I no for a fact 2 of the 3 are england internationals one at leeds and the other at warrington , does this calabre of player suit you sir , as super league material !

jounior interntaionals? if so no as the championships (1&2) are full of them such as Max Wiper I think he is called -

so what Constitutes producing a successful SL player? In your opinion – because you still haven’t ……there is a story in here somewhere?

You cannot explain it because you cannot and have not ever done this – there is nothing unique about junior intonations – feth area produce 3 per-year and we are a village and you have nothing coming out like Westerman, Burrow etc but we don’t clam them as our products because SL nurtured them well.

Have you got it yet?

some one must get a note to these lads , they may as well pack in playin as they will never make it , hope youve played the game with all ur knowlage of whos going to make it an who isnt ; or r u just a specky , wishing it was you in there position !

Just an enthusiastic specky – as you are, but was a junior international and SL academy player now in the Parra’s sort of asking questions about other speckys assumptions – short of thing, if you like. Shame if the pack in playing if they are not going to the make it to the top, as it is a great game, but sort of sad if their playing for all them extrinsic and unpredictable things like making the big time….any way enough of this

What in your opinion constitute to producing a successful SL player….PLEASE?

It's just daft to think that ANY championship club can churn out endless SL quality players. To have a SL standard youth structure that is going to work, you need to be in SL. It's stupid for the RFL to expect Championship clubs tobe able to compete with even the likes of Salford/Celtics in this area.

Any SL quality youngsters produced by Champ clubs are snapped up in no time - therefore money wasted. If the players can stay at a club and go from scholarship to SL then the chances are they would stay at the club.

Barrow need to get a youth structure in place, but need a successful team on the field first in order to 'tick the box'.

Glad you’re not running any club

its not about money or RFL systems - have you got the know-how to nurture young players, if so my question was about producing successful SL players, which was the start of the thread - I can understand your views too or do you believe that it will all just fall into place because you have a very good team –

but sadly no plan B or a succession plan by the look of it – the reason for my concern is we don’t need another embarrassment like Celtic and just because your cumbrian (which we need) and you have a good team (because of a benefactor rather then performance merit) you will get a franchise!

There’s no doubting you support both morally and physically but it’s not a ship, it needs foundations and that’s my point and stop avoiding the question LOL

No team bar Widnes can claim to have an established youth structure in the Championships. Even Widnes only field a small amout of locally produced player - and that is at al level below SL.

Halifax don't even run a reserve team which at least Barrow do. The Barrow reserve team has many young players taken from the local amateur clubs as well as first team fringe players. We also have the newly established 'Barrow Laikers' under 18's team, co-ordinated by the Raiders. The club in general is VERY strong in the community/schools/colleges. Dave Clarke with his other hat on, does great work in those departments all year.

Having a superb (expensive) youth structure at the expense of a stronger first team defeats the object. It's chicken and egg. Get a good team on the field first, increase crowds/sponsorship and THEN introduce a defined structure. Otherwise all your talented, nurtured young players will simply leave for a SL club.

I believe there is a big announcement due after the GF from the Barrow BOD defining the next 3 years objectives. Expect something to be announced then.

After you lot lose on Sunday ,your egoistic chairman ,will take his ball home and you will struggle next season ,you are going nowhere ,SUPER LEAGUE?Blackpool have more chance ,CMON FAX ,BEAT EM .

You just keep on thinking that mate. I remember reading very similar 'doom-laden' posts 3 years ago. We'll be stronger again next season - put your mortgage on it. We're here to stay.

Just like Fax, we've ticked the box, so this season is just the start. One things for sure though, we've far more chance of getting to Super League than YET ANOTHER Yorkshire club. Until 1 or 2 current Yorkshire SL clubs are booted out no other Yorkshire club has a chance of getting in. Just read the RFL's views on expansion.

Should be a good game on Sunday. Can't wait.

Barrow need a s/l ground and pull of top 3 finishes for next few years.

2015 application more realistic (if the above are met) IMO.

There will be an announcement regarding the next 3 years at Barrow RL after the GF. Major Ground Improvements are part of it I'm led to believe. If the plans are far on enough by license time, you never know



The 5 current SL clubs warned about their stadia were told that ......

[i"if plans to build new stadiums or significantly improve their home venues are not sufficiently advanced by 2011, they may not satisfy the full criteria for the next period of licensing."[/i

Very interesting wording there. Especially 'significantly improve' and 'sufficiently advanced'.

thats just this year the reserve team will be back up and running next season.

plus the reserve team previously won many reserve titles and if the same can be done again then you never know.

i cant see Barrow's ground having been sufficiantly updated in time for the next franchise. the bids will be going in half way through the season after next and i just cant see the amount of changes that need to be made on the ground can be done by then.

plus i dont think the RFL will want a similar situation like this season with Salford, Wakefeild, Cas and Saints and Celtic all promising better facilities and so far nothing seems to be happening.

Difference with those teams is they submitted unrealistic plans which turned out to be bummers. If Barrow can begin the work and prove they have the finance and funding then I see no reason to turn us down on the ground front.

maybe not but the improvemnets that would have to be made to make the stadium in comparisin with Widnes and Halifax would be massive and to do it in 16 months or less would be a very good effort.

if you get that sorted then you have a good chance along with Widnes although i cant see the RFL turning the Vikings down this time especially if there is only going to be one place up for grabs.

one thing that looks unlikely is Fax being in the running as we dont have the location.

I think the criterea is flawed personally - It certainly has proved to be this season. Location shouldn't come into it !!

I go to the rugby to watch the game and have a few beers with my mates as I assume you do faxtastic - not to admire the lovely toilets or the nice seating. Bollox to that - If I wanted world class facilities I'd follow fan*y ball !! I agree that Widnes appear to be the only club 'currently' ready for SL and are a nailed on cert. I'd love to see the RFL stick to their guns though and expel those teams who haven't kept their promises.......Doubt it will happen though do you ?

a great post mate

i totally agree with you there i dont go to games for the facilities i go to watch the game and have a good time and hopefully watch a good game of rugby.

one of the teams that have been told about there stadium standard Cas now i went to whelldon road/ The jungle earlier this season for the challenge cup tie and it was a great atmosphere and some very decent fans who new they had been pushed right to the wire. i personally couldnt care about the facilities on offer.

the RFL won't do that they dont have the cherries to kick Saints out especiallyy but i dont think they will kick any of the rest of them out. Celtic Crusaders could play on the side of mount everest and still maintain a place in super league.

Am just glad that my club Halifax Rlfc have managed to tick the box for super league so they have no excuse why we couldnt be put in so now all the fax fans can sit back and watch the RFL kick us right in the cherries once more.

Its so predictable already this whole franchise business for next time round i would pretty much put everything i had on Widnes getting a franchise place in 2 years.

teams like Halifax and Barrow will be left to rot in National league 1.

lets all turn up to Warrington on Sunday and show RFL what both clubs have and the support that can be generated by big games and put a match on that will rival anything in super league.

Top post



I'm sure the atmosphere at Cas was superb - very similar to our game vs Wigan at Craven Park. 6,500 ratling round in a 14,000 all-seater just wouldn't have been the same.

I also think that the Championship matches I've seen this season (both live and on telly) have offered more by way of excitement and entertainment than most SL games I've seen this season.

thats what i have thought.

the super league matches have been not upto the entertainment value as some of the championship and the drama hasnt been the same in super league.

the crowds in the super league during this play off system so far have been appaling compared to maybe last year 4,000 at the Galpharm last week.

Can't someone get BAE Systems to sponsor a new build and share it with the football club, for a small place it seems daft to have two run down grounds when you could have a new shared ground which would be better for both clubs. Do the clubs own the freehold, maybe the grounds could be sold to build a new one.

Seems a shame to bring on the clubs as well as you have done to be denied because your ground is not deemed suitable.

By the way, I like grounds like yours, but the powers that be are hell bent on having a clinical, soul less concrete boxes and you are unlikely to get in without one.

Quote plus i dont think the RFL will want a similar situation like this season with Salford, Wakefeild, Cas and Saints and Celtic all promising better facilities and so far nothing seems to be happening.'" You should check your facts as saints have confirmed this will be there last season at KR. The factories that were on the site have already been cleared, planning permission and funding sorted and is set to start being built in the next few months. Saints have also confirmed they will have to play games on the road as the stadium wont be ready for the start of 2011 season. www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/sai ... sley_Road/

Quote plus i dont think the RFL will want a similar situation like this season with Salford, Wakefeild, Cas and Saints and Celtic all promising better facilities and so far nothing seems to be happening.'" You should check your facts as saints have confirmed this will be there last season at KR. The factories that were on the site have already been cleared, planning permission and funding sorted and is set to start being built in the next few months. Saints have also confirmed they will have to play games on the road as the stadium wont be ready for the start of 2011 season. www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/sai ... sley_Road/

I'd rather be watching Fax suceed in the championship, then getting the stuffing knocked out them like the crusaders.

I agree mate.I think location and stadium is bollox to be honest.Even telling teams to spend lots of money on a youth structure like widnes are doing.I prefer promotion and relegation every year.
But if rules are their i think a few superleague teams should be replaced.Why they got a god given right over barrow,fax,widnes or leigh?

I agree with you there.

One of the best games i've ever watched was between Cas and Wakey, whoever lost went down. Cracking game.

Yeah mate, i think this licence process is turning fans against each other, which is wrong.It is a family sport, and i like to see fairness.I am a widnes fan and if we got a franchise and not won a grand final, i know we will get alot of stick.

Serious now we are spending lots on youth and we be lucky if two or three come through.Most have left and gone to championship 1 sides such as rob draper,josh simm,keaveney,ostick,oconnor,bradburn etc.A few went to superleague like myler and sidlow.I feel it a waste of money, unless we got a franchise.Flynn,houghton and grady look good enough for the championship, from the youth.What the point in a youth set up if superleague clubs take your talent, or national league 1 sides take them?Anyway lets all enjoy our rugby next year and i think their will be some great games.