There is an ongoing disconnect between some very, very good players at U16s just diminishing when they move to U19s and Reserve Grade. It certainly isn't always due to the lack of ability of the players.

My theory is that our style and game plan have been found out and teams have adapted. We do not have the overall quality to play the same way n still win even if the opposition know what's coming.

I also think that we've skipped a step in what was working, the scoots and backs taking the ball up against a tired pack was built upon our packs dominance early on. I have no doubt if our forwards focused more on making yards rather than a fast play the ball early on and force the opposition to commit 3/4 players to a tackle and use up lots of enery in the tackle Russell n clarks scoots would start to result in more try's we're asking them to do it against fresh forwards making it harder on ourselves I don't buy into the pack cannot make the yards If they are being asked to do so.

also youth development takes a long long time to bear fruits money and investment spent now will start to show 4-10 years down the line I think we will start to see more and ore players breaking through over the next couple of years. I hope things have changed in terms of the youth n academy team I remember going to a try out and it was the most demoralising thing ever !!! Before a ball had been kicked they had already made their selections !!! Was a waste of time for a lot of kids who did not bother going back the following year and on that list only two players made it to the first team for a few games then never seen again!!

I agree that both King and Jullien did not play scholarship for wire but we had a hand in their development both I believe played at academy level for us.
Also I never said any of the players were world beaters , I said a player could be a world beater at scholarship but never make it. Again some people find it really easy to criticise the player development at the Wolves due to a number of reasons but the number of players playing 1st team now compared to not too long ago is massive which means we must be doing a decent job. I bet if you looked at all clubs last week and did the same exercise I would bet we would be near the top of the list.

Is the British game playing more homegrown youngsters because the quick fix of quality overseas players is no longer an option ? I think it is more likely that there are less quality players available & the RL & clubs are having to get back to producing our own.

Possibly pays a part, hopefully the continued investment in youth will mean that the younger players coming through are improving in quality

I'm still unsure on Johnson short term he is not at the level Patton livett n t king are at probably be next season before he is a genuine contender for a first team spot dependant on recruitment.

We just need genuine quality alongside them now...

We have been hearing for years about how much the clubs these days have invested in young talent and their youth structures.

There must be far more organisation, and far more coaches and people involved running a structured pathway these days than there was in the 1970s and 1980s.

The question is, how come back then the British game produced guys like Hanley, Schofield, Edwards and Gregory.

How many players of that calibre have come through since?