Tonight just puts a focus on the position and it’s much needed. Everyone was rank tonight but the centre position has been neglected for too long here. It is a key position and a specialist position and we have to stop just making do. I honestly doubt there’s a club spending less on its centres now Hardaker has gone. I very much doubt Bibby or Thornley are on top money and Halsall would be on even less. They are the three centres in the squad, with anybody else simply playing out of position.

McDonnall going to Leeds for 2023. Disappointing to lose another quality young player but we can’t keep them all.

It’s the boom to bust mentality. No development in youth.

They have the opportunity to run a development academy but choose not to.

For sustained success as a club they need the infrastructure, they simply show no intent in developing that.

I absolutely agree with all of that and it’s something that needs sorting in the longer term and not just at Leigh but across the game. I do think in the shorter term it’s no bad thing for the game having a team in the league who aren’t a nailed on cert to be relegated though. That can drive standards elsewhere and doesn’t give every one a safety net. It’s a short term view though but it’s where we’re at currently.

If Halsall isn't going to get a chance in our first team then he needs to go to another lower table Super League team on loan to get more experience rather than playing for Newcastle he's too good for that level

Plenty talent in the Leigh area, shown by everyone going to Warrington, Saints and a few at Wigan.

no they didnt, they have had their last 2 academy applications rejected twice.....

Huddersfield have signed Naquarma (spell) and Bibby, no way they’ll have King off Warrington with his huge contract. Wire fans thinking he’ll just go away are deluded.

Hudds Naquarma Bibby

Wire King Ma’tuatia

Leaves Wardle to us.

That would upset Powell.

Where's Leutele? Cudjoe is playing on next year as well. Something has to give somewhere.

Good question mate; I’d guess Australia.

They can still run an Academy.

The fact their development systems were so poor the last 2 times means they failed to be part of the elite Academy program. There is absolutely no reason why they cannot however run an Academy program outside that much like Featherston have done.

it wasnt poor it was rejected, they can have an academy but cannot play games v academies, so they could only play salford as they were refused also, they got rejected but newcastle accepted...shows the RFL for what it is again...useless

Wigan with Wardle

Did you not read the last link I posted on this topic?

Leigh are more than free to set up and run a development academy. There is a development league which is run jointly with the student RL community and colleges who run successful teams, and with evidence of investment and resources apply for an elite licence a couple of years later.

Honestly how teams have made the RFL the bad guys for not accepting clubs taking money for running an academy and then pocketing it rather than actually investing in young players makes me really angry. Newcastle we’re able to evidence how they used the funding and committed to creating pathways for young players, Leigh didn’t. That doesn’t make the RFL useless, it makes Leigh useless.

We in this country are far far too dependent on too few academies to produce the vast majority of talent in the UK (one of which is Wigans academy) and the RFL were right for not accepting clubs taking the Michael about it.

they are free too? thats good of them, the college league was running anyway, they hve been forced there as the RFL rejected their application (again), you also have to attend the college to play so its not really the same is it? Leigh didnt have an academy to show where the money was going.....how could they? so yeah it makes the RFL useless, you say teams are dependant on a few academies? They have no choice, Look at Leigh Miners this year....10 of their 13 are on pro teams book and not one at Leigh because they cannot, Wigan, Wire and Saints have benefitted from it.

If you got rejected from a job because you don’t evidence having the necessary skills and experience to do the job that makes the hiring company useless? The backwards logic here is staggering.

Yes, run a development academy, in conjunction with a college, evidence your commitment to development pathways and investment into youth, apply for an elite licence. Or throw your toys out the pram for not getting funding for something you weren’t doing anyway. How do you think the Newcastle Academy started?

so you have to attend Leigh college? Instead of going to Winstanley or St John Rigby....or even going for a trade, your analogy makes no sense, its like applying for a job?? How did Leigh not have the relevant requirements? They did eh...

The Saints academy is partnered with St Helen’s College. Yes, one of the requirements of an academy is to still provide training and skills opportunities outside of the sport. This extends well past the academy and into the first team too. Liam Farrell just graduated from UCLAN for example. Most juniors split their time between college (or apprenticeship) and the club, with the club providing additional support and pastoral care. If you only judge an academy on the success of those who go on to be successful in the sport, it’s not a very good barometer. Sadly a successful career in SL isn’t enough to support someone for their whole life, and continued education alongside the sport is absolutely necessary.

