If this is JM's response to a player shortage, what's the point of having a 20s Academy then? Surely there are enough players in there good enough to have a punt on, compared to an untested 20s player from a rival club getting his 1st team experience at the expense of a KR youngster? Very negative IMO, having to go begging to a 'bigger' club. What message does it send the lads playing now as regards to possibly playing first team football. Mariano must be thinking what he's done wrong. Another Esders?

i'd rather one of our boys have a go, but if he doesn't it brings the squad quota thing into disrepute. if you name someone as a squad member they should have to play at least 1 super league game during the season. i'm sure its not just us that do it but it would make it interesting when they play them and also 'blood' them so to speak. be good all round

To take this to its natural conclusion we could say why sign players from outside the club ever, surely if the U20's are good enough come next season we should just promote from within. This doesn't happen and injuries to key positions where a suitable back up / or a back up who hasn't progressed well enough means we have to externally recruit. All teams ae in a similar position, Mrs B's club for instance, who will tell anyone who listens what a fantastic youth set up they have, duriing yet another injury crisis fail to play Tuffor on the wing and only give Lynne one game there, maybe they wrere a charity beneficiary put there to work alongside Calderwood. Yet this mature set up still had to bring in McShane to cover hooker. Similarly last year with the wealth of homegrown talent sat there they bring in Broughton.

We have hit a bit of problem due to Welham, Webster, Ratu, Walker and Colbon all being out. One of our U20 backs has been draughted in and an U20's 2nd rower has also been brought in to allow moves of our other players to cover. So maybe Mariano isn't up to it, some players aren't, he maybe has had a bad year and hasn;t responded to being in the 1st team squad, it happens, even to 1st team regulars so I really don;t see the point of the arguements.

Do you honestly think that every 'unproven' player is at the same level?! Why sign Josh Hodgson and not play Scott Spaven then? Or is that ok now because its obvious how much better one is than the other?

It's JM's job to make these decisions and act in the best interests of the club. I love the sentiment of giving 'your own' a chance, but seriously fellas, this is a professional sport - they have to be bluddy good enough first!

I'm surprised at you Gekko, thought you had more about you.

Nail on head!

Because he was expecting to offload Fisher.

....and it took you almost 24 hours to come up with than one

Tell ya what....have another go

24 hours? I responded after reading your post (I like this site, but it aint my life )

You think he was expecting to offload Fisher. Even if he was, it was Murrell who was given the 9 shirt as his replacement, thus leaving a squad place available due to Fitzhenry's departure.

You say Mariano is on the books so should be preferred to a new signing so I ask you again; why wasn't Spaven given Fitzhenry's place instead of Hodgson?

the disappointing thing for me in all this is that we have brought in a highly rated young lad who we will have no chance of signing on a full time contract even if he proves to be a world beater, I know needs must at the moment and as I said earlier our reserve backs are really u18's and not ready but I can't help thinking we're doing Wigan a massive favour giving this kid a go rather than them take the chance on him.

Probably because he wasn't ready for a full season as no.1 back up hooker, something he would undoubtedly admit himself. Hardly the same a loaning a player from another club for a month giving HIM and HIS club valuable development time at one of your own players expense. Hodgson is a decent prospect and he is ROVERS player therefore ROVERS get all the benefit of his development.

If Spaven and Mariano are no good why have Rovers not released them to allow them to develop their careers elsewhere or is it a case of needing them for window dressing and to boost the results of the U-20's???

Also i don't 'think' he was expecting to offload Fisher.....i 'know' he was.

One thing that is worth remembering is that while important, player development is not the sole reason for the club's existence. We provide a stage, but we get an actor (does that metaphor work?). Hopefully he will help the club win some competition points.

Spaven and Mariano aren't needed for window dressing - other homegrown players would simply be put in their place in the roster. Even if they were, it would be compulsory window dressing, so no reason to blame Rovers. Put simply, if Morgan selects Charnely ahead of Mariano it indicates that he believes the former is more ready for SL, to the extent that he is willing to forgo the opportunity to develop the latter. As Mariano is 23, I fear that is not perhaps regarded as a huge sacrifice.

Given how badly our centres and backs generally have been hit by injury, now is the last time to pay-off Mariano. More injuries could easily mean it is him and Charnley playing.