Re: Outstanding academy status : Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:38 am  

I suppose 2 or 3 a year is the target. We don't seem to produce many quality forwards though, and when was the last real star we produced? Hopefully Cameron Smith will kill 2 birds with one stone.

I do agree that the first team can be a block. Its not all the coach's fault (although some seem far more ready to give kids a genuine go). Luke Gale is an example of someone who just came through at the wrong time. OTOH this year would have been an ideal time to give as many Academy players a go in the first team who were physically ready for a game or two. Not to mention the likes of Baldwinson.

Maybe I've been harsh on the development side, but if the Academy is a reserve team with a small group loaned out to other clubs, the current system is rubbish.

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 3:11 am  

Just watched the highlights of the Scholarship game v Hull, everyone should be excited by the display from prop Tom Holroyd. It says he is only 15yo, wow what prospect.
The other prop Owen Trout looks a monster too.

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 7:20 am  

The Eclipse wrote:

Just watched the highlights of the Scholarship game v Hull, everyone should be excited by the display from prop Tom Holroyd. It says he is only 15yo, wow what prospect.
The other prop Owen Trout looks a monster too.

I go to most academy games and went to the Hull game. Holroyd is immense for his age and seems to getting fitter every game. Louie McConnell is a great prospect at loose, big lad but very skillful with his offloading. Muizz Mustapha is just a beast and would run thru a brick wall and is so strong and hits very hard in defence and again its easy to see his improvement in passing the ball which is pleasing.

Full back Hartley, centre Newman, 7 Scott, prop Trout all played very very well too.

The real star for me tho is centre Jack Broadbent who at 15 is tremendous for his age. Big and powerful, runs great lines is fast enough and has tons of ability.

Its too early for any to say who will make it but the 16s look a very talented batch. The best weve had since the golden decade brigade.

The most pleasing thing for me is that its clearly noticeable that the players and team are improving.

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:23 am  

Who is their coach?

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 11:53 am  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

Its too early for any to say who will make it but the 16s look a very talented batch. The best weve had since the golden decade brigade.

The most pleasing thing for me is that its clearly noticeable that the players and team are improving.

Sorry, but no there not. We have had plenty better than the golden decadd brigade, but then they have hit a wall. This side is brilliant, with many a good player there, but so too was last years under 16's too now playing in 19's. We have had other very good under 16's.

What we all have to hope for is the right development going forward, because a lot of our players in this age group have not had it for a few years. Then hopefully we can see that talent realised.

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 1:49 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

Sorry, but no there not. We have had plenty better than the golden decadd brigade, but then they have hit a wall. This side is brilliant, with many a good player there, but so too was last years under 16's too now playing in 19's. We have had other very good under 16's.

What we all have to hope for is the right development going forward, because a lot of our players in this age group have not had it for a few years. Then hopefully we can see that talent realised.

We are all entitled to our opinion Gotcha. How many games have you been to?

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 1:50 pm  

Old Feller wrote:

Who is their coach?

Mark Butterill

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 1:55 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

Sorry, but no there not. We have had plenty better than the golden decadd brigade, but then they have hit a wall. This side is brilliant, with many a good player there, but so too was last years under 16's too now playing in 19's. We have had other very good under 16's.

What we all have to hope for is the right development going forward, because a lot of our players in this age group have not had it for a few years. Then hopefully we can see that talent realised.

Respect a lot of your comments Gotcha but to say weve had a lot better academy than the golden generation ones is laughable.

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 3:19 pm  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

Respect a lot of your comments Gotcha but to say weve had a lot better academy than the golden generation ones is laughable.

That wasn't actually what I said, and either a play on words or just misunderstood. What I said is that our under 16's have had a lot better teams than the golden generation. Difference then is the development of that side was completely different.

I repeat, that last years under 16's were excellent and had ten players signed up to the academy.

As for how many games. As many as I can, but my son plays under 15's too with and against a lot of the players, so I see a lot of these players each week.

Re: Outstanding academy status : Sat Jun 25, 2016 3:29 pm  

Sorry Gotcha but we will have to agree to disagree on that one.