Anybody know anything about us signing Corey Hall, the Yorkshire Academy outside back, from Wigan? Iv heard nothing about it, but In todays England Academy squad announcement, its got him down as a Leeds Rhinos player, his own twitter account also says Leeds Rhinos.

He was very highly regarded at Wakefield before moving to Wigans Academy.

Also...Rhian Rowley, Joe Burton, Iwen Stephens and Liam Tindall have been selected in the squad.

Interesting

Just to follow up on the corey Hall point...Wigans official site only mention Hanley and Rushton as there players selected in there piece on the England Academy squad and also have Hall down as a Leeds player. Leeds official site dosnt mention Hall, but congratulates the other 4.

In summary....Wigans official site, The RFLs official site and Halls twitter account, all have him as a Leeds player.

Seems to be some legs to it.

Not heard a thing, and think a mistake, but my lad just pointed out your post to me, as only last night I was saying how I wish Leeds would sign that Corey Hall for a bit of comp, as he is going to be yet another quality winger coming through at Wigan

Yeah i thought it was just a mistake when i seen the squad announcment, cant see why Wigan would let him go. Its his own twitter account handle which says... 'Leeds Rhinos // managed by SMTMUK' which peaked my interest. Like you say, maybe nothing in it.

Would be very happy if we had though, going to be a player, first year Academy last season and a very young first year at that, only missed still being eligible for Scholrship by a month.

It's great for british RL. Already the Wigan and Saints lads are being pushed through and plenty at our club on the cusp and there is no Speight of international class players holding them back.

If Hall is a winger there could well be legs to it, especially given his agent. Wing is an area we’re going to need more depth in I think. Maybe Leeds have put the call out.

Became a Leeds player in September but not announced by the club. He was highly rated at Wakefield too and Wigan poached him away from there. They’ve an abundance of wingers there and this is a good signing for us, huge potential by the sounds of it.

Excellent, yet another top talent, happy with this.

I think he’s more of a centre

He was a centre at Junior rugby. But looks a much better winger as progressed.

Whichever way all our backs line up, im confident we'l have the best backline in U18's rugby next season, either one of these potential backlines are very good. With Stewart, Barton and Turner waiting to step in when some move up to reserves.

1. Little
2. Tindall
3. Burton
4. Hall
5. Stephens

1. Stephens
2. Tindall
3. Burton
4. Nichol
5. Hall

4 England Academy selections and 1 England youth international in either lineup.

I have seen TJ since he was a kid, and he has a very big heart for his size, but I just can't see how he is going to make it. Always been a great defender, but never really saw how he ended up at Leeds.

Agreed, despite being a second year next season, for me, first years Nichol and Stewart are better players with tons more potential. To his credit, like you say, he'l lock up his side of the field defensively and he's got a decent catch, draw and pass...But somthing drastics going to have to happen to him physically and athletically if he's going to be a pro/ semi pro at a decent level imo.

I quite like the look of Stewart from what I've seen actually.

Edgell can't be too far off breaking into that back line either.

Edgells the age group behind Nichol, Stewart, Little etc, Edgells in his second and last scholorship season next season.

From bits I’ve seen he might be putting the squeeze on Walker in a few years, looks the business.

Isn’t it great to see these quality lads coming through?

Fantastic to see, for all the struggles of the first team, the clubs in the best state its been in for years everywhere else imo...Really looking forward to watching these lads develop.

Good thing about Edgell is that he's a very, very good 6 aswel, the kind of 6 that would complement McCllellends game to a tee. Lots of water to go under the bridge before we get to that point, but theres some real exciting possibilitys going forward.

I realise that the hard work on the Academies has been going on already for a few years to get to this point, but KS deserves some credit for some of the signings here. McLelland, Walters, O'Connor, now Hall - and the intake quality seems high every year now.

I certainly can't ever remember such a talented crop from 15-19 in one go at the club before.

Agreed, We'r blessed with talent throughout every age group and with the odd signing here and there like the 4 you mentioned, we'r clearly not resting on our laurels.

In Edgells age group alone, him and Levi Edwards get a lot of attention, rightly so, but Morgan Gannons a fantastic Backrow prospect aswel, Harvey Oldroyd is argubly the best his agegroup in the country...Everybody wanted him, most years either one of them would be the cream of there intake. Kai Morgan, sublime little scrumhalf...The list goes on. The key now is developing them properly and fighting off interest from other clubs when it comes to getting them signed to Academy contracts next year.

Good times

It's funny but we hear a lot about reducing numbers of kids playing the game, but I guess the ones "made for rugby" will always want to play.

The really good ones have clear pathways to international honours, and even into the NRL if they want to go to Aus. It's a far cry from the back end of Halifax to Bondi.

I think the facilities at clubs like Leeds are getting there too - the sports science, nutrition etc is so much better now than 10 years ago.

I can see Leeds having an almost entirely home-grown first team within 4 years.

exciting times.

Yeah, even with the dwindling numbers, the talents still there. Just my opinion, but the Yorkshire juniors u15 league has got some potential stars running around. Between Siddal, Kippax and Stanningley theres some great rugby beeing played. We know all about the Siddal and Kippax lads because most of them are with us, but theres 2 lads at Stanningley who are both absolute class, Nic Stavely (Backrow) and Denive Balmforth (Hooker/Half) who both joined Warringtons scholorship unfortunately, theyr right up there with some of our best talents.

Cant wait for next seasons Barla u16 national cup to see how these 3 teams stack up against the best from Lancashire.

Watched a lot of Corey at Wakefield and at that age he was head and shoulders above anyone he played against, seen relatively little of him over the last few years at Wigan but on the occasion I have he has played at Centre and it has been more of the same tbh, just seems to have matured that little bit as well - Quality young player, has all the ability but I must say his centre play from a young age is what impressed me, as I say not seen anything of him on the wing but I just feel that he must be wasted there.

Hall was very poor at Wigan, and hence let go.