Leigh didn’t have the relevant qualifications by not having clear plans and structures for how they support all of their juniors into careers. Instead of strengthening these pastoral areas, they took the cut in funding and an excuse to not bother at all, which shows how invested they were in the success of it in the first place.

Why it’s such a surprise that some academies are better than others I don’t know.

If the lads are going for a trade they enrol at the college. Plenty of current SL players were developed through that system.

It was set up by the RFL to get late developers. All of the smaller clubs have issues recruiting if the bigger clubs come in for them. Clubs like Wakefield etc get the scraps but still run a very successful and highly regarded junior program, they also align with the local college to provide a pathway away from the traditional pathway.

It takes some effort and vision, looks like that is a bit too much for some clubs to comprehend or attempt.

By 'eck, Superbeetle, tha don't 'alf love threshin' straw mons!

Huddersfield have Cudjoe too, and they’re running with 3 senior centres this year, certainly think Wardles days are over at Huddersfield but I think it’s looking more likely he would go to Warrington over us. We have/had the cap space as we’d signed Cooper and it would have made more sense to swap with Bibby if he was going their next season. I don’t think Warrington having King and Matuatia makes Wardle a none starter for them, teams run with 3 senior centres and Matautia can cover full back and Wardle wing if needed and we know Warringtons accountant will find room under the cap.
Imo the best centre of them all is Leutele but it’s finding a quota spot, if French is to leave I think he would be a great use of his quota spot, the only worry is his age with him being 32 as we would be looking to replace in a couple of years and Wardle would hopefully lock a starting centre spot for years without taking a quota spot.

Wire have Connor Wrench as well, so I think they’d need to shift King to get Wardle personally but you never can tell with Wire.

I’d do them a favour and take Wrench if they need another off the books. Incredible that Powell isn’t playing the kid. He looks a superb player.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"The Saints academy is partnered with St Helen’s College. Yes, one of the requirements of an academy is to still provide training and skills opportunities outside of the sport. This extends well past the academy and into the first team too. Liam Farrell just graduated from UCLAN for example. Most juniors split their time between college (or apprenticeship) and the club, with the club providing additional support and pastoral care. If you only judge an academy on the success of those who go on to be successful in the sport, it’s not a very good barometer. Sadly a successful career in SL isn’t enough to support someone for their whole life, and continued education alongside the sport is absolutely necessary. Leigh didn’t have the relevant qualifications by not having clear plans and structures for how they support all of their juniors into careers. Instead of strengthening these pastoral areas, they took the cut in funding and an excuse to not bother at all, which shows how invested they were in the success of it in the first place. Why it’s such a surprise that some academies are better than others I don’t know.'" One of the reasons why Wigan run their own education academy? https://wiganwarriors.com/community-education/education. I think John Winder is the leader of that initiative.

Quote ="Magic Superbeetle"The Saints academy is partnered with St Helen’s College. Yes, one of the requirements of an academy is to still provide training and skills opportunities outside of the sport. This extends well past the academy and into the first team too. Liam Farrell just graduated from UCLAN for example. Most juniors split their time between college (or apprenticeship) and the club, with the club providing additional support and pastoral care. If you only judge an academy on the success of those who go on to be successful in the sport, it’s not a very good barometer. Sadly a successful career in SL isn’t enough to support someone for their whole life, and continued education alongside the sport is absolutely necessary. Leigh didn’t have the relevant qualifications by not having clear plans and structures for how they support all of their juniors into careers. Instead of strengthening these pastoral areas, they took the cut in funding and an excuse to not bother at all, which shows how invested they were in the success of it in the first place. Why it’s such a surprise that some academies are better than others I don’t know.'" One of the reasons why Wigan run their own education academy? https://wiganwarriors.com/community-education/education. I think John Winder is the leader of that initiative.

I still think Wardle will end up at Wigan.

King will go to Giants, if the right deal can be struck. He’s on a massive deal at Wire and some financial compromise between the clubs and him would have to be reached in regards his wage. King is a Huddersfield lad and big Giants “fan”.

King , Bibby and Cudjo will be fighting it out for 2 centre spots.

King wanted to go to the Giants in this most recent deal, Wardle just wanted out so short term Wire was a good destination and a deal could be done.

Longer term, is beyond this season, I think a deal with Wigan has been done.

No inside info at all just a feeling and a few murmurs from different people.