That the larger clubs in SL like Wigan, Leeds, Saints, Wire and Hudds enter teams into the championship?

Looking at yesterdays result mixed in with previous results vs Leigh and the lack of challenge the academy league now gives some of our players is it seriously time to consider this as an option?

Obviously there are some issues to iron out like what grounds to play at, player reg and SC issues but if it was done with the right intentions of trying to accelerate the development of the best young playing and coaching talents in our game then for me it’s a hands down winner.

Imagine the rapid development we’d see if our current under 20’s could train under Madge all week and then still have a testing game at the end of it.

There are a few caveats that could be put in place like making sure the coaches of these teams are English giving guys like Wane at Wigan, Lowes at Leeds or Anderson at Hudds a chance to also develop their coaching skills. That way we should see more English coaches feeding through the system.

Again there are draw backs but imo they are much outweighed by the positive aspects of this idea.

I don't think it would work IMO. What if the team then got to super league ?

How without promotion and relegation?

Why would the RFL put a reserve team in the Super League? Have you forgotten that we don't have promotion and relegation anymore?

No promotion or relegation.

Oh S*** i completely forgot

But, if they won the lot and had a better application than the rest how would it work then?

You have to apply first.

What would they do for a ground?

Do like German football do. Don't allow the reserve/academy sides to be promoted. Although over there the other clubs hate it as the reserve teams hardly ever take any fans to away games as most fans are watching the 1st team that weekend.

If they didn't play at the same time then I think our reserve side would get a decent crowd.

Wigan could prob play at Orrell looking at some crowds as well tbh.

That's not a bad idea, they have it for some of the big football teams. For example, Barcelona and real Madrid have thief second teams in the division below and cannot be promoted. I don't see why it wouldn't work

It should definately been done. Think it was one of the first things Madge suggested when he came over. He wasn't impressed with the standard of the U.20 comp. It would solve all the hassle of having to loan out half your U.20s team like we did last year.

I'm undecided on this, the way I see it -

Positives:
Better test for young players - better development - eventually stronger England team and SL
Stronger Championship
Good championship players may be more likely to get noticed by SL clubs

Negatives:
Devalues the championship
If a team has an injury crisis we could see either under 18s getting knocked around by hardened veterans or games getting cancelled
Would any team apart from ourselves be competitive in the championship?
Health and safety worry of pitching young lads against fully developed men week in week out. If a fight kicks off there could be real trouble, go on video site and find England A v Tonga for a good example.

In my opinion, this could work better for the clubs and the national side than the current set up. Gives them a challenge from a young age, so they always have to improve their game.

Would deffo catch the train over to Dewsbury game, and a couple of pints in the Boltmakers before & after the Keighley match would go down a treat, bring it on

Agreed on both accounts. I think the German clubs problem is there's not many fans willing to travel across to the other side of the country to see the reserves the day before/after a first team game.

Would allow teams to protect their young talent better, with a SL and a Championship salary cap to cover their entire squad. Maybe restrict the number of Championship registered players that can represent the SL team during a season. Play the Championship fixtures as curtainraisers to SL when possible. It's got potential.

Add it 2 the proposed SL vs All stars game and then IMO we could see more a competitive England side in 5/10 years.

just send your best on loan.

I totally agree and i have been advocating this for a while.

If not the actual league, then what about the northern rail or Challenge cups? This way they will not have to put their body through a whole punishing season.

These young lads will get lots out of playing against fully grown men who are playing for more than just pride

I can just see the draw now:

Brian Carney: Number 14
Ray French: Wigan Warriors, will play
Carney: Number 5
French: Wigan Warriors reserves
Richard Lewis:



Seriously that scenario wouldn't even be that unlikely, they would only have to turn over a couple of amateur teams and maybe one championship side and they're in the mix with the big boys.

Happened in the Dutch Cup once didn't it? Ajax vs Ajax Reserves.

Did they bother playing it? If I was Leneghan I'd just have the reserves forfeit to save injuries and paying to put on a glorified training session in front of a tiny crowd. Actually no, I'd have the first team forfeit so that we could win the challenge up under the name of 'Wigan Warriors Reserves"

. Just thought of another reason it wouldn't work, if Wigan got knocked out in round 4, but the reserves went through to round 5, the first team would end up playing the reserves fixtures, thus effectively cheating the system.

Not if specific rules were in place regarding squad selection