Good full back Harcombe, didn't he go onto Wakey where he got a few Wales caps?

He also played Under21's for Great Britain.

I was really impressed by him at the weekend. I agree with your profile and would add 'knows where the tryline is'.

Kevin Harcombe left the Dons & joined Rochdale Hornets he played one match for GB Under 21's against France Under 21's the game was played on February 2nd 1986 at Whitehaven result GB 6 France 2

Ash as one of the players I was thinking of in my post. if he's not worth at least a look at no one is. He's a bit raw sometimes positionally, but for aggression, pace and power there isnt much to match him.
Fit as a butchers dog as well, and a good kid to boot.

Cant believe there are not a few local players who could not slot into the Dons team at the moment either from Bentley or Moorends . Sureley this would also put a few more bums on seats from the locals. Although no one can knock the effort put in by the lads who turned out on Sunday Rugby League in Doncaster will cease to be in a few years in the professional mode unless another bank roller comes on board .

The Dons can only survive, IMHO, by harnessing every bit of local talent.
And it could be a successful club at the Halifax/Widnes sort of level....if talent is brought through in a structured way.

I was impressed by Mills who played a couple of seasons ago in the forwards.Think he was a local lad a bit in the mould of Jamie Thackery would certainly be good enough in the present team.

I think you mean Karl Mills (although I believe his brother also had a spell at the Club). I always thought Karl did a very good job. Not sure if work commitments became an issue?

IIRC, he joined the Prison Service, and was unable to secure time off to play rugby. IIRC, the same thing happened to ex Sheffield player Richard Goddard.

If I remember correctly Scott Mcdonald didnt want to travel up from the Midlands.

... I think you may be confused there Paul. Scott MacDonald is the winger from Oulton Raiders.

Yep , I may be . I bow to your greater knowledge & research .

We had someone called Macnamara on the wing.

Steve McNamara, was ex Nottingham Outlaws IIRC.

Chris McNamara I believe. Steve being the Bradford Bulls coach.



He arrived from Loughborough University along with Mark McKinley and Steve Hall.

Shows how much attention I'm paying Gary. Although, I could blame the lack of sleep due to nights..

QUOTE-- Gargoyle There are a couple of others they should be looking at as well but probably wont due to the fact that they aren't from Cas, Fev or Hull.

Unfortunatly the standard of amateur rugby league in and around the south Yorkshire area has been historically well below that of its counterparts ie West yorkshire and Humberside in terms of quality teams at both club level and especially service area comps at all age groups.There has been some local players that have come through to play pro rugby and i hope that this continues in the future.

The point i really want to make is about the players in our squad at the mo who were not born and bred in the Donny area, we have all been made aware that all the players are on a pay as you play deal only this season, so these players have committed themselves to funding out of their own pockets an approx 300 mile round trip to training alone each week without even being guarenteed a place in the 17 man squad ( so could be well out of pocket if not selected) all for the cause of the Dons. I would love to see a team of all local lads in the Donny side but have to be realistic, how many would still be complaining about local lads if the Dons were top of the championship table with a squad of players that consisted of Cas, Fev n Hull players only?

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No one would complain, but we aren't, we are e, and thats my point. There are local lads who (IMHO) are as good if not better than the current crop, but because they aren't from the so called ' hot beds' they are overlooked.
Cos youve played a bit in Hull or Cas doesn't automatically make you a better player than the local Donny lads, but our management seem to think it does!

I agree that just because you come from other areas you are not automatically going to be a better player, i would like to think that during the off season the management took the opportunity to watch some of the local talent on show and offered trials to these players.Prior to the set up of the reserve side last year the world and his wife were invited to go for trials, which gave the local lads the chance to develop at a higher level, what i dont understand is why didnt some progress to first team in the off season. The recruitment process seems to be ongoing judging by the amount of tralists that keep poping up in almost every game since the start of the season with another mentioned only today in the paper.Im sure all concerned with the Dons would more than welcome any player who would add to the current team. IMO i do not think they are poop, they are a new, young side who have been put together on a tight budget who have suffered long term injuries to key players and because of this TM has not been able to field the same side two weeks running which would cause disruption to SL teams let alone our team.

When the reserves were set up the local lads largely weren't given a chance to shine, as every week yet another player from one of the 'hot beds' turned up and walked into the squad.
Where are Reece Bailey, Sean Richards, Scott Smith + one or two others now?

I donot understand some of the posts within this thread, surely the coaching team want the best young players , no matter where they come from .

Leave it to the coaching staff or is this what its all about ? Im sure Tony listens to other peoples advice on players in different areas as well as from coaches of local teams .

Absoulutley, spot on comment, my point exactly i think Tony has done well in the off season and has put together a good squad of youngsters who are in the early stages of their development in the pro game and given time will develop into great players for the Dons.