Under 16's beat wigan 34-14 today. Looks like another strong group coming through, only defeat so far was a game in which we fielded a team of u15's.

very heavy going under foot today but we looked far superior and stronger than wigan imo in all departments and that is the benchmark in academy rugby.

the side have lost 1 game but played a totally u15 side in that loss so things are looking very promising for the future

When they persuaded Joe Burton to turn back on Cas and sign, that was a surprise. He will be an international centre.

The halfs are significantly better than last years halfs now in 19’s.

Think liam tindall looks a terrific prospect aswel.

Burton looked sensational today and on a quagmire. The 16s look like a team that will be fantastic if the pitches ever dry out.

Interestingly Ellery Hanleys son played at 6 and full back for Wigan and scored but i don't think he's quite at his daddy's level.

I'd agree from what I've seen, both have great running and passing games

How does joe burton compare to newman and boadbent who'v been stand out at this level fairly recently?

Burton was an excellent fullback as well as centre, and continues to grow. Joe is the equal of Broadbent at same age, who is equally a super player. Both are/were better than Newman at same age, who is also a very good player. Not sure that answers you, but might put a smile on face

Yeah that answrs what i was after, thanks. I think broadbents a brilliant player so its good to know we'v got another equally as talented.

Seems we are getting back to the days where we are attracting quality players in every year. Excited for this lot of youngsters.

Anderson looks like a player for mine

The current u16's and u19's squads are probably the best group of players that the club has ever had since our golden generation.
There's going to be some very tough decisions to be made with regards to which players will be awarded contracts during the next few years as there are multiple players in each position who are all very talented and who will all make SL players elsewhere if not with us

What a great position to be in! Hopefully talent will be nurtured, sound decisions about retention made and we will see another Golden generation to entertain us for a decade or more.

Agreed. Theres some big decisions to be made at the end of this season with so many players off contract and so many talented youngsters waiting to progress, the likes of dupree, mcconnell and trout will be finishing there 2nd year in the 19's and may need to be tied down to pro deals and a first team squad number in order to keep them. Thankfully the club usualy get these things right.

Heard there’s some talent within the 15s too four or five played yesterday for the 16s against Wigan so agree people are getting something right within the structure . It’s an exciting time

Yeah the 15's look like they'v got some talent. We'v got 4 of the siddal team who got to the national cup u14's final last year, one of them, ajanhi wallace, has played a few matches this season and looks a handful from the little iv seen. And we'v got 5 of the weatherby bulldogs team who are probably the best u15's team in yorkshire, oliver field is a stand off we'v got from them, he got man of the match when they won the yorkshire cup in january, another, sam little, was on the wing against wigan on saturday.

Not sure if theyr the real standout players of the 15s though, there could be more highly rated players in the group.

Don’t know about the standouts but I know the young lads played well off the bench yesterday as did the left winger who I’m guessing is a 15? Some real potential flying about at the moment . Fingers crossed the clubs coaching staff can bring it to fruition .

Yeah the left winger will of been sam little, tindall was on the right wing.

How have Oliver Peterkin, jay Scriven and Ewan Lewis gone this year?

Leeds have signed a great crop of under 15s. Castleford and Leeds between them have mopped up all of the best talent east of the Pennines with the exception of Siddals best player who has signed for Wigan.

How good is nathan carter at cas? Seems to score 3 or 4 trys every game for kippax u16s.

Id say not matt he does some good things then goes missing for long periods in the games i have watched him,has the talent but not the work ethic . Think theres a 16s game tonight but havent seen any media coverage ? Lets us down at times the clubs coverage of the scholarship and academy .

Cheers tomtom. 16's beat saints 50 - 4 tonight in there final game of the season. Brilliant campaign for them. We lost 2 games when playing a full team of u15's. The actual u16's have well beaten everbody, including big wins over wigan and saints tonight. Big well done to them all.

So who do we reckon the club will sign?

Watched the 16s tonight against saints, what a great performance by the young rhinos to dominate and put 50 on a saints side that's done well this year . The teams abilty to ‘play what they see’ is great to watch and testomony to the players and their head coach . Another quality crop of players ready to move up to the academy. Exciting times !!!!!