What is happening to them? One of, if not the strongest reserve teams in the game. It is fair enough that they have been beaten, but they have been whalloped to date.

Does anybody know the reason? Is it the likes of McShane and Watkins creating a bigger hole than anticipated, or just one of those years where the current crop isn't the best?

We have had this problem before. We tend to move a lot of players into the first team squad, which weakens the reserve squad a lot. I believe the current crop is mostly from the old 18s age group, although somebody may correct me if I'm wrong. I think there is a philosophy that they're not too worried about the results the academy/reserve side achieve, provided each crop has a few players who emerge ready for the first grade.

A lot of the guys who were down to be playing that level this year are in the first team.

It also appears that we are sending all our best players out on loan to get them used to playing first team rugby. This seems to back up the claims by Rouges (I think it's him) who claims that the reserve grade rugby in this country is $hit.

Who is out on loan from the reserves?

The attitude at Leeds is, and always has been, that the lower grades exist purely to produce players for the first team and that once those players are good enough then they'll either be in, or out on loan playing first team rugby elsewhere.

Results are an irrelevance at that level to all except the players and staff involved. Any team which celebrates winning a reserve grade championship clearly has nothing better to focus its energies on.

Except to us when we were carrying all before us at that level but not winning at the 1st team level.
My concern whenever I've watched the academy or reserve teams recently is the lack of size of our pack, where is the next generation of homegrown packmen to come from?

It is clearly down to the number of key players who have been moved up due to injuries. the likes of Allen, Watkins, Mcshane and Gibson were all regulars last season, ben Kaye gone to quins, Howie and Sheldrake contracts not renewed and gone to Hunslet, scrum half Moore loaned to Halifax, and Anselme gone to toulouse, Worrell injured etc etc. there is almost an entire side that played a lot of last season in the reserves that are not at present. even Burgess, Hall and smith made double figure appearances for them also last season. There are a large number of under 18's in the side now, and a few 16/17 year olds.
Watching the further depleted team against wigan, who fielded around 6 first teamers, including Mathers, Smith and Goulding etc, there was only ever going to be one outcome. I am sure when injuries clear, there will be a rapid improvement.

Is Ryan Gaunt getting any game time? If so, how's he getting on?

Gaz Moore got sent back from Halifax.
Always thought big things were expected of Howie / Howey?
Ratu & Broughton must be veterans of the 21's reserve grade

Brian has took best outta what is available Allen / Watkins & Mcshane.

How is Scife looking?

Is Kashley Watkins still on our books?

It was me.

Last season Sam Tomkins strolled through without ever having to stretch himself.
Leeds U18 academy were awful as were a lot of the other teams.

Wigan and Saints had a free run at both levels.

It shouldn't be like that

I love watching young kids come through but they need to be playing competitive rugby which in 80% of the games they play isn't happening.

What good does a 10 - 66 scoreline (Leeds v Wigan reserves) do either team?