His second year of a 2 year deal next year.

Spoke to David Howes @ Stan's testimonial and he said Liam is the best young player on his books who can be anything he wants to be.

Can he realise his potential or will he fall by the wayside...

Thoughts...

I would personally loan all of the "fringe players" ie- Watts Mariano Spaven Beumont and any of the top acadamy players out to TOP championship clubs. For me playing in the reserves all year then getting thrown into the 1st team at a drop is not ideal practace. Like in football with Man U or Arsenal they send their best young ones on loan where they return far better players as they are playing competitive sport.
Of course the loans for the 1st team players would include a 48 hour call back clause.

This would also reduce the wage bill a little!!!!!

agree completely that if players need to improve then the reserve grade is NOT the place for them......a spell in the rough,tough world of championship footy will do them no harm whatsoever........its a good yardstick to run the rule over wether they can mix it when it really means something Ie win bonuses etc etc.....
in my opinion, superleague teams should have a sister club in the champ-ionship/second league wereas they could blood there youngsters and also take there youngsters on trial etc etc etc...win-win for me....

I'm not sure, and hoping that someone will enlighten me here, but isn't this how the new dual registration thing will work?

As far as Watts goes, yes, I think the lad has definitely got talent but he needs a serious kick up the proverbial and to start to realise that potential.
Sport at this level entails that everybody is super fit and firing on all twelve cylinders, therefore it becomes 10% physicallity, 20% talent and 70% mental fortitude and application. Only Liam can answer whether he's got that fire in his belly to succeed.

Guess his opportunities may be limited depending who else you bring in. If you dont bring any front rowers in he may get more game time than anticipated to stake his claim.

Could be a make or break season for him, personally I'd send him to a Championship club for the first 1/3 of the season, then give him a handful of 1st team games later in the year.

isn't that the point of the new age competitions?

cant players, like haynes, get called back at a moments notice?

Thats right. The whole idea was for the parent club to have greater control over their contracted player.

It makes me laugh that fans of Super Dooper League clubs just expect to be able to palm off their young reserves on 'top Championship' clubs who should be over the moon they have been given such talent

Take a look at the squads of the top 4/5 Championship clubs and you will find most players are ex Super League and if not established Championship level players. Why the hell would Widnes, Halifax, Barrow or Fev want any of those players you mentioned?

Liam Watts is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread according to this thread and he was sent to Gateshead last year, a side who would of stayed up by the skin of their teeth.

It is an insult to the players playing Championship Rugby that people just think Super League clubs reserves should walk into their team!!

They would probably struggle to get into York's team at the moment. Donny however would snap your hand off looking at the shizzle they have signed this year

I've missed you......................

No, seriously.