Monkey Lover wrote:


There is a difference between two clubs plotting to have the fans over and two clubs who were deep into negotiations onto the pros and cons of something which has now had to be rushed into thanks to someone who cant keep their mouth closed.

The club's had no intention of making an announcement after the Wakey game or any time soon because things are still being sorted out, it was forced upon them by the person who decided to start the rumour on social media. Had the denied this to plan it properly and then done it at a later date you would be suggesting they were liars. They cant win.

Take off your Black and White or Red and White specs for five minutes and think about it. Think about what people are saying. I have heard people commenting about Rovers stealing all of Hull's best kids. People suggesting this is Hudge's way of getting better facilities. People worrying about the poor kids who will now have to stay playing for Dockers on a Sunday because there are only half the amount of places available.

The fact is Rovers and Hull have academies that are full of kids that are not good enough. No where near good enough. They should still be playing for their Club side on a Sunday. By streamlining this into one venture, one set of players, one set of coaches, the biggest thing to benefit is the Hull Amateur league which will be 20 players a year better off and perhaps less likely to see teams folding left right and centre as they are now at the age of 14+.

No secrets are being shared other than youth development and in the long run that will benefit both first teams.

It might be a tough pill to swallow but if people waited and let things be explained to them properly when the time is right the whole situation might just be a little bit less of a big deal than people are making out.

If you think Hudgell or Pearson have any intention of merging the first teams, financially motivated or otherwise, then you are not as smart as I thought you were having read your articles for a long time.

Seph wrote:You're missing the point. We want nothing to do with Hull KR. Not one thing.

It's obvious by your tone and patronising reply that you're viewing this from a Red and White perspective. I'd hazard a guess you're Grudgell himself. Shouldn't you be planning a 'no win no fee' rescue of one your players?

Monkey Lover wrote:I couldn't be less 'Red and White' thank you, and as Hudgell is on his way back from Australia I would imagine posting on an internet forum is something of a difficulty for him.

Having 'nothing to do with Hull KR' is one thing but have you considered the benefits of being able to spend far more time and money on a select group of players and how that might help you in the long term?

You strike me as the type of guy who does not really think about the next 5 years and would just prefer Adam Pearson to spend a poop load of cash ala Warrington and hope it works?

I would urge you to wait until the official plans are in place, just have a look, and if you don't like the idea still you can carry out a dirty protest or whatever it is you are planning.

Jimmy Carr wrote:You make your point very well, but your not convincing me.

I see no benefit to FC what so ever (apart from reducing cost for AP), and loads of benefit to KR who own academy was average at best.

AP says he's tried everything and need to reduce costs, well he hasn't tried everything - he hasn't tried a proven coach. And if he had we maybe might have had a little more success in cups and play offs, then the financial burden wouldn't be as bad?

I don't think AP needs to throw money around like you say, I think we have a decent squad and we have some good young talent coming through, the problem is the coaching.

Merging the academy won't solve that.

Grudge has had AP's pants down for me.

Seph wrote:I want the owner to preserve our tradition, to safeguard our future and to keep our proud history in place.

This is about the last 150 years, not the next 5. I actually see benefits in sharing the facilities we have at BB with Rovers. But sharing player pools and 13 starting spots I do not.

Take a look at Leeds Rhinos and how they approach youth in the schools. The problem isn't finding talent in Hull, it's the route into the first team. Until we sort that out we're p*ssing in the wind. On that subject, just look at Logan's performance on Sunday, does that strike you as 'not good enough'?

Monkey Lover wrote:The fact is I get that, I get all of it.

I happen to think Lee Radford will come good, but I understand why fans would be annoyed right now and this is a cherry on a very badly made cake. He is clearly not everyone's choice and may well lose his job soon.

However if you want to break it down what exactly is it that Hull KR will gain?

Bishop Burton? The college would have Rovers there in a flash if they wanted to, it is a huge facility which can easily hold all 3 clubs youth depts.

Coaches? Most of these coaches were appointed by Lee Radford and AP, does that not mean that whilst the first team may be stuttering its way through Super League like a car with flat tyres but they have identified the key areas's for future success and have put a team in place to try and replicate the way Wigan have produced a winning side through youth? Rovers coaches may not be as well known but given the improvement in their youth set up in recent years they are clearly capable and to my knowledge the coaching staff of the merged Academy will contain a mixture of both clubs staff.

Education and Welfare etc? I'm not sure if you're aware but virtually every Academy in Super League have open doors and coaches visit each all the time to exchange ideas etc. For me, anything other than tactics (which are usually sent down from above anyway) is quite open amongst clubs and often guided by the RFL too. A lot of the schemes such as Social media awareness, drugs, alcohol etc are RFL or external schemes open to all clubs so Rovers will be using the same people anyway.

Players? The current crop are ring fenced, the future players will be split by a draft, which ultimately gives them a 50% chance of getting a player, no different to now I suspect.

Had Rovers still been a Championship side I might see the point of people not wanting to share to benefit Rovers but I don't actually see too much for them to gain that Hull will lose.

Jimmy Carr wrote:Not going to go through all those points, its a much simpler question for me.

FC are already bringing through more young talent than KR, far more in fact. It does seem a lot of them struggle at senior level, again that's a coaching issue (LR?). But Some of them look like future stars, Shaul being an example.

So what are KR bringing to the table that will improve on that? That's the bit I can't get my head round, all I see is that in future it's likely we will have to share that young talent. KR may not be a championship side, but their current academy is far inferior to FC's, ask the RFL.

If have a business that makes £10 and you have one that makes £5 and we merge them so we get £7.50 each who's the winner?

Any way as you say, it will certainly keep interest up after the season has finished.