Legends and Icons wrote:I've pinched this post off the kr board from Roopy ,

A few years ago the Newcastle Knights had a local billionaire running the team and he made the decision to set up the best possible junior development.
He put Wayne Bennett on to the task, and Wayne hired ex Australian coach Graham Murray to design the programme.
What they did was decide to put all the money into identifying talent at the earliest possible age and train about 10 kids across the age groups at the sort of level you would expect young Olympic hopefuls to train. They set up what is called the High Performance Unit with a skills coach (former firstgrade halfback Troy Pezet) and a Phd qualified trainer (Englishman Colin Sanctuary). The first guy to "graduate" from the high performance unit is Sione Mataútia who last year became the youngest ever player for Australia. The next two to come through will be halves pairing Jack Cogger and Brock Lamb. Those two have represented NSW and Australia in every team since they were 14 and were the halves for Australian Schoolboys earlier this year, where Lamb was MOTM in 2 games, playing against boys up to 2 years older than himself. Lamb is the most skilful 17 year old player I've ever seen. He has kicking and playmaking skills that any firstgrade half would envy.

The point is, smaller numbers of elite juniors getting a lot of time and money spent on them seems to be working for the Knights. I suppose time will tell if these guys go on with it, but I can name you 10 Knights juniors who have skills like 10 year NRL veterans, because they got firstgrade level coaching and training from age 13 or 14.

if this enterprise was to turn out like the newcastle one then I can see the benefits but I'm running low on optimism with regards to Hull FC , don't get me wrong my loyalty will never waver and the club will always be able to rely on my support both financially and vocally iakow

Doom&Gloom Merchant wrote:Three distinct differences between this situation and our own.

1) This looks like a Newcastle only initiative. Newcastle haven't merged their academy with an inferior academy, and will have access to all of the players that 'graduate' from it. We won't.

2) We don't have a billionaire running FC. We have a chairman that's cutting costs, distracted by a job in another sport and who doesn't understand Rugby League.

3) Our first team don't even have access to first grade level coaching.

Doom&Gloom Merchant wrote:
3) Our first team don't even have access to first grade level coaching.

The Dentist Wilf wrote:

Said a spokesman for Hull KR!

Seph wrote:This is what I meant to say, Wilf!

Grudge says jump, Easty says how high

Back on topic, if this is down to finances, can we the fans organise some kind of funding for the academy to stay as Hull FC? Could be innovative...

B0NES wrote:Has the RFL said anything about this merger ? Did Pearson say something about them looking to build more "Super academy's" . Has Pearson let the cat out the bag regarding this announcement !.

RFL policy document wrote:The level of waste currently experienced at Academy level demands that fewer, but better Academies are supported.

ccs wrote:The RFL have been suggesting it for a year or two.