overseas players : Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:54 am  

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Will-our-homegrown-talent-win.4960110.jp interesting article in yep about overseas players. Notice sledger has his usual underhand dig at us because we have 2 more overseas this year than we did in 1996, Despite us being sixth in list behind lds,sts,hudds,wire with majority of SL teams having more overseas than us. Other thing he negelects to mention is that of out eight only six are likely to make the starting 17 assuming everyone is fit, with tupou and one of jeffries/bird almost certain to miss out, whereas the six that leeds and saints have are almost certain to play every week, so interms of overseas players in the starting 17 we're actually dead level

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Will-our-homegrown-talent-win.4960110.jp interesting article in yep about overseas players. Notice sledger has his usual underhand dig at us because we have 2 more overseas this year than we did in 1996, Despite us being sixth in list behind lds,sts,hudds,wire with majority of SL teams having more overseas than us. Other thing he negelects to mention is that of out eight only six are likely to make the starting 17 assuming everyone is fit, with tupou and one of jeffries/bird almost certain to miss out, whereas the six that leeds and saints have are almost certain to play every week, so interms of overseas players in the starting 17 we're actually dead level

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:35 am  

It's the usual stupid arguement against overseas players. This whole thing that if we get rid of all these overseas players then suddenly all these world class british players will spring out of the ground to take their place. If a player has the potential and the ability he will break through on his own. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury let me introduce you to exibit A: Sam Burgess. Exibit B: James Graham. Exibit C: Joe Westerman. Need I go on?

I think what has changed in terms of imports since 1996 is that there are far fewer journeymen coming over for a retirement package. Even the older players that have come over (menzies, buderus) are quality players who will improve their teams on and off the field

Re: overseas players : Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:16 am  

mat wrote:

Other thing he negelects to mention is that of out eight only six are likely to make the starting 17

That reflects badly on the club, not well.

Having overseas players of a quality where they improve the team is one thing, having them filling up the squad is another - these are the sort of players who do block the progress of younger and fringe players.

Re: overseas players : Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:18 am  

Asim wrote:

That reflects badly on the club, not well.

Having overseas players of a quality where they improve the team is one thing, having them filling up the squad is another - these are the sort of players who do block the progress of younger and fringe players.

I totalla agree with you there, it's better to have one of our youngsters on the verge of breaking into the first team rather than an overseas quota spot.

[Bullseye]

Re: overseas players : Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:18 am  

Asim wrote:

That reflects badly on the club, not well.

Having overseas players of a quality where they improve the team is one thing, having them filling up the squad is another - these are the sort of players who do block the progress of younger and fringe players.

Do they?

Looking at the quality of SL I'd be surprised if there were lots of players who were being allowed to slip through the net because of an obsession with recruiting from overseas.

IMO there is a lack of quality players in SL both British and overseas thats why there are so many average ones around.

Re: overseas players : Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:25 am  

mat wrote: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Will-our-homegrown-talent-win.4960110.jp interesting article in yep about overseas players. Notice sledger has his usual underhand dig at us because we have 2 more overseas this year than we did in 1996, Despite us being sixth in list behind lds,sts,hudds,wire with majority of SL teams having more overseas than us. Other thing he negelects to mention is that of out eight only six are likely to make the starting 17 assuming everyone is fit, with tupou and one of jeffries/bird almost certain to miss out, whereas the six that leeds and saints have are almost certain to play every week, so interms of overseas players in the starting 17 we're actually dead level Ledger hates Bradford, just like all journo's do, every referee & touchy & everyone at Red Hall. Plus Eddie & Stevo. It's a conspiracy. It's the best SL ever for hating Bradford.

mat wrote: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Will-our-homegrown-talent-win.4960110.jp interesting article in yep about overseas players. Notice sledger has his usual underhand dig at us because we have 2 more overseas this year than we did in 1996, Despite us being sixth in list behind lds,sts,hudds,wire with majority of SL teams having more overseas than us. Other thing he negelects to mention is that of out eight only six are likely to make the starting 17 assuming everyone is fit, with tupou and one of jeffries/bird almost certain to miss out, whereas the six that leeds and saints have are almost certain to play every week, so interms of overseas players in the starting 17 we're actually dead level Ledger hates Bradford, just like all journo's do, every referee & touchy & everyone at Red Hall. Plus Eddie & Stevo. It's a conspiracy. It's the best SL ever for hating Bradford.

Re: overseas players : Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:31 am  

tigertot wrote:

Ledger hates Bradford, just like all journo's do, every referee & touchy & everyone at Red Hall. Plus Eddie & Stevo. It's a conspiracy. It's the best SL ever for hating Bradford.

Spot on

Re: overseas players : Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:33 am  

Bullseye wrote:

Do they?

Looking at the quality of SL I'd be surprised if there were lots of players who were being allowed to slip through the net because of an obsession with recruiting from overseas.

IMO there is a lack of quality players in SL both British and overseas thats why there are so many average ones around.

There might just be a lack of kids wanting to play rugby league. If you love the game then you will play it - if you are good at other sports then money might come into it. The cap is £1.8m. Union is £4m ( at present) but they are thinking of reducing it due to financial difficulties Union in France has no cap. Toulouse has a reported annual wage bill of £15m But the important thing is the amount of money available in football. All these sports are looking for sporting talent. There is only a finite pool.

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:05 am  

Well the obvious thing to do is to push RL into schools. And THAT is a job for the RFL not individual clubs. Sure the local clubs can get involved but the governing body has the final job of setting up and maintaining the grassroots of the game

[Bullseye]

: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:16 pm  

Our club does plenty to push RL in schools as it is and is currently getting slated for doing so in Halifax too!

There's a lot of competition for sporting talent from other sports. More than ever before.