I know we have had a really bad time with injuries and had to bring in players on loan, but is there anyone who go`s to the academy games? I keep an eye out for results and the teams seem to be holding their own, but are there any players that are almost ready for a call up?
It seems that its just us and Salford who are not able to slot a player in for a week or two to cover injuries. I know Hallett, Robinson, Gudzek and Houlker are in the first team squad but have only made 18th man.

I have heard that when Peacock arrives, prt of his remit is to attract the best talent throughout the whole of Yorkshire, not just the East of it, then we may see more quality and quantity of talent.

Holker played at Leeds bit of a cameo but carried it in well made good metres and didnt miss a tackle, watched him from a lad as he played in the same teams as my son hopefully he will see a bit more game time before season end, if we are into the middle 8s im guessing we will see more of a few of the young guns

Is it me or are other people disappointed with the severe lack of decent larkers from our junior team that have failed to make the step up? Bearing in mind our super league status has been continual since 2007.
Let's go through the list we've produced:
Scott Taylor
Liam Salter
James Green
Josh Hodgson
Jordan Cox
Aaron Ollett
Kris Welham was before super league, there are others but not worth mentioning, I'm struggling after that who have made a significant impact to our squad.
I've thought this for a while and maybe we've addressed our lack of youngsters coming thru, but it's pretty paltry what we've brought thru since our promotion since 2006.

Being slightly pedantic, didn't we (FC) bring Josh Hodgson through & then foolishly let him leave to sign for you?

It's not just rovers but Hull as well. I think it's the mentality of the kids and the coaches in the area TBH. For all Hull is a hotbed of RL there have only been a handful of Hull born players who have come through to play at the top level in the last 30 years

I do agree about the mentality of Hull kids in general. I don't know what it is. Could be a mixture of many things, nature, nurture??
I love living in this area, but I do find the aspiration of Hull folk in general has always been to be happy with what you've got, but never aim higher. Whether this passes on to the kids......who knows.
But with city of culture happening, I have seen an upsurge of the optimism and opportunities arising that could benefit all kids in hull, not just the sporting elite.
Plus Jamie Peacock and his mentality could take some of the kids that notch further. Really hope his appointment works as well as we all hope.

It also doesn't help that half the youth coaches in this city are more concerned with getting a win then actually improving the players.

Didn't you bring Frankie Mariano through your youth set up ?

Yes and Jon Wilkin but that was early 2000's

Yes. Missed that one.
One that slipped through the net with me.
What an absolute waste getting rid of him. But that was one of the coaches that got rid of him, can't remember if Morgan or that useless pratt that Chester replaced that got rid.

Jeez, if we are claiming Wilkin why not go completely retro and bag Ian Kirke as well.

Sad if we're going back 15 years to find any academy products.

It was Morgan's decision to move Mariano on. Not one of his brighter moments.

Amazed at that. Anyone could see he was going to be a good player before making the first team.

Some good youngsters in your u 16s scholars.

Mariano is a good player, but even at Rovers was injury prone, and I would guess that is why he was released rather than for a lack of ability. I think he was injured quite a bit at wakie, and has missed massive chunks of this season.

Bet you can't wait for your lad to run out in the red and white someone in your family with sense

I've kicked him out!

I got pulled up by a saints fan on here for claiming Jon Wilkin because he was so young when they signed he counts as been brought through there youth even though he played 17 first team games for us

I'd say he counts as yours then

Injuries or not Frankie always looked the part & we could do with him now. Another of Morgans odd descisions was to not play Matt Cook (not one of our home grown I know) the few times he played he was close to man of the match scored some good try's, & played a big part in the Tigers win over Saints last night.

If we had Mariano now he'd been on the injury table like he is at cas at this time. I agree when he is playing he looks good but we have to remember we had Newton and Galea in front of him at the time.

Matt Cook was highly overrated by our fans, he did ok but looked lazy in defence. Never understood all the clamour for him, some fans made out he was the next Sam Burgess. Very like Ben Cockayne in that his weaknesses were overlooked and his abilities over inflated because a section of our more vocal fans liked him.

That may be true, but he (Matt Cook) certainly outshone Willie Mason during his brief time at Rovers. He was a decent player, solid, not a mega star but a good player.

If that's the benchmark then we are in trouble. Ryan Baileys 15 minute cameo ran masons efforts close.

Cook was average, maybe could have been a back up but definitely no where near as good as some made out

We have a lot of talented young kids in Hull and the area and their attitudes are spot on. Unfortunately because we are so desperate to succeed they are not given the same opportunities as some of the kid at the so called big clubs. The big clubs do a lot of poaching, especially Saints and Warrington.