I was impressed with Lumb when I saw him play v Wigan in the academy and reserves games.

Just a note, watch out for Jack Farrimond from Wigan, he will be 2nd year academy in 2024 but I think he'll also get a 1st team squad number. Not wishing to hex him but he's as good at this age as Edwards and Tomkins IMO..

Good news is that Ben Littlewood, Marcus Qare Qare, Riley Lumb, Jack Smith, Leo Aliyu, Jack Iceton, Ned McCormack are still part of the first team training set up.

Rogues Gallery wrote: a note, watch out for Jack Farrimond from Wigan, he will be 2nd year academy in 2024 but I think he'll also get a 1st team squad number. Not wishing to hex him but he's as good at this age as Edwards and Tomkins IMO.. I hope that you do far better with this prediction than your last one Brian Rogues Gallery wrote:I really want to see how Hanley goes at fullback. I've seen him play at #1, #4, #5, #6 and #13 at junior, scholarship and academy grades. viewtopic.php?f=28&t=539794&start=22630 At academy level he was better than Welsby and a really good organiser at #1 The Biffs Back wrote:Big shout that Rogues Although I must admit that I have to disagree with you as IMO Hanley has never been anywhere close to Welsby's class yet at any level Let's see if Hanley kicks on to make it in SL but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't tbh as i'm not as impressed with his talents as you are I hope that he proves me wrong Did Umlaya prove you wrong?

Rogues Gallery wrote: a note, watch out for Jack Farrimond from Wigan, he will be 2nd year academy in 2024 but I think he'll also get a 1st team squad number. Not wishing to hex him but he's as good at this age as Edwards and Tomkins IMO.. I hope that you do far better with this prediction than your last one Brian Rogues Gallery wrote:I really want to see how Hanley goes at fullback. I've seen him play at #1, #4, #5, #6 and #13 at junior, scholarship and academy grades. viewtopic.php?f=28&t=539794&start=22630 At academy level he was better than Welsby and a really good organiser at #1 The Biffs Back wrote:Big shout that Rogues Although I must admit that I have to disagree with you as IMO Hanley has never been anywhere close to Welsby's class yet at any level Let's see if Hanley kicks on to make it in SL but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't tbh as i'm not as impressed with his talents as you are I hope that he proves me wrong Did Umlaya prove you wrong?

Looking forward to watching some academy again this year - the side has some good talent.

Who are the ones to watch out for this season? Are the younger Mccormack, and Cassell the stand-outs in the u18s?

Yeah couple of good hookers, wingers, FB (Lee Smith’s son), generally a talented group I think.

2nd year Academy (u18) is a pretty poor group imo, but with 2 very good players in Fergus McCormack at 6 and Mason Corbett at hooker. Lee Smiths son, Kai, is an interesting prospect at fullback, he's got great feet but really small, any kind of growth spurt/filling out could certainly see him emerge. Theres a couple of decent forwards who hovered around the Yorkshire team last year, but Anybody, other than the 3 mentioned, would have to make a big jump to be regarded as a first team prospect or even a top prospect among their age group imo

The first year Academy group (u17) is the one iv been banging on about for the last 3 year, its one of the best in the last 20 year, imo. Its got a potential superstar 13 in pressly Cassell, 2 very good, big, props in Joe Butterfield and Jayemm Oladipupo, Jacob Stead is an athletic, physical back row who runs really good lines, 2 quality halfs in Harry Smith and Dylan Hutchinson, Smiths ahead of where Sinfield or McCormack were at the same stage imo, the 3 quarters have got some real prospects in Marcus QQ, Callum Webster and Harley Thomas while Joe Diskins the ultimate utility who can play 9, Half and 1 and is a player who has developed hugely over the last couple of year. An intriguing 'flyer' is Elliot Fox who played half for Stanningley but the club seem to prefer him at 9, he's electric out of dummy half and is one of the most fiery/aggressive young players iv seen, along with Diskin, could be late bloomers in an already quality group.

The 2nd year Scholorship (u16) is a good/great group, with 3 headline acts, Jacob Hardy is like watching Stevie Ward at the same age, brilliant prospect at Backrow or 6, Zak Lloyd is another top quality talent, and equally as good, who can play anywhere from 1, centre, 6 and backrow. Harvey Butterworth is the third, plays 6 or 13 for Stanningley but played a lot of 9 at Leeds. Theres some really good forwards in the group, Hughie Tinkler, Will Wilkinson, Cobi Ellis and Caleb Rhodes. The backs are not of the same standard although Will Hunter at half or FB looks the real deal, he plays for Shaw Cross in the second division so reserving judgement due to the level of competition, he does look very good though.

Wont go into too much detail on the first year Scholorship (u15), other than it looks a strong group on paper and includes all the best players from the best 2 teams in Yorkshire, 5 from Lock Lane and 9 from Kippax.

Plenty of good players i haven't mentioned who could certainly overtake some of the ones i have, but one things for certain, we can not knock the club with regards to youth recruitment, since Bastion rejoined, its been exceptional. We just need to get that development step right once they reach the Academy, too many, too often have not progressed as hoped from Scholorship to Academy over the last few years.

Thanks as usual Matts great summary. Looking at some who haven’t made it in recent years; one of the main reasons is physical size (Mustapha, Edwards, Sutcliffe). Broadbent thought he was worth more than Leeds, Walters similar, and Dupree seems to have slipped the net somehow (attitude?). Dupree looked good at junior level not sure what happened with him.

We seem to have produced a clutch of lower SL/champ standard players without many making the grade with Leeds.

I do think the players coming through now have generally better quality.

Gonna bob this one as a sticky as I do find this subject fascinating and like to try to keep up to date with the latest from you guys who are more adept at getting to games.

Anybody know how Hudson got on last week for the reserves?