Leon Ruan who was in our academy last year and one player I thought we should have invested in having watched a few games looks to be attracting some interest.
Seen a few highlights and appears he’s going very well for Doncaster and getting plenty of games. Seems he’s training at Leeds.
Wonder if we will be interested him being a recent Trinity Junior?
Rumours we offered him a deal last year but chose to test himself.
I said at the time it was a mistake not to try tie him up and I hope it wasn’t though I understand you can’t get them all right.
Leon Ruan who was in our academy last year and one player I thought we should have invested in having watched a few games looks to be attracting some interest.
Seen a few highlights and appears he’s going very well for Doncaster and getting plenty of games. Seems he’s training at Leeds.
Wonder if we will be interested him being a recent Trinity Junior?
Rumours we offered him a deal last year but chose to test himself.
I said at the time it was a mistake not to try tie him up and I hope it wasn’t though I understand you can’t get them all right.
Leon Ruan who was in our academy last year and one player I thought we should have invested in having watched a few games looks to be attracting some interest.
Seen a few highlights and appears he’s going very well for Doncaster and getting plenty of games. Seems he’s training at Leeds.
Wonder if we will be interested him being a recent Trinity Junior?
Rumours we offered him a deal last year but chose to test himself.
I said at the time it was a mistake not to try tie him up and I hope it wasn’t though I understand you can’t get them all right.
As far as I'm concerned, you win some you lose some.
So whats the point in going over it? There are a number of players I feel we should have kept, though few actually made it elsewhere. Round pegs for round holes.
Leeds had a chance with TJ but didn't and so on. As for poor old Ryan Hampshire, I'm sick to death of hearing he's the one that got away. He chose that route, end of, wished him all the best as a 5 year old and still do but he's gone.
He's a decent player but anyone will look good at Donny who's half decent, no offence. There must have been something that stopped us and not just money. Possibly because at the time we were rather well stoked up on S/R's and still are, I like O'Donovan though he's not as flash.
On the flip side Eseh who we did keep is going great guns, nearly there now, a season at most, so we won that one.
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:56 pm Posts: 4206 Member for 18 years
vastman wrote:
As far as I'm concerned, you win some you lose some.
So whats the point in going over it? There are a number of players I feel we should have kept, though few actually made it elsewhere. Round pegs for round holes.
Leeds had a chance with TJ but didn't and so on. As for poor old Ryan Hampshire, I'm sick to death of hearing he's the one that got away. He chose that route, end of, wished him all the best as a 5 year old and still do but he's gone.
He's a decent player but anyone will look good at Donny who's half decent, no offence. There must have been something that stopped us and not just money. Possibly because at the time we were rather well stoked up on S/R's and still are, I like O'Donovan though he's not as flash.
On the flip side Eseh who we did keep is going great guns, nearly there now, a season at most, so we won that one.
It’s a balancing act and you can’t win them all but Ruan was one of the best forwards in that Academy team.
O’Donnovan is a LF I believe and doesn’t play on the edges so hard to make a comparison. If he were to be compared to anyone it would be Windrow who I’ve seen little of.
Your right it was likely as we have a number of second rowers but we need to be looking in that position soon for the next Ashurst/Pitts.
It says there’s a number of clubs interested. Perhaps we are one of them and the door could still be open there.
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:56 pm Posts: 4206 Member for 18 years
The Avenger wrote:
Luke Hooley is set to sign for Leeds as well, another ex Trinity Academy lad
Yes though Hooley being let go at the time was the correct call as he needed to develop physically. At 23 he’s finally filled out and his body has caught up to his ability.
Ruan being a trinity academy player only less than 12 months ago it’s more of a dropped ball as for me he had more potential than Windrow (though admittely i’ve seen very little of windrow). Guess it remains to be seen if they have signed for Leeds and if they actually do make the grade. I suppose I it’s all still just potential.
I think overall though we have been improving our youth set up and even if we promote 1/2 a season it will hopefully lead to unearthing players like Kershaw, Croft, Batch, Crowther, Eseh, Murphy, Hall who have in varying degrees shown they have promise or can compete at superleague level.
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:37 pm Posts: 34112 Location: Poodle Power! Member for 18 years
Trojan Horse wrote:
Yes though Hooley being let go at the time was the correct call as he needed to develop physically. At 23 he’s finally filled out and his body has caught up to his ability.
Ruan being a trinity academy player only less than 12 months ago it’s more of a dropped ball as for me he had more potential than Windrow (though admittely i’ve seen very little of windrow). Guess it remains to be seen if they have signed for Leeds and if they actually do make the grade. I suppose I it’s all still just potential.
I think overall though we have been improving our youth set up and even if we promote 1/2 a season it will hopefully lead to unearthing players like Kershaw, Croft, Batch, Crowther, Eseh, Murphy, Hall who have in varying degrees shown they have promise or can compete at superleague level.
Hooley definitely wasn’t ready when we let him go, there was no justification in keeping him. He’s a late developer as many are and he’s persisted and it’s payed off. We couldn’t afford to develop him until he was 23, not for a back. That said Leeds are still taking an almighty punt.
Ditto Ruane. Bit odd actually for a team with a much vaunted Academy.
Of the two I’d bet more on Ruane making it, as he certainly believes in himself.
That said I think Eseh will beat them all if he carries on at his current rate, the lad is a monster and he’s not close to being fully developed yet.
Joined: Mon Aug 05, 2002 11:01 pm Posts: 9116 Location: Standing on the heads of Giants Member for 20 years
Leeds style is flash the cash and trawl in as many as possible and jettison those who don't live up to expectations at a later date.
I think of Hooley as a Bradford Academy lad who we gave a chance to but who didn't quite live up to expectation at that time. He didn't really look anything special for another couple of seasons at championship level after we let him go but has recently taken some plaudits in a decent Batley side.
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Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:37 pm Posts: 34112 Location: Poodle Power! Member for 18 years
Wollo-Wollo-Wollo-Wayoo wrote:
Leeds style is flash the cash and trawl in as many as possible and jettison those who don't live up to expectations at a later date.
I think of Hooley as a Bradford Academy lad who we gave a chance to but who didn't quite live up to expectation at that time. He didn't really look anything special for another couple of seasons at championship level after we let him go but has recently taken some plaudits in a decent Batley side.
I wasn't impressed but that means little, even to me.
Id be interested to know if Ruan was let go by Chester or Poching. I know he was offered a deal that he rejected and that no further offer was made. I think he impressed most of us all be it only at Academy level. With the right coaching I'd give him more of a chance of making it.