Academy at Hull KR

[John S]

Sorry folks unable to give the usual in depth report on this week's game as my Mum is in hospital so I have had to miss the game.

Had a text from one of the parents at half time

"Hull KR 26
Widnes  0
Playing awful"

Hull KR have, I believe, only lost one game so far and that was against Hull.

[John S]

Final Score

Hull KR 46
Widnes  8

[Eclipse]

Thanks JS,

I watched HKR play against Wigan on DVD and they are the most well drilled u/18 team i have seen this season.

[Widnesacademy]

Credit to the guys. They must of really looked in the mirror at themselves at half time ,for 30 minutes of the second half we were much better than the first. Only in the last ten minutes did we start to get dominated, with the fatigue setting in from the pounding we took in the first half . This allowed them to score a couple of runaway tries which took the gloss of an excellent 2nd half effort. We also had to cope with a sinbinning for what seemed no worse a tackle than numerous we had seen for the KR pack. With just 2 lads in the KR team in the first year of their academy it was always going to be an uphill struggle. I thought the lads shown some true character and if they can continue to improve on their individual games they wont go far wrong. big challenge ahead on Thursday night at Castleford , lets get along and give them some support

[Ratboy]

I think we have a weakened academy with injuries.What was the team?

[Sandgroper]

Same with reseves as well.  The cries to draft Hougghton and Gerrard into the first team would finish them atm.

I honestly believe the club are trying to keep these teams together to actually grab some silverware.  Can't believe that PC/DB can't see the promise particularly in DH.

[acetheviking]

Same with reseves as well.  The cries to draft Hougghton and Gerrard into the first team would finish them atm.

I honestly believe the club are trying to keep these teams together to actually grab some silverware.  Can't believe that PC/DB can't see the promise particularly in DH.

The reserves certainly have more in....erm reserve than the 18's do at the moment who seem to be in a bit of crisis with numbers. They have enough to cover a few players stepping up to the firsts for sure.

I know we commented on this previously but I really dont see much point in keeping a reserve side together solely to win some silverware at this level. It's a poor level that we have won before and been to the final countless times. It is hardly breaking new ground. There is absolutely no logic in holding players back in terms of development to do this. Given that a large portion of the side are coming upto or are over twenty years of age it is that time for them that a break in the first team and some good performances could change their lives in respect of a full time SL deal. As it is though for the one you mentioned in Dave Houghton there isnt a chance that he is going to get a deal at the moment. I like him and id rather have him in at present than Scully but it's quite clear that he isnt rated by Betts. He isnt going to get a SL deal though when he will be 23 come the start of next season and he cant break through to get a sustained run of games in one of our worst front rows in recent years. There are a fair few who will be in limbo given their age and the restrictions within the U20's competition next year plus the fact that there is no doubt that some of the younger lads in the firsts at present (Hulme, Grady.) who may get signed on will in all liklihood play overage in the 20's. Some will get a year to make a charge on the first team before they get cut.

I appreciate that on the previous thread you mentioned harbouring a 'winning mentality' and to an extent I agree but not to the extent of holding back players. Although he is injured at present I really dont understand why Alex Brown for one is playing his third year at 18's other than to stand out like a sore thumb in terms of his class which he naturally will playing at that level again and against what is alot of the time younger players. I dont see what he gains by playing at that level again. I know he is in and around the first team picture but why wasnt he getting moved up to play reserves for a short while against some bigger and older lads with a view to a run out in the firsts at some stage. Everything else then naturally backfills in and you have other lads getting gametime in the 18's and their chance to shine and progress.

It is what Wigan and also Warrington have got down to a tee. Farming lots out on dual reg and then backfilling their sides with younger players who step up to a higher level and this works right through the 20's and 18's. Ben Currie is playing well at 16 years of age in the Warrington U20's at present. If he was here he would be in the 18's for the next three years playing against the same standards but maybe picking up some academy championships along the way.

Even as fans we seem to have become results obsessed with the junior ranks when at the end of the day it doesnt really matter or provide anything other than a barometer to measure against other sides. For the most of the time the 18's results can be skewed from week to week anyway with some sides having a lot of first years, other with second and even third years or others dropping players back down if the 20's have a blank week.

[vikinghead]

Same with reseves as well.  The cries to draft Hougghton and Gerrard into the first team would finish them atm.

I honestly believe the club are trying to keep these teams together to actually grab some silverware.  Can't believe that PC/DB can't see the promise particularly in DH.

Funny that....... I've been to every single reserve game, and although they have been good ... They have not been the stand out players to me...
Jack smith has been playing superb ! And big centre\second rower  josh crowley has been unstopable in a good few games ....  Grant gore has had some fantastic games also...
I'm sure there have been a number of games dave houghton hasn't played and the reserves have played no different...
So I don't know were you get the idea that if these two don't play.. The reserves would be finished !!

[Coachdriver]

Academy Team was Owens, Butterworth, Ferneyhough, Sephton-Hulme, Blackmore, Atkin, Price, Davies, Hulme, Norton, Rigby, McCann, Buck Subs Hughes, Doolan, Ball and Tague.

Stato, are you going on Thursday to Castleford?

[Ratboy]

Academy Team was Owens, Butterworth, Ferneyhough, Sephton-Hulme, Blackmore, Atkin, Price, Davies, Hulme, Norton, Rigby, McCann, Buck Subs Hughes, Doolan, Ball and Tague.

Stato, are you going on Thursday to Castleford?

Thankyou mate and definitely a few players missing.

[John S]

Academy Team was Owens, Butterworth, Ferneyhough, Sephton-Hulme, Blackmore, Atkin, Price, Davies, Hulme, Norton, Rigby, McCann, Buck Subs Hughes, Doolan, Ball and Tague.

Stato, are you going on Thursday to Castleford?

Yes and looking forward to it.

[sally]

Funny that....... I've been to every single reserve game, and although they have been good ... They have not been the stand out players to me...
Jack smith has been playing superb ! And big centre\second rower  josh crowley has been unstopable in a good few games ....  Grant gore has had some fantastic games also...
I'm sure there have been a number of games dave houghton hasn't played and the reserves have played no different...
So I don't know were you get the idea that if these two don't play.. The reserves would be finished !!

Vikinghead i think what Sandgroper meant was that that the reserves havent got many forwards, with Eliott Davies out injured if Houghton and Gerrard were draffted into the 1st team it would leave them very short of props.