An ex Academy player I've kept an eye on since he left is Charlie Abraham. Thought he was a real talent in last years under 19's. He went to Australia and joined the Mullumbimby Giants first team. He almost immediately took a the 7 jersey and has worn it virtually all season, including the Final. It's not easy to compare bush teams to British teams but it's fair to say it's a reasonable level at Mullumbimby, certainly up there with most League one teams and on the Aussie ladder. Wonder if he's coming home at any point? Be interesting to see if we sign him on if he does as he's clearly made huge strides in one year. https://www.facebook.com/mullumgiants/? ... e_internal Anybody know?

An ex Academy player I've kept an eye on since he left is Charlie Abraham. Thought he was a real talent in last years under 19's. He went to Australia and joined the Mullumbimby Giants first team. He almost immediately took a the 7 jersey and has worn it virtually all season, including the Final. It's not easy to compare bush teams to British teams but it's fair to say it's a reasonable level at Mullumbimby, certainly up there with most League one teams and on the Aussie ladder. Wonder if he's coming home at any point? Be interesting to see if we sign him on if he does as he's clearly made huge strides in one year. https://www.facebook.com/mullumgiants/? ... e_internal Anybody know?

Just looked at some of the juniors that have come through the ranks there, and one is certainly familiar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullumbimby_Giants

Just looked at some of the juniors that have come through the ranks there, and one is certainly familiar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mullumbimby_Giants

Charlie Abrahams brought to the club by Rich Kelly while he was Head of Youth, he went all the way through from Scholarship, Academy and Reserves. He’s been outstanding in the Aussie Leagues team playing at Halfback. He’s the son of Steve Abraham who played in Trinity’s Colts team during the 80s

Tom Sowerby is over there too, another good player brought in by Kelly but let go by the Club.
He’s since topped the try scoring charts in The National Conference Premier Division for 2 consecutive years and played for England twice scoring 2 try hatricks and winning Man of the Match in both games from Full Back

He’s now been picked up by the Titans for next year

Charlie Abraham was not a Rich Kelly product, Charlie came through with his dad, Steve and under Mark Applegarth

Correct. He wasn’t let go by the club either. He wanted to play and live in Oz for the experience. The question is whether that is now permanent.

Applegarth certainly has an eye for players.

Well we may need a halfback. Wonder if he’s ready to make the step up to superleague yet.

He certainly chose a very laid back community to live in… as Vasty says ‘bush’ league is hard to evaluate… there are some really good players but the overall standard of play is not as high as (say) the same level in the cities…

Personnally a massive fan of mark.i listen to the way he speaks too says the right stuff

Steve has recently been over to see Charlie and took in the origin decider whilst there . Steve also helps coaches the wakefield Hawks who my grandson plays for .

My idea would be that he’s now ready for the reserves and a few loans. I’m not suggesting a full SL debut.

I tend to believe that playing lower grades in Oz doesn’t make you a better player technically. It does however broaden the mind and make you more mature. In truth that would apply even if you didn’t play a sport, you’ll come back a better person as a rule.

I think by doing what he’s done he’s probably matured a season or so more than his ex teammates. Big deal for a HB..

If he's doing well he should stay a bit longer.
Develop his game and develop his life style.

That’s wrong, Charlie was signed to Scholarship by Rich Kelly, ask his dad

I generally don’t get involved in this stuff but for the record
In my time at Wakefield as Head of Youth I signed the following notable players

Jack Croft
Yusuf Aydin
Harry Bowes
Dane Windrow
Isaak Shaw
Corey Hall

I signed Batch to his first pro contract
I interviewed and employed Mash as Player Performance Manager

I was there 18 months but Mash took over after and has done a superb job developing the talent at Wakefield

Oh dear, seems he didn’t. Win some lose some, I’ve been there.

He might not be on that list but Charlie Abraham was signed to the Trinity Scholarship by Kelly and at the same time his dad became one of the Scholarship coaches

Much as I do respect your opinion, I'm thinking Clan knows this subject better.

Just to add to the list of significant players I signed to the Academy during my time as Head of Youth

Luke Hooley who’s just signed for the Rhinos.

To tidy up the argument over Charlie Abrahams, I signed him to the Scholarship along with about 3 of his team mates.

I also brought his dad in to work as Asst Scholarship Coach. Me and Steve go back a long way, all the way back to the 1980s and our coach Trevor Bailey.

So you signed lads like c thurstan(normy), costello, j ferguson.my eldest played with and against lot of these lads maybe had the talent just not body composition or fittness.

As with charlie on chatting with his dad he may be returning in the near future

Wonder if he will return to Trinity. We do need cover for the halfback positions.

TBH I don't care



I just want to know what you think of Charlie as a player. I always though he was a natural when I saw him play.

always eludes me as to what turns a promising player into a quality player then an international class player...

honestly I would never have thought Liam Finn could make the leap... but he did... and looked the part in an Ireland shirt at the last world cup also...

It really is the magic elixir!! turning water into wine and base metal into gold...

two years ago who would have put Joe Batchelor in the England team and brother James stalling a little... as Vic and Bob might say... "we just don't know!"

whether its youth to first team or promising player into international... but it will be interesting to see what becomes of Abraham and Smith whether its at Trinity or elsewhere

Was explained to me thus, but of course there are exceptions to every rule.

To be a good pro - determination

To be a top player - determination and ability

To be an international - determination, ability and some physical or mental gift.

Of course that doesn’t take into account luck with injuries, right time right place etc etc.

Spotting ability and gifts is fairly easy, most of us could do that. But the common factor, determination, that’s much harder to spot in a teenager.

It’s just not an exact science, that to me is part of the fun. When you pick one that goes all the way. My last was TJ, right from the Boxing Day game at Leeds.

Spotted Murphy first game I saw him but that was so obvious I can’t take much credit. Also it’s still early days.

I won’t mention the spectacular fails.

Good job Vasty, otherwise you'd be here all week......

I am here all week

True,


...And don't we all know it...........