Anyone go to the Academy game last night? Was pretty shocked at the result, we'v looked poor under Chev Walker and thought we'd struggle with how well you have been going.
Anyone go to the Academy game last night? Was pretty shocked at the result, we'v looked poor under Chev Walker and thought we'd struggle with how well you have been going.
Yeah, big surprise. 6 nil up only to end up losing 6-32. Had a decent side out too. Poo happens.
Yeah, big surprise. 6 nil up only to end up losing 6-32. Had a decent side out too. Poo happens.
That's why I never read much into Academy league positions, not that there is a league this year.
It's nice for those involved but winning the U19's comp is no guarantee of future success. You only have to look at the last Trinity team to do it, from memory only Anakin and Wildie managed modest careers, maybe a few others. Since then we've been pretty mediocre but have produced TJ, Crowther, Jowitt, Aydin, Kershaw, etc.
Academy teams are notoriously unpredictable, some teams are good because they are good well-coached teams but lack any real individual ability. Others are good because they have star players who play well together, some are crap despite having star players but that doesn't stop those players from progressing. It's all a big experiment and I'm not yet sure which we are yet.
Always best to ignore results within reason IMHO and concentrate on the individual performances. There I do see good cause to be optimistic, Eseh looks a real prospect as does O'Donoven, and Murphy has undeniable pace and balance whilst a few others show signs of quality.
The truth is you only know how good an Academy team was 3 or 4 years down the line, results though not meaningless are not the be-all and end-all that they are in the Pro game.
Surprised at that result considering the impressive results from the 19s all year. Good win for Leeds that and a bit unexpected but it’s sport and sometimes these things happen.
That's why I never read much into Academy league positions, not that there is a league this year.
It's nice for those involved but winning the U19's comp is no guarantee of future success. You only have to look at the last Trinity team to do it, from memory only Anakin and Wildie managed modest careers, maybe a few others. Since then we've been pretty mediocre but have produced TJ, Crowther, Jowitt, Aydin, Kershaw, etc.
Academy teams are notoriously unpredictable, some teams are good because they are good well-coached teams but lack any real individual ability. Others are good because they have star players who play well together, some are crap despite having star players but that doesn't stop those players from progressing. It's all a big experiment and I'm not yet sure which we are yet.
Always best to ignore results within reason IMHO and concentrate on the individual performances. There I do see good cause to be optimistic, Eseh looks a real prospect as does O'Donoven, and Murphy has undeniable pace and balance whilst a few others show signs of quality.
The truth is you only know how good an Academy team was 3 or 4 years down the line, results though not meaningless are not the be-all and end-all that they are in the Pro game.
Just a question do you watch or have you seen the academy play on a regular basis
Just a question do you watch or have you seen the academy play on a regular basis
I’ve watched it for 30 years and your point is.
Back story. I actually trialed for Featherstone colts around 1980. I got nowhere but that team was brilliant and I think they won it that year or certainly challenged. I got a trial because I knew a couple of the other lads, otherwise, I don’t think I’d have got a look in as Fev was and still is super clannish.
Anyway, I digress. Brilliant though that TEAM was not one ever played in the first team for Fev or anyone else as far as I know.
I wondered for years why and then it dawned. All had come through teams like Jubilee etc and had been playing together for years, they were a team long before they played for Fev and this made all the difference at age limit RL.
The problem was none were individually good enough to play against seasoned pros. It’s that simple. For the rest of the ’80s, the Fev youth team didn’t do that much but produced Newlove, Pearson, Bastion, and a fair few others. It’s how it goes.
I know how age limit RL works, I know how it rightly missed and IMO wrongly missed my son but I don’t blame anyone, it’s incredibly difficult to spot real talent and more importantly desire at those ages with the occasional exception, ie Paul Scunthorpe or Shaun Edwards and for me Tom Johnstone. Ditto, it’s easy to miss, ie Gareth Ellis.
Back story. I actually trialed for Featherstone colts around 1980. I got nowhere but that team was brilliant and I think they won it that year or certainly challenged. I got a trial because I knew a couple of the other lads, otherwise, I don’t think I’d have got a look in as Fev was and still is super clannish.
Anyway, I digress. Brilliant though that TEAM was not one ever played in the first team for Fev or anyone else as far as I know.
I wondered for years why and then it dawned. All had come through teams like Jubilee etc and had been playing together for years, they were a team long before they played for Fev and this made all the difference at age limit RL.
The problem was none were individually good enough to play against seasoned pros. It’s that simple. For the rest of the ’80s, the Fev youth team didn’t do that much but produced Newlove, Pearson, Bastion, and a fair few others. It’s how it goes.
I know how age limit RL works, I know how it rightly missed and IMO wrongly missed my son but I don’t blame anyone, it’s incredibly difficult to spot real talent and more importantly desire at those ages with the occasional exception, ie Paul Scunthorpe or Shaun Edwards and for me Tom Johnstone. Ditto, it’s easy to miss, ie Gareth Ellis.
Hope that helps.
My point was you seem to speak as if you know so much about the current Academy team but you only seem to mention the odd few and these are the players who have first team spot.there are other players that to many stand out josh leeson is a nin stop work alcoholic who if he was a bit bigger would be in first team ny now.carter beevers who a year younger than most of who played last night but is real quality and will go far thers leon ruhan (who in my opinionin ) better then both essah and odonavan (not a dig at lads or coached just an opinion)thers also a couple to watch out for robbie maun and most definitely oliver pratt
My point was you seem to speak as if you know so much about the current Academy team but you only seem to mention the odd few and these are the players who have first team spot.there are other players that to many stand out josh leeson is a nin stop work alcoholic who if he was a bit bigger would be in first team ny now.carter beevers who a year younger than most of who played last night but is real quality and will go far thers leon ruhan (who in my opinionin ) better then both essah and odonavan (not a dig at lads or coached just an opinion)thers also a couple to watch out for robbie maun and most definitely oliver pratt