We'll never know whether it really was on the cusp of delivering first-team players in good numbers and consistently, year after year. And I understand why that is frustrating for Hull fans, who have bought into this as the way forward. From outside, it seems that you have a good group of young players and I'd expect one, two... maybe even three or four to make a mark in SL. But a lot of expectation has been placed on them and the system that produced them, and my assumption is that it's been overhyped a bit.
It could just be that the money has run out, but running an under-23 team won't be cheap, so I think it's probably just been recognised as a fairly inefficient system.

Struggling to think, and looking to provoke hilarious posts.

Shaul;Skirlaugh.
Briscoe;Fev.
Lineham; Now officially rubbish.
Erm.
Houghton; Quality player, everyone at Hull thinks he's rubbish.
Green;Can't get a game, once scored a try.
Yeaman; Excellent ball boy. As long as he was on the touch line, no passes required.
Erm...
Loads of others.
Brink of world domination.
1991.
Premiership.
Dane O'Hara.
Arthur Bunting, good coat.
Sterlo.
Back To The Future.

The big one for me is the Jordan Abdul comments I keep hearing. Hull FC fans are using it as a reason why they shouldn't me merging with Rovers. Do any of them actually know where he played prior to joining the great Hull FC academy?

What has Abdul said? (apart from "what time are we doing Maccy D's?"icon_wink.gif

Your showing a lack of knowledge now Stan everyone knows Jordan's a KFC man

Tee-hee.
I think sometimes we put a useful brake on each other's more extreme, and sometimes ultimately damaging, optimism. Rovers and Hull fans I mean, not me and you.
But we're reluctant to do that where the dreams and aspirations of young players are involved. Seems mean, innit?

So the best casing isn't challenged and snowballs.

Turgut, Abdul, Lancaster, Logan and HTW, may well be the next Graeme Horne, danny. Washbrook, Craig Hall, Ben Crooks and Tommy Lee. All good players. They may even be better than that - but the cusp of greatness thing... not impossible, but hardly the inevitable outcome it's sometimes presented as.

In that case why dont Morrisons and Tesco share staff?

Stop talking out of your backside. Hull City have a team of people that are busy enough to justify a full time salary, what makes you think they would have time to work for Hull or even want to?

And you want Hull FC to play in Hull City's Umbro kit to save costs do you? Or pehaps train with their footballs and just use the Rugby balls for match days to comply with rules?

I would love to hear more about this 'Sports medicine equipment' you think could be shared. Maybe Rovers have a bit of strapping they dont need now their season is over so the Tigers can get some use out of it

Flip flops and showers, they could all share those, and soap, maybe shower caps.

Panini stickers, got be easier to get good swops between three squads.

No doubt I'll come up with some more good ideas.

I can't believe you haven't been consulted by the clubs on the merger Sandra

Good ideas, eh Goose?

Expected your first kick off suggestion to involve Hairstyles and related hair products, so my gob is well and truly smacked.

Well I am keen to broaden this topic, so I suggest they could share their Clearasil as well as their social media contacts.

You're missing the point, it is medical people they are supposed to be sharing.

Therefore if City Tigers are at home they can manage with St Johns Ambulance and Rovers can take the Doctor with them but must leave the physio bag for Hull who are travelling to france to play catalan.

Any of you know why you let him go?

Because he's Shiite?

Rubbish hair, and product, kept using some sort of Brycreem idiocy, got Beharrell into it which ruined his career, tried to get Marsh interested so we had to let him go.

It's the finer points of style that matter, give the youngsters a good cut but if their peers encourage them towards a Superdrug product it a'int ever going to work.

If the RFL and clubs decide that "A" team rugby isn't the way forward (Wow! .....How can anyone conclude that "A" team rugby isn't the way forward?!?!), then I guess the next best thing regarding the reality of financial constraints is this merger .......Oh how I would love for the RFL to pull their head out of their and admit that the old format is overwhelmingly better for our game! .....We see it, they see it, everybody else see's it, but the RFL is too stubborn to accept that "A" team rugby is the only way forward because that would mean admitting that they were wrong and a return to yesteryear! .....Heaven forbid!

"A" team rugby provides youngsters an opportunity to play against experienced men, it provides "a another" trialists from the amateur game to prove their worth, professionals coming back from injury to receive valuable game time and professionals to prove themselves after a lapse of form.

Why on earth can the powers that be not see that "A" team rugby is the only way forward?!?! ........Damn them bureaucrats! ......F*****g deluded P***ks!!!!

Great post and spot on!

So good I quoted it twice (accidentally)

James Webster to coach the academy good move or what i think so

I agree with most of this post but would point out that unlike the old alliance competion that we played in the game has moved on, back in the day we were part time at best & most got little but traveling money & a track suit, & the squad was half full of players who would never make the grade. I think in the fully pro era the cost will be prohibitive, but we should at least try & find a better way to get the young players experiance.

Good appointment of the ginger ninja

Welcome home Ginger Maestro,great news.

What happens if one team (for arguments sake let's say HKR) end up playing championship rugby and forced to employ first team players part time who funds academy coaches etc.

Hull fc, Hull KR and the RFL.

Who did you think would fund it?

Would a SL team be prepared to fund an academy where half the players are by definition only likely to achieve championship standard ?

I would dare to say if either team became a championship side they wouldn't go part time and wouldn't plan on being in the championship for long so 1 or 2 seasons wouldn't alter the long term plan on this project and to think it would is short mindedness