Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 12:15 pm  

Rocknrolla69er wrote:

It's just elitism

How many professional players have been produced that have made a career out of the sport, it doesn't matter how good they are or if they've played international rugby, who are the RFL to take career pathways away?

Reading the comments I'm cringing abit at our fans attitude where it seems it's more important rovers suffer than the actual career pathways of young rugby league players, it's all box ticking. Does anyone have the number of players produced by the city that have played professionally as that's the more important fact rather than just stating watts and Taylor

I dont think that are many Hull fans laughing at Rovers, most I've read have been in support of Rovers and Cas.

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 12:26 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

I dont think that are many Hull fans laughing at Rovers, most I've read have been in support of Rovers and Cas.

I Agree with that I don't know any who are laughing just lamenting once again the inadequacies of the RFL! Its just a catalogue of mistake after mistake, born out of self interest and talking down to the fans (their customers). the arrogance shone through last night in Rimmers interview. I know a lot won't concur with this but for me you can see how the owners of Super League Clubs, a group of business men used to running viable and profit orientated organisations in the commercial world outside the game, want to distance themselves from such chaos can't you?

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 12:36 pm  

Any academy is only as good as the talent they have to work with.
The real issue is the actual number of young people playing the game.
We are constantly being told that Hull is a hot bed for RL yet my experience from watching my son progress from the age of 6 to open age does not tally with that image.
At the age of 6 to 8 there where about 10 teams in total in Hull, Beverley and Holderness. By the age of 14 that was down to 4 teams with the odd friendly against one club who couldn't regularly raise a team.
That's a maximum of 90 to 100 boys playing the game at that particular age group. I would suggest if we want to create an Australian style conveyor belt of talent then we desperately need to increase the playing pool. 100 boys is hardly enough to feed one SL club let alone two.
The RFL and SL clubs themselves have to share some blame for this. The community game for as long as I can remember has been financially on its knees with little or no help from either SL or the RFL, either financial or the promotion of this great game.
The game at this level survives because of parents and volunteers.

It also has to be said that the behaviour of my club and HKR to wards these young people is scandalous. From a pool of around 100 boys they are going to have pick a significant number just to create a team, many of which I would respectfully suggest have little or no hope of ever becoming a full time professional RL player. They are persuaded for the clubs own selfish reasons to go down the academy road and chase an unrealistic dream. At 18 the inevitable happens and they are released missing out on an Apprenticeship or University. Disillusioned they are usually lost to the game.

Perhaps efforts should be channelled into creating greater participation numbers and an academy system that allows the vast majority of the young men to also carve out a career outside RL.

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 12:40 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Watts came from the Cas academy not Rovers.

I think it's a mistake,but some Rovers fans asking for Pearson to come out in support, is it likely that Rovers would publically support Hull if it was the other way around?

I think with all the pressure the RFL will have to fold and allow teams that want an elite academy to do so, maybe have it themselves initially.

dont think watts played for cas academy, he was a featherstone lions junior and came to kr at 16, stand to be corrected

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 1:01 pm  

BoothferryBoy wrote:

The RFL and SL clubs themselves have to share some blame for this. The community game for as long as I can remember has been financially on its knees with little or no help from either SL or the RFL, either financial or the promotion of this great game.

And now the RFL are trying to push through a £20-£30 'membership fee' that every player, coaches and even volunteers have to pay directly to them on top of the subs to their community club.

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 1:10 pm  

And now the RFL are trying to push through a £20-£30 'membership fee' that every player, coaches and even volunteers have to pay directly to them on top of the subs to their community club

Wow......Staggering arrogance and misreading of the situation, they talk about a Westminster Bubble !!

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 1:33 pm  

supersport wrote: dont think watts played for cas academy, he was a featherstone lions junior and came to kr at 16, stand to be corrected Was at Cas from 15 to 17. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/8536725/ ... all-corsa/ Wasnt easy to find.

supersport wrote: dont think watts played for cas academy, he was a featherstone lions junior and came to kr at 16, stand to be corrected Was at Cas from 15 to 17. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/8536725/ ... all-corsa/ Wasnt easy to find.

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 2:37 pm  

BoothferryBoy wrote:

Any academy is only as good as the talent they have to work with.
The real issue is the actual number of young people playing the game.
We are constantly being told that Hull is a hot bed for RL yet my experience from watching my son progress from the age of 6 to open age does not tally with that image.
At the age of 6 to 8 there where about 10 teams in total in Hull, Beverley and Holderness. By the age of 14 that was down to 4 teams with the odd friendly against one club who couldn't regularly raise a team.
That's a maximum of 90 to 100 boys playing the game at that particular age group. I would suggest if we want to create an Australian style conveyor belt of talent then we desperately need to increase the playing pool. 100 boys is hardly enough to feed one SL club let alone two.
The RFL and SL clubs themselves have to share some blame for this. The community game for as long as I can remember has been financially on its knees with little or no help from either SL or the RFL, either financial or the promotion of this great game.
The game at this level survives because of parents and volunteers.

It also has to be said that the behaviour of my club and HKR to wards these young people is scandalous. From a pool of around 100 boys they are going to have pick a significant number just to create a team, many of which I would respectfully suggest have little or no hope of ever becoming a full time professional RL player. They are persuaded for the clubs own selfish reasons to go down the academy road and chase an unrealistic dream. At 18 the inevitable happens and they are released missing out on an Apprenticeship or University. Disillusioned they are usually lost to the game.

Perhaps efforts should be channelled into creating greater participation numbers and an academy system that allows the vast majority of the young men to also carve out a career outside RL.

It’s the same in football, only on a much bigger scale.
The obvious point to make about all this is that, even if everyone of the players came through to the highest level. Professional RL is not a big enough sport to give them all a career. So it makes sense to limit the number you take on and ergo, the number of academies you have.

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 3:49 pm  

Dave K. wrote: Was at Cas from 15 to 17. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/8536725/ ... all-corsa/ Wasnt easy to find. corrected

Dave K. wrote: Was at Cas from 15 to 17. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/8536725/ ... all-corsa/ Wasnt easy to find. corrected

Re: Academy Prospects : Fri May 28, 2021 4:37 pm  

[quote="The Dentist Wilf"]I Agree with that I don't know any who are laughing just lamenting once again the inadequacies of the RFL! Its just a catalogue of mistake after mistake, born out of self interest and talking down to the fans (their customers). the arrogance shone through last night in Rimmers interview. I know a lot won't concur with this but for me you can see how the owners of Super League Clubs, a group of business men used to running viable and profit orientated organisations in the commercial world outside the game, want to distance themselves from such chaos can't you?[/quote]

Thats exactly why the sport has difficulty in been taken seriously nationally and why many large sponsors wont go near the game of rugby league. We probably have the best contact sport in the world but it simply does not get the recognition it deserves. When you see decisions like this been taken you can see why.
In my opinion the whole RFL set up needs a good shake up. It requires people who actually connect with the players and supporters been appointed, only then in my view will the game move forward and perhaps stand a much better chance of gaining the respect and recognition it deserves nationally. The current lot at the RFL are in my honest opinion not fit for purpose. Their continuity at the top will in my view only serve to damage the sport and image of rugby league further.