Good point lad. Well done.

Very similar situation to Morgan Smith also.

Not that it matters fully though, as I still don't think just because someone made it elsewhere proves a point that all was right.

Thanks dad...

TBF I think George is the kind of player that would of made it anywhere, same as Sam.
Gregg McNally is another player who would be similar to Smith imo, but with more first team exposure. A few seemed to want him here when he was around that age. I remember when he was at Whitehaven a lot of noise was made about him. He could still come good, but he was sent back down to Championship level pretty quickly.

All we can do is second guess what Leeds have planned long term, but maybe they think we already have the current crop in the first team. Sutcliffe/L.Briscoe/S.Ward/R.Ward and even Moon could be planned to play in the halves.

No worries son....



I wouldn't put McNally in same argument because he was already a first teamer elsewhere.

The argument on this thread is about losing potential stars at a young age. Your point on the Burgess brothers showed a point exactly in line with the argument on Morgan Smith, as we lost those to Bradford. Although in Smith's case he is regarded as one of the best in the country for his age, the two Burgess's actually were not at that time.

The Burgess twins were never actually Leeds academy players.

They were here under a scholarship as they had to be due to service areas. As soon as they were old enough and therefore free to join an Academy set up they were off to join brother Sam at Bradford.

They were exactly the same as Morgan Smith, which is what this discussion is about, but derailed by others into something else.

Leeds could, and should , have had them, but lost out.

But weren't the Burgess brothers pre-McDermott era? Which seems to be the focus of this debate, that he doesn't give enough pathway to the younger players so they want to move elsewhere?

I don't think anyone on here has mentioned McDermott.

You gave mention a few pages back of the current set-up and how it's their way to not introduce young players due to physical reasons and how this is frustrating some academy lads who think their good enough now to go......fair to assume you were referring to McDermott since he took over.

I see. So this is about a player not contracted to Leeds. A minor. Someone who is absolutely free to sign for any team's Academy that has chosen to sign his first processional contract at a another club. Not a player Leeds have lost out on. A very different se to circumstances, for example, to the Jordan Baldwinson scenario.

I see even less to criticise the club for in that case.

Can you perhaps, as the font of all wisdom on these matters, explain, specifically how Leeds could and should have forced you Smith's free will to sign with us rather than Warrington?

Taken James Lowes off as part time assistant coach, as he becomes Bradford head coach tomorrow.

1.
2. Thomas Minns, 2013
3. Jimmy Keinhorst, 2013
4. Josh Walters, 2014
5. James Duckworth, 2013
6. Liam Sutcliffe, 2013
7. Luke Briscoe, 2014
8. Brad Singleton, 2011
9. Robbie Ward, 2014
10. Rob Mulhern, 2014
11. Elliot Minchella, 2013
12. Alex Foster, 2013
13. Stevie Ward, 2012

That's one short of an entire XIII from the academy been given their Leeds debuts in the last 3 years, all under McDermott.

Not to mention Hardaker, Jones-Bishop, Watkins, McShane & Clarkson, all given significant opportunities within the last few seasons by McDermott.

The objective is not to keep 'the best academy lads out of each year', it's to build the best rugby squad we can, that gives us the best shot of winning silverware. Some years that may mean taking four or five players. Some years it may mean taking none.

You could put Baldwinson in there too couldn't you? Then put S Ward at 6 and move Briscoe to fullback and there's the complete set.

Although they've now moved on, also Liam Hood (2012) and George Elliot (2011).

L Briscoe
Minns Keinhorst Walters Duckworth
S Ward Sutcliffe
Singleton R Ward Mulhern
Mulhern Foster
Minchella

Ash Hamdley signs new full time three year deal starting from 2015 m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/spo ... -1-6692623

Ash Hamdley signs new full time three year deal starting from 2015 m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/spo ... -1-6692623

Quote ="Frosties."Ash Hamdley signs new full time three year deal starting from 2015 m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/spo ... -1-6692623'" Good signing. This article shows that the Leeds management will reward young talent who have the ability, physique and show the right attitude. Some of the promising young talent may have the size and ability but may not have shown the right attitude.

Quote ="Frosties."Ash Hamdley signs new full time three year deal starting from 2015 m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/spo ... -1-6692623'" Good signing. This article shows that the Leeds management will reward young talent who have the ability, physique and show the right attitude. Some of the promising young talent may have the size and ability but may not have shown the right attitude.

Indeed, sometimes having the right attitude, the ability to adher to club discipline, ethos and to fit within the club structure itself is far more valuable than most other attributes.

Those are attributes that Hetherington values very highly & sometimes that means we lose players who either don't fit in or who value themselves at more than the club is prepared to pay.
Those who remain, though, create the exceptional team spirit that has led to our continuing success.

Well deserved for Handley and a more than capable prospect to step into the 1st team if needed.
I can see him getting a loan move next year to gain more F/T 1st team RL it will be interesting to see who else is retained.
Also Worlds apart "building the squad" from within the academy won't work if those players are not good enough hence the focus on retaining the best from within it.
Its fair to say they also have to the right attitude etc but to say its not about retaining the elite of what's produced is way off the mark.

Josh Walters new three year deal added to the list.

Good news! He's looked the part so far.

Well deserved and in the team on merit!

Yes, massive legs!

I wonder if the people who suggested he'd only been selected to justify the partnership between the Rhinos and the RU team still feel the same way given his performances so far...

I think there was only one who suggested that, and to be fair to the guy he actually asked the question rather than put it down. Voicing that on performances he could not see why he was ahead of two others in the same position. Who is to say the other two wouldn't have been even better?

I think you might have got confused with the Yates signing, as that one was a fair few, me included who questioned whether that was just to justify the partnership.