Just watched the Oldham v Hunslet final which showed a number of our players or Ex players. Amongst the players were Liam Hood, Gareth Owen, Jon Ford, George Tyson & Lewis Palfrey.
For me the one that looked the best was Liam Hood who looked a class above the rest of our players. It was good to see the comparison between Hood & Owen. I now understand why Harris has gone for Liam Hood over Gareth Owen. Hood made a lot more probing runs which produced breaks and looked very quick off the mark. Distribution was sharp too.I look forward to seeing him pull on a Salford shirt next season.
Credit to Jon ford who made an amazing high ball catch and offload to put his winger in as well as a couple of good runs.

lewis palfrey? never make a rugby player as long as he has got hole in his a**e..cant tackle? cant make a break?,,

I thought Hood was ok, but not exceptional, while Gaz Owen was disappointing. His distribution was sound, but he didn't mix up his options sufficiently.

Jon Ford had a good game and, had they won, would have been in contention with Steve Roper for MoM. Why MCB is thought to be better confuses me?

As far as Tyson is concerned, he did a decent job, though I still doubt he will be at SRD next year.

Hood is a bit raw but he's the kind of player we need really.

Liam Hood by far the best of the bunch, looking forward to seeing him next season. Nankivell - are you serious between your comparison of Jon Ford and MCB?

Nankivell......................... MCM has pace for a start
I like the look of Liam Hood, only 22 I think, with good coaching, a star of the future

Is he any relation to Robin ?

Dear me Charlie...

Fair play Charlie. Lesser people would have stopped scraping once they'd got through the bottom of the barrel.

No, not Robin. The.

Was impressed by Hood. Made a few errors but looked dangerous every time he was in possession.

I thought Tyson had a great game though. Made yards every drive and put in a good stint in defence. Him and Ford on the left was basically Oldham's only attacking threat in the second half.

You have to feel a bit sorry for Ford when jokers like Rhys Williams have been brought in on loan deals to play in front of him, and he was even overlooked for this years pre season training camp in favour of Jordan Davies, who immediately went on to leave the club.

I agree with both points, I like Tyson and have done ever since he came into the academy. He always looked like one of the ones most likely to make that step up to Super League. Jon Ford has deserved his chance also, criminal really that he hasn’t been given it yet either. Don’t forget Michael Platt was also brought back to cover the centres during an injury crisis this season. I don’t think he’s anywhere near MCB level though, he doesn’t seem to have the physical aspect about him to become a Super League centre. All that could change in a full-time environment though.

Some would argue that MCB doesn't have the physical side yet, willing too bet in the off season they have him bulking up.

I don't think the argument should be particularly which one is the best player. It is more a point of the youth development process that both players have been through. Caton Brown was trusted at SL level by London and is now regarded as one of best young prospects in the game, whilst Ford has been constantly overlooked in favour of stop gap signings, and has found himself playing in the 3rd tier, despite being in the England academy squad a couple of years ago.

What I always find amazing in these arguments is that we employee people at the club who make decisions on younger players.

They're not infallible and will miss the odd one but all in all we have a half decent record in finding and bringing through some quality younger players, the difference now is we can slowly feed them in rather than chucking them in at the deep end.

And above all when we find these good younger players we are less likely too lose them too the vultures from the bigger clubs looking too pick our bones.

If Harris is going to follow the Wigan way of doing things we stand a good change of slowly but surely getting more and more academy players involved in the team, certainly more than we would have had if Noble would have stayed in charge.

Academy lads will slip through the net. You can't promote them all.

A lot of it depends on being in the right position at the right time. If the senior squad is lacking competition in certain positions some players will have that chance, but only if a number of factors are met. Can a better player be brought in from outside of the Club? Does the Academy prospect fit into the role that the coaches require? Does the coaching staff of the Academy and senior squad rate the Academy prospect? Is the Academy prospect a short or long term answer to the senior squad? Does he have the required skill set to adapt to the way the senior squad play? Is he of the right character to make the step up? Is the player ready to make the step up?

We as fans might think we can answer those questions but those that make the actual decisions will have good reason to take or not take a youngster into the senior squad.

I can remember Hood coming on as a sub in his Leeds debut at Cas, he scored a try and looked an amazing prospect at such a young age. Seems to have gone of the radar over the years in between but this could be his big chance.