Anybody know how Hudson got on last week for the reserves?

U18's season starts tonight against Saints



Not sure what the injury situation is, but suprised at the team selected



Think we'l struggle but hopefully proved wrong

Are you watching it Matts?

Im not Jim, thankfully



To be honest, im becoming a bit frustrated with our youth setup, recruitment of talent is top notch, but at some point that needs nurtured into developing a winning mentality...our reserves and Academy always seem to be the dumbest team on the pitch, to the point that im almost suprised when either team win a game these days...especially against decent opposition



To be fair iv said previously, our top age academy are not a great group talent wise, expected them to lose tonight..would just be nice if they suprised you now and again...from what im hearing, its the familiar story of plenty stupid errors and not being able to defend them, much like the reserves on saturday

We don’t seem to adapt too well to the new tackle rules somehow.



Like you said vaguely odd selection though, several names missing that I’d have expected to see.

Im maybe being a little harsh...but i do feel we dont put enough emphasis on the importance of winning at this age.



It may be old school thinking but

You knew the goldens were ready for the next step..because they went out and dismantled everyone at academy level. While you see the talent in our system now, the results dont suggest theres a group of players superior to their peers



But like i say, im maybe being too harsh, next year will be more of an indicator...the first year academy group are exceptionaly talented, when they're more mature 2nd years, who will be supported by 3 or 4 excellent talents from this years scholorship...if they are not a dominant side then somthings gone wrong in their development

In amongst all the gloom it's great to see the reserves get a win at Saints.

Absolutely, scholarship got a win against Hull FC this week too

Indeed it was Arthur, good win aswel, in that, on paper, we looked to have a good team out, and probably stronger than the Saints line up, but too often recently, we dont show that on the field at this level.



Was good to see them go away to Saints, and get the job done. Sinfield with another trademark try, he should be putting pressure on Frawley before long if they both continue their respective starts to the season.



Scholarship is the one constant at the club, always well coached. Actually started pretty poorly against Hull, who should be a decent side themselves, but hit their straps in the second half and put them away comfortably

You just have to hope that the club really does have faith in Sinfield as the future and that Frawley is only a stop gap until Sinfield is ready.

We really don't want to have to scour the market for a 7 again in the next couple of years.

That’s up to Jack to improve and take the opportunity - his D has been very suspect at open age so far. If he can strengthen up and get his technique right he has a lot of ability.

It's also down to the clubs ability to coach and develop talent

Nail on head

How highly do you rate Mark Butterill Matt?

He seems to be a coach that consistently delivers the scholarship players to the older academy groups year on year, but he never gets a chance to coach the older groups or move up the coaching ladder.

IMO he should be the head of the academy structure at the club.

Rate him massively Biff, think he's an excellent coach



Dont know his personal circumstances so not sure if he would want it, but for me, the more time our young players are coached by him, the better off the club and the players would be.



Imo, far too often over the last several year, our Scholarship players look better drilled and more intelligent rugby players at 16, than they do in our Academy at 18, despite the scholarship spending a fraction of the time together

A very good assessment that Matt

Quote ArthurClues="ArthurClues"In amongst all the gloom it's great to see the reserves get a win at Saints.'" https://youtu.be/0h8JrqKftkQ?si=hs-xT_HD5pFaki_Y

Quote ArthurClues="ArthurClues"In amongst all the gloom it's great to see the reserves get a win at Saints.'" https://youtu.be/0h8JrqKftkQ?si=hs-xT_HD5pFaki_Y

I’m at the academy game today at a beautiful looking HQ in the sun. Really looking forward to seeing the lads play today, I’ll give you some thoughts after - couple of potential future first graders on show hopefully.

Poor result against a team made up of players left over after we've signed the ones we want



Again, young team,11 first years, but would expect better.



Fair play to the Cas coach, he's clearly doing a great job and getting the best out of his players

Accepting that Leeds looked too young and struggled with Cas’s physicality, I’m still not seeing much in this crop to get excited about to be honest.



Cassell will probably make first grade SL. McCormack has talent but needs size. Diskin impressed me; he’s much more physical than he was. Can put a shot on like his Dad too. Not sure what his best position is..



Webster was alright again but I’m not sure if he’s going to stand out. Qareqare needs to get his head in better places in D and might be too small. Stead went well. Oladipupo is a big unit for his age. Nobody else did much for me today unfortunately.



Matts is it the age group under this one you’re more keen on?

No Jim, its this age group, but they're all in the first year at Academy level, 11 played today, which is a lot this early into their Academy careers. The second years are a poor group, so not much support other than McCormack and Corbett



The first years are the best players in the country in that age group, or they were when signed to Scholarship, and still were throughout scholarship until joining the Academy, lets see how they develop now they're in the Academy!!



I trust John Bastion when he says we they are an outstanding group, i dont trust our Academy to develop them



But as i said in an earlier post, next season, when this group are all second years, will be a true indicator, if they arnt a dominant side then, somthings gone seriously wrong.



The year below are not as deeply talented across the group, but they have 2 or 3 brilliant prospects

Thanks Matt.



Nicely, I hope you’re wrong about the coaching but I didn’t see much cohesion or shape again today. Skill level wasn’t great although you can see Cassell has good hands.



If Oladipupo is a first year he’s a bit of a beast.

Yeah Oladipupo is a first year Jim



I hope im wrong aswel, if there is even a wrong or right, its just my opinion really, but its a long standing opinion based on progression of players that far too often get overtook and left behind by their peers once they reach Academy level.

It’s hard to look at sides like Cas outperforming us at this level when we pretty much have pick of the crop regionally and have dedicated coaches and S&C for the juniors with all our facilities.



Then again one year development at 16-18 makes a huge difference. We struggled physically against Cas, who had a couple of lads close to open age size.



First time I’ve seen a few of those boys live. Considering most aren’t going to be near first team for another 2-3 years there is some potential there. Liked Cassell - he does have a bit of everything doesn’t he? Also he has a bit of aggression which all the top forwards have.

Whats the answer then matt? i see it like you i try and go watch the scholarship and academy as much as possible,night and day when it comes to how both sides play and how players develop, saw ur earlier post about wanting butteril to coach the academy and im of that ilk too ,it's no fluke that the bloke gets the best out the kids in the scholarship and he was chevs assistant when they won the academy grand final a few years back,do we know if he wants to do it? im guessing not as its as clear as to everyone who watches the games within our lower levels that he's the bloke to lead this talented group moving forward unless he doesnt want to do it? players and parents speak highly of him on the hill at stanningley so somethings going on? its baffled me for years this subject and we have talked about it for years now.the lad cannot want it simple as that.