Mike Cooper
Matty Blythe
Lee Mitchell
Tyrone McCarthy
Kevin Penny

Alex Thompson
Rhys Evans
Rhys Williams
Alex Hurst

Who do you see being the next Academy player to establish themselves?

Arguably, you could discount Cooper as a potential seeing as he would have to step up to cover the departure of Rauhihi (same goes for Riley).

I have separated them into two categories; semi-experienced and non-experienced. I can't see the likes of Adam Neal being there, purely due to numbers.

So who do you expect to cement themselves as a member of the squad/team?

As you say i think Cooper already has..

I can see Tyrone McCarthy establishing himself the fact he made the bench for the C.Cup final says a lot..

And i still believe in Kevin Penny and as long as he believes in himself (which i think he does) and ignores the fans who are out to get him he'll get there..

Mitchell = not good enough for a first team spot, sorry.
Thompson, evans and williams will all make it. Blythe will be a quality player if he sorts out his attitude. Basically, all our young players will improve under smith and i, for one, am very excited.

Alex Thompson, Rhys Williams and Lee Mitchell will make the first grade in 1 or 2 years, i aint seen much of Rhys Evans or Alex Hurst so wont comment on those two.....McCarthy will get a fair number of games this year and will have the chance to prove himself...... Blythe, Cooper and Penny may as well go work at Woolston tip.

I dont agree. I think Mitchell is one of the better prospects and has shown more moments of class than blythe (Leeds at home 2008 comes to mind). This is the season for blythe to push for a squad place, if he doesnt i think his playing career will be elsewhere.

Thompson is going to be a really good player, even in his debut against Harlequins RL last game of the season he scored a try and set up lee briers' try.

Cooper is already a first team player and doesnt really need to prove himself as much as the rest. Penny given the chance and confidence will be a quailty player, just has'nt happened for him recently so don't really agree with you LWF

Tony Smith clearly has confidence and belief in McCarthy hence the substitute appearence in the CC Final.

We'll do very well if more than one or two are automatic choices for the first 17. Leeds are freakish with the numbers who have made their first choice 17. Ben Harrison has done really well to establish himself as first choice; I wonder if Riley has also done so. McCarthy and Cooper are the obvious other two who might well make it - is Cooper already number 4 prop? I can't see Blythe or Mitchell making it to that level, but you never know.

cooper..woolston tip are you serious man....talking out your mate

Well he did say Riley would never make it as a Super League player.

All depends on how badly they get booed if they make a mistake

This is a make or break year for both Blythe and Mitchell, it all makes for a lot of competition though.

I have not been as positive about our future since about 1986-1991. I would trust no man more than Smith in nurturing our talent.

It's going to take something special from them (or a major injury crisis) for Mitchell or Blythe to play more than bit parts this year....

Centres ahead of Blythe - Bridge, King, Atkins and probably VAnderson...

Back rowers ahead of them both - 2 x Andersons, Harrison, Westwood, Solomona, McCarthy, Grix, Clarke....

Good point, might be worth them being loaned out to Widnes or Leigh then.

In fact, only five or six of this eight - 2 x Andersons, Harrison, Westwood, Solomona, McCarthy, Grix, Clarke - will play each week.

Explain..?

LWF merely wishes to express his desire that the aforementioned come work alongside him such that he can get free season tickets

Always difficult to predict at this stage. The one this that is certain is that we will have injuries and someone will step up, maybe even out of position. Its all about taking you chance in much the same way as McCarthy did in 2009.

I hope they all make good progress it will give us some real depth beyond a first choice 17.

I remember everyone knocking Chris Riley a while back but not now, I myself am guilty of this I used to wish Henry Faifili would get the next plane out, he seemed lazy, but a season later he definatly shone, and look at monas and king who would of thought it. I still hope for Penny imo he has a lot of potential.

But with regards to who will make it Tyrone needs to spend less time in the garage, it's so bloody obvious something is goin on between Molly and Kev jeeez man.

Cooper has it in buckets, just needs to keep his focus on the field. Mitchell can do it, he just needs to have few good games get some confidence in him and he will be right as rain. Blythe I'm unsure, he really needs to prove it. Some games last year he really soft and not at the races (Wigan Away). Thompson looks good, although we already have enough quality in that area at the moment.

Normally I'd just laugh at rubbish like this but I know that you are an ardent supporter of the Academy and watch these players week-in/week-out. Even to the extent of going all the way to Wakefield just to watch the Academy play.



By the way when is Sinfield signing being announced?

At the risk of being shot down in flames, I still believe that Penny will be a star.

He already is a star, just has a few flaws. Very few players haven't. I think most opposition fans would love him in their squad if they got the chance. Saints forum recently had a thread on the very subject. He can do things no other winger in SL can do. I would love to see him consolidate a first team wing position by the end of this season. He can do it.

What needs to be explained, just watch them play and you'll see there not fit to lace boot nevermind play rugby..... Most fans would like Penny in the squad, your joking right the guys a liabillity and is only star in his own head.

Regarding both Penny and Cooper, I would much rather trust Tony Smith's judgement than yours.