Firstly, can I say thanks for such a polite reply.

We are closing two full age groups next year. Are you telling me all these individuals would have been released ( as they are not seen to have the ability) if the new RFL changes had not been introduced ?

I said specifically in my post that I was not clear whether we would be allowed to retain players outside the 25 + two age groups.

The information you provided on contracted players is very helpful. It's just a pity that you seem incapable of passing it on without being abusive.

It stands to reason players may be cut prematurely as less playing places are available. It puts a lot of pressure on the young players to make an immediate impression.

I've heard Wakefield have signed him on loan.

No he's gone. According to Goulding snr 'a number of clubs interested and RU'. Wakefield deal not signed yet but he's talking a lot about how good Agar's been.

I'd rather we got shut of him and brought in Broughton from Salford

The only problem with the move on the Under 21s is that it was always going to cause clubs across the board to slash players in the caught in the wrong age bracket in one go. However, a number of coaches have said in the past that U21s is simply not a good enough standard for those players on the verge of first team. If that's the case its far better for them to get open age experience.

It also forces clubs to make decisions on who to keep, and not just stockpile a bunch of 20 year olds in the hope they somehow get better, probably to the detriment of their development.

Its always sad to see players not make it - every year on the Leeds board there are similar hand-wringing threads about why Player X has been reeased when they looked so good in U21s. As with somebody's comments on Wire youngsters released, I can't think of a single player who has been let go in that manner by Leeds who has gone on to be anything more than an average SL player at best - most barely make Championship standard.

I know this sort of topic has been done to death elsewhere, but apart from the odd prop, I can't think of any genuine star player of the last 30 years across all the clubs who hadn't played a fair amount of first team rugby before they hit 20.

To paraphrase a blog written by Phil Clarke, all the experts within the field that he has spoken to regarding the new academy system agree it is bad for the sport. Daryl Powell, Mark Aston, John Kear and Mike Rush have all voiced strong views against it. I am inclined to believe their word over some of the posters suggesting it is just business as usual.

Am I correct in recalling Andrew Dixon (Saints) and Kallum Watkins (leeds) are both ex Warrignton lads ?

Dixon went to school in Warrington, but Kallum is a Mancunian. I am pretty sure neither featured in our academy set up.

I thought Kallum was from Latchford ?

Which is technically Warrington, but without laws or a civilised system of government !


Only joking

You have probably alienated 10% of the board with that, but since I am from Padgate, what the hell !

You could be right about Kallum, I don't know. It's quite a long time away now.

not sure about dixon but watkins never played for wolves


correct
kallum was originally in the salford academy but he moved to the rhinos when he was 16,he made his first team debut when he was only 17 if i remember correctly

You are kidding yourself if you believe that. Watkins played for Latchford Albion and played wing/full back for Warrington's service area teams for a few years. Know a few lads who played with him for both clubs. He is from the Manchester area, but I'm fairly certain he went to Leeds from Warrington.

I thought Dixon came from Dock Green

that just made me burst out laughing !

Didn't know he had played for the service area, but thought Leeds bought him from oldham or Salford ? Not exactly sure though, my memory is pretty poor.

Dixon is from Warrington and went to St Gregs, was always a Saints fan though.

Kallum Watkins played in the same Latchford Albion team as Joe Mellor.
As far as I'm aware, neither had signed for any other professional club before signing for Leeds and Wigan respectively.

After definitely establishing that Dixon and Watkins are from somewhere in GB and play rugby, why are we discussing them anyway ?

Is Ben Hellewell a free agent now then? I thought he was good when he was with us. Has he not come on as expected?

No (signed for Featherstone) and No.

Kallum Watkins did play for Latchford but was determined to sign for Leeds (is his family from there, despite him being born in Manchester?), so he wasn't a case of one that got away or one that was released in error.

Quote ="Roddy B"You are kidding yourself if you believe that. Watkins played for Latchford Albion and played wing/full back for Warrington's service area teams for a few years. Know a few lads who played with him for both clubs. He is from the Manchester area, but I'm fairly certain he went to Leeds from Warrington.'" you were right that kallum did in fact play for latchford albion,but you were incorrect in your assumption that he moved to the rhinos from warrington as he came via salford as i stated,i do believe this now clarifies this matter once and for all www.therhinos.co.uk/rugby/player ... ef=dynamic

Quote ="Roddy B"You are kidding yourself if you believe that. Watkins played for Latchford Albion and played wing/full back for Warrington's service area teams for a few years. Know a few lads who played with him for both clubs. He is from the Manchester area, but I'm fairly certain he went to Leeds from Warrington.'" you were right that kallum did in fact play for latchford albion,but you were incorrect in your assumption that he moved to the rhinos from warrington as he came via salford as i stated,i do believe this now clarifies this matter once and for all www.therhinos.co.uk/rugby/player ... ef=dynamic

Quote ="Jonesy's a Legend"you were right that kallum did in fact play for latchford albion,but you were incorrect in your assumption that he moved to the rhinos from warrington as he came via salford as i stated,i do believe this now clarifies this matter once and for all www.therhinos.co.uk/rugby/player ... ef=dynamic'" I don't think he ever played academy for Salford. In the link you give it states 2007 as his first academy season with Leeds when he would have been 16/17 so I can't see him playing academy for Salford prior to that. It may have been Salford service area teams (but again I seem to recall him playing for Warrington service area but can't be sure on that) as I think he hails from Cadishead. He was a regular at Wilderspool with his dad to watch our academy teams when his elder brother Cash was playing. Perhaps some are getting mixed up with his brother.

Quote ="Jonesy's a Legend"you were right that kallum did in fact play for latchford albion,but you were incorrect in your assumption that he moved to the rhinos from warrington as he came via salford as i stated,i do believe this now clarifies this matter once and for all www.therhinos.co.uk/rugby/player ... ef=dynamic'" I don't think he ever played academy for Salford. In the link you give it states 2007 as his first academy season with Leeds when he would have been 16/17 so I can't see him playing academy for Salford prior to that. It may have been Salford service area teams (but again I seem to recall him playing for Warrington service area but can't be sure on that) as I think he hails from Cadishead. He was a regular at Wilderspool with his dad to watch our academy teams when his elder brother Cash was playing. Perhaps some are getting mixed up with his brother.

Sheesh give Kallum Watkins a break, we all made mistakes at that age. He is still young and has got time to get a career with Warrington in the future and maybe win some Challenge Cups at Wembley so lets not write him off yet.