also can play Stand off...

I would be more gutted about this if it happened than Brough moving on.

I have been very impressed with him when I have seen him play, great ability to control the game and a wonderful kicking game to boot.

I would not be surprised to see more than 1 or 2 clubs monitoring him with interest especially given his contract status.

Without breaking the wage structure, perhaps any money saved with the Brough deal could be siphoned off and used to offer Southernwood a deal that his relative talent commands. If a number of clubs are monitoring him then it will only push his price up.

If it's true Wakey are interested in Hyde, i'd be surprised if they didn't want a fee aswell.

Don't get me wrong, Hyde is a good prospect, but Ben Hellewell is one of our best prospects at the club and is a full-back. I'd say Southernwood is potential international class, whilst Hyde is probably SL class (although as a product of our academy, I'd love him to prove me wrong)

I know, any club who tries to get the best possible academy talent they can are obviously a group of idiots. The club hasn't put any faith in Crookes, Whitehead, Donaldson & Olbison who have all made their SL debuts, or T Burgess, G Burgess, O'Brien, Addy, Straugheir, Wardle, Crossley, Hyde & Tate who are all in the first team squad.

Difficult one this. When it comes to contracts for players so young and inexperienced, do you gamble on potential or let someone else take the risk? Without him playing regularly in the first team, it's hard to say. Having never seen him play when it really matters, I'll let someone who has a better eye for talent decide that!

It is difficult, I agree, but I'd go with the first option rather than the second. It's probably even stevens in terms of investment at the end of the day, but it's much nicer to see the players you brought on as youngsters and who do make the grade prosper with you than see them prosper elsewhere.

Hmmm Maybe a little bit of PR and mind games from Mr Kear,

From what i have seen of Southernwood, i think Mr Kear has a pretty good case.

I see you agree with me then. Which is nice.

Cain Southernwood Half-back Squad number: twenty two DOB: 04-5-1992
Sam Tomkins born 23 March 1989
Kyle Eastmond 17 July 1989
Richard Myler 21/5/90

granted couple of years, however it is open age, these are going to be his contempories for his entire career, unless they go to kick and clap,

Is Cain related to Roy Southenwood? ex Cas and Wakefield.

Yes Nephew i believe.

Thanks. It's in the blood then.

A player with absolutely enormous potential and one who could go right to the very, very top..

In most of the games I've seen him play I'd say he was more of a natural stand-off than scrum-half. He has a great kicking game, great hands and can spot a gap and be through it in a split second. Like all the great half-backs he seems to have more time on the ball than anyone else and is always looking to make things happen.

The academy side were outstanding last year and were rightfully crowned champions after a superb season, Southernwood was a massive part of that and was that extra bit of class when he needed to be. It's okay being a standout in an average middle of the table team, but when you're a stand out in a champion side that marks you out as one who has a great future!

The only negative thing I'd say about Cain at the moment is his size, he's not the greatest in stature and at this stage of his development could be on the fragile side and is one who needs to be brought on steadily and looked after IMO.

No player is bigger than any club, but I hope we can keep hold of this lad and see him flourish under Kear...

Have you actually seen Cain play? He is a talented player and one I have great hopes for however to say he has international potential is really pushing it. For a start he is currently to frail physically to play first team IMO as demonstrated against Hunslet when Marchy ran all over/through/past him as if he didn't exist. Although he has plenty of skill and is quite pacey he not as yet in the same league as say Tomkins was at that age IMO.

I'm not knocking the kid, I rate him and I hope he makes it but in the same way Cas fans over hyped Westerman I'm certainly not going to do it in this case - hell of a way to go before he deserves those acolades.

Interesting to see the age comparisons here....

Tomkins, eastmond and myler are all at the heartbeat of top SL clubs and on the international scene at 20/21 yrs of age...

by the time cain is 20/21 it would be nice to see him at the heartbeat of our team and on the international scene...it'll also be a good measure of how good he is...time will tell

this might surprise a few but on cain i trust jk completly

110% correct., I do however know that Cas did over hype Westy, but at 18 he was a fully established SL player, and a quality one at that.

Made our local rag that a deal is close.

I shudder at the thought of some of the gash that only makes the fringes of the Bulls team.

does Cain have a contract at Trin? If so, Bradford have permission to approach him?

bradford didnt

Is he a 6 or 7?