With current talk of joint initiatives between the cities sporting clubs, one area that i would really like to see us join forces with Hull FC in is junior development.

As things stand the Scholorship schemes start at under 14s and i appreciate that at that point the 2 clubs will be fighting for players and will have to go their own ways.

However, junior clubs such as West Hull and Skirlaugh have squads of players as young as 4 years of age (eg West Hull Maggots). That gives the 2 pro clubs 10 years to work together to help the amateur clubs develop these players.

I would imagine that by joining forces we could be in a stronger position for grants and funding etc to enable us to employ more people in our Community teams and launch bigger projects. We could get into clubs and schools more often without worrying about treading on each others toes and ultimately produce a much bigger playing pool by the ages of 14/15 in order to help both Clubs challenge the games elite.

I think it could work.

What happens when a 'real' star emerges and both clubs have given equal amounts into the scheme, back to the squabbling.

As happens now, the player and his parents will decide which club he plays for. Hopefully by working together we could produce more "real stars" than we do now independently.

If only it were that simple. If he was a superstar in the making he would go with who ever paid the piper the most im afraid.

Bit the point is that we may be able to produce more potential superstars if we work together.

And squabble over them? im loving your sentiment but I'd like us to produce our own instead of our star being touted as an fc scout find and vice-versa.

We simply implamant the rule in the AFL/NFL.

Lowest league position from the previous season gets first pick!

The Draft system works a treat.

I coach a junior team and the real problem we have is football, a guy from the RFL gave a presentation about kids dropping out of our game at 12 years old and believe me the RFL don't have a clue. I have lost 3 very good players because Leeds Utd, Hull City have got involved with their football development at a young age (6,7,icon_cool.gif we as a sport can't compete with this, i feel that the RFL have to let our pro clubs get involved with the kids a lot earlier then they are now this would help a lot towards making sure we have a strong pool of talent for all clubs to develop.

No it wouldn't. All it would do is help to further commoditise young, developing players

You only have to look at our own youth leagues to see that the team's with the most players involved with pro clubs are the one's who regularly top the league so why not let the pro clubs get involved earlier. There are kids playing now and in the past that have chosen other sports over ours that could of gone on to play our game at a very high standard, if it means pro clubs get involved earlier so be it if it means the kids stay involved with rugby league. The bottom line is we need help encouraging players to choose our sport, after all look at how young the Australian pro clubs get involved with youth development and its working over there so why not here?

Unfortunatley there are problems a plenty with the proposition.



1) kids dropp-off rugby in big numbers between the ages 11-13 - so investment too early will be wasted.

2) physic plays a massive part in the mini-mod game - the bigger kids can run riot but as the sizes level out so does their advantage - so that complicates matters.

3) the early years coaching should be based around enjoyment and core skills



Rovers and FC should be looking to get involved around with players 12-13ish... however there is the thought that if kids dont get 'drafted' at this early age they may feel second class and leave the game.



Its a difficult call but both clubs could do alot more to attract juniors and keep them happy once they sign them as academy players - seems both clubs need to improve in this department.



In all honesty any joint inititive fail - FC are infront in these stakes but will soon be overtaken with the academy function. Parhaps this is an area Mr Pearson will 'invest in'?

I believe in the NRL all clubs have junior teams that they look after and most of their players come from the junior teams when they are ready why dont we in this country