GUBRATS wrote:
Bullseye , I commend your clubs continuing funding and running academy and reserve , but it is a continuance of your SL era , one where you were the biggest draw to the best juniors , that continuity makes a massive difference , we however would be again starting from scratch , IMO it would take 6/7 to 10 years before we would see a single player of quality , so going off mr Briers maths that's half a million quid before we see a tangible return
It isn't that simple
Nothing is simple in rugby league, but I disagree with your timeline.
Fax have been taking the reserves seriously for around 3 years and look at how many of them are now playing in the first team. Still work in prioress but the club is getting the benefit of the investment in time and money.
Personal view is that all RL clubs should be mandated to run a reserve team. If not, good players just keep getting snapped up by SL clubs who don't want to bother to invest. A spiral of decline that removes a tier that players could use to benefit the overall game. I agree with a lot of what Bullseye says too.
From when I was a kid a long long time ago, Leigh was always a hotbed of rugby league and it still is. I am certain that you would have a lot of loyalty from local kids who would wear the badge with pride rather than go to another club.
You are and always will be a great rugby league club. All clubs will have their ups and downs but isn't that how things go.