I really don’t want this to come across negative but probably unavoidable….

Recent years Trinity have performed very well at academy and reserve level I believe.

I recall our academy was right up there in the playoffs only 2 years ago and then our reserves were losing finalists I think (we may have even won).

That wasn’t that long ago but I’ve caught most of the announced results for the reserves, academy and scholarship and have we lost every fixture so far? Albeit some close.

From where we were to where we are I’m just wondering if anyone has any knowledge or insight on the youth and other team set ups and if there’s any sort of plan to get Trinity back to the top.

I’m in no way saying the coaching or environment isn’t good but the results don’t seem to be inspiring (yet).

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Would also be good to see what plan the club has to grow the teams outside first team. I think Ellis said youth was important and players coming through our system so hopefully there’s some positives behind the scenes.

I’ve not included the PDRL team as they generally appear to perform very well year on year.

What's that 4th word?

To be fair its all about players coming through. Results, while wins are nice, are secondary. We had an all concuring side in the mid 2000's/early 10's and I can't say it produced any notable names where as the teams Jowitt, Pratt, Croft, Smith, Eseh, Aydin, Batchalor, Crowther, Kershaw, Johnstone, Ruan et all played in didn't pull up any trees but all are having, or are about to have, decent RL careers.

It was the Ruan, Eseh, Pratt, Murphy era that was successful in the table around 2021/2022 and they finished high up in results.

In the 00s there was players like Ellis, Westwood, Brough etc and some who went on to feature for us certainly for a few years. Think they went successfully in their respective leagues too.

Ultimately I understand some of the players who thrived at academy level have grown above that limit. Perhaps we have taken on a cohort of younger players with a view to them improving over the next few years. Someone who knows and watches the current younger and reserved team may be able to offer some insight I hope.

I agree about the players coming through though and i hope we have a couple who have that potential.

I noticed Brough is on first team page on website? Has he got a deal for first team I wonder.

Sorry, must have autocorrected. It’s reserves.

I think I'm correct, our reserves got beaten by Wigan in the final in 2022 and our Academy got to the playoffs in 2021,not sure about 2022, I can't remember or find out how well we did especially in 22. I'm not sure if my memories playing up but I could swear blind we had an academy-winning team around 2008 time, someone on here will be able to know for sure.

An example of the team is one that drew with Saints, we were without Sam Eesh, Harry Bowes and Pratt who became more of a starter the next season if I remember right. But this game gives you an idea of who made it.

Robbie Mann; Lewis Murphy, Wesley Bruines, Oliver Farrar (C), Mac Walsh; Thomas Milburn, Robbie Butterworth; Josh Leeson, Josh Phillips, Isaac Shaw, Leon Ruan, Luