Yer right there Derek

though it does make me sleepy early evenings.

Leigh is a hot bed of talent, always has been & im sure most would want the chance to play at leigh given the opportunity . You cant just keep bringing players on the downside of their careers & expect to get anywhere

What has happened to the glass half full? Have you spilt it?

Surely the link with the college and the work the club are doing with local clubs will bear fruition?

so you want to do it on the cheap .

Whether it's worth it or not, we have to find a way of backing up our first team squad, to cater for injuries and suspensions - as this season has proved, so far.

Yes we do , but is a substandard quality academy the answer ?

As long as this structure remains we like other clubs will use short term loans in and out , and then strengthen at the sharp end imo

Fully understand your argument Steve, & the issues over funding an Academy, which will almost certainly be 'second rate'. 'Borrowing' Young SL squad players from other clubs may be the best option, as long as there is a degree of security in it for us.

Well, I'm gonna agree with starbug.

The current system is heavily biased to Leeds and Wigan. Please feel free to name any other team that brings through as many young players...(hull maybe)

They Hoover up the talent, and they pay less for it, simply because these youngsters and their parents have dreams of them playing for the big boys. Warrington tried for years to out pay the big boys but even they had mixed results.

That said, a 2nd team of some description is certainly required, but for me needs be an open age reserves. That way we can pick off some of those kids who Leeds and Wigan don't want/need.

If it makes anyone feel any better the club are already in talks with a local club to pick up their unwanted youngsters...

14 team SL,shut the door for another decade.Lets crack on.

That's a terrible way to do things & will be a downfall

Justify your post..

Most if not all professional teams relies on a youth policy .. is that justified? .. or do you want to pounce again

I'm not talking about others, I'm talking about Leigh.Others have had the luxury of financial stability for 10 years and still using youngsters from other clubs.

Stability first would help to support any youth project. As I've said in another post.14 SL teams close the door for a
decade you'll have an academy.

you obviously no naff all about sport and development. How long you been watching rugby

Played for 10 years, been watching 43 years. You?

Well if you want franchising enjoy looking from the outside- because we wouldn't get a ticket.
Funny how we wanted promotion/relegation when we were in the champ

20 years playing not a lot watching my 20 years involves a grand final win and two Wembley finals. Not interested in watching the game now . I do know how the development system works though and you don't do you.

Just because we don't get first pick, doesn't mean its not worth having a youth system.

We don't get first pick when going for first team players, should we scrap the first team as well?

Just because a player excels at one level and is thought to be the best - if we have good coaches then the coaches' skills will be the missing ingredient to make the player better.

What is the point of running an academy ?

To produce players capable of competing at whatever level you are playing

So we need to develop whatever players we can find after our local ( and not so local ) competitors have taken their pick ( this is at scholarship level , so 11/12 year olds ) , to the point where they can step in and perform to the same level as our existing squad

If by chance we do manage to do that , and they start to impress , we then stand a good chance of losing them to our bigger rivals

How many players realistically come through the British junior system every year and then go on to play SL for their full ( 10 years ) career ?

From our financial point of view right now it isn't worth it , as regards us not having 1 st pick of players , well you are right , we need to emulate Cas , who have a team of relatively ' regular ' players , who the coach has moulded into the best ' team ' in SL this year

I didn't mention franchising. SL will evolve similar to the NRL.No need for SL academies as they'll have feeder clubs.The youth will be fed to the feeder clubs.

Can you put the link that says this so it can be justifiedicon_wink.gif

Don't know how the Aussie system works TBH- how do they decide who is and isn't in the equivalent of SL

And we'd be the feeder club.

Well that's the way I'd see it unless I'm missing something