because England is just another crap team these days.