What are your thoughts on Liam Harris. Last season when he was on the fringes of the Rovers 17, he was at York, where he was ripping it up and was playing out of his skin, this and the fact Jamie Ellis wasn't flavour of the month meant many Rovers fans were calling for him to be played. When he was given his chance he shone, and didn't look out of place in the Championship.
When he signed for Doncaster many Rovers fans were scratching their heads thinking have we let a good un slip the net.
However every time I have seen him play he has looked awful (played OK at Magic Wkd).

I believe he has signed a 2 or 3 year deal for F.C. What are your thoughts about him? He is 23 now, played plenty of League 1. Do you think he will make it as a Super League player and what do you think of his all round game??

not ready yet

but also doesnt help when he his playing behind a beaten pack most weeks, looked ok v the lesser SL teams early on but out of his depth im afraid atm

He’s only 21.

If he can learn to tackle SL players, he’s got a chance. If Hull get some of their halfs back, he’ll be at Doncaster on dual reg or playing for Hull’s rebooted reserves though. Which is sensible, enough - but next time he gets a shot at SL, his defence needs to be better or it could be his last.

Unfortunately I don't think he is good enough, but you could say that about the entire team at the moment so it's on reflection potentially unfair. I don't think he will make it in SL but hope I am proven wrong

In baseball in the US, as players advance through the minor league farm system, there’s a thing they call the double-A jump. Long article here: https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/the-double-a-jump-2/ In short, double-A is the level at which any flaws in a prospect’s game, which might not have been noticeable previously, will be exposed. I think when we see stars of the academy system or league 1 struggle in SL, it is much the same thing. I’m less enamoured than most with the reserves concept - but done well (and therefore probably expensively), it could be a better gauge of readiness for SL and a chance for young players to improve out of the spotlight. However, it just basically brings league 1 in-house, i don’t think it adds very much from that POV.

In baseball in the US, as players advance through the minor league farm system, there’s a thing they call the double-A jump. Long article here: https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/the-double-a-jump-2/ In short, double-A is the level at which any flaws in a prospect’s game, which might not have been noticeable previously, will be exposed. I think when we see stars of the academy system or league 1 struggle in SL, it is much the same thing. I’m less enamoured than most with the reserves concept - but done well (and therefore probably expensively), it could be a better gauge of readiness for SL and a chance for young players to improve out of the spotlight. However, it just basically brings league 1 in-house, i don’t think it adds very much from that POV.

Its a refreshing change to have a thoughtful post from a dobbins fan on here and your point about players jumping up levels and having their limitations exposed is valid. The problem in SL is that the jump here is much greater. The current options are a massive jump from academy, or from Championship or League 1. Though that is a higher level it means coming from a team playing a different system and that brings additional problems in itself. Reserve grade is a must and any clubs that won't run one need booting out.

As for Harris it is best he is taken out of the firing line at present. Its too early to give up on him but at the moment he is being asked to play in a struggling team which can offer him little protection and he is being targeted in defence. There are some good aspects to his game, a willingness to take the ball to the line and decent pace but his confidence is going to be shot to pieces if we aren't careful.

It’ll be interesting to see what lessons Hull take from their last go at running a reserves. How big a squad you’ll go with and it’s make-up, and what’ll happen to your partnership with Doncaster.

In the longer term, I do wonder if newly-formed farm teams could be used to expand interest - and get away from an assumption of first-team passholders go free. Bridlington might make a nice trip during the summer from Hull, and potentially attract local interest. More ambitiously, Scarborough, Scunthorpe or Grimsby perhaps.

He has shown glimpses of what he can do when he runs the ball, but he certainly doesn't seem to have much of a creative side to him, although tbf he has been on a hiding to nothing with the pack getting beaten up week after week.

Alongside a good ball playing half back partner and behind a pack that is laying a platform, he has something to offer imo, but he isn't ready yet and this year has been a real baptism of fire for him.

On the plus side it's been a good examination and has highlighted the areas he needs to improve on in order to become a SL halfback.
If he works on and improves those areas then it could well prove a beneficial season for him.

To be honest I don't think it's a case of Hull having to learn any lessons from the last time we ran a reserves team as that wasn't the problem. It was more an issue with the lack of games due to other clubs not fielding teams to fulfil the fixtures which is why Hull F.C. stopped the reserve team. Its should really be a mandatory criteria that any club in SL must have a reserve team.

As for Harris I think its too early to bin him off and say he isn't good enough, at present he simply isn't ready and has been asked to play more out lack of bodies. He has shown when up against lesser teams he has potential but asking him to provide miracles behind a pack that is being dominated is crazy as even Sneyd & Kelly would struggle with all their experience and talent at present.

The reserves will be a good thing for Harris to get regular game time and still be in the Hull FC training environment etc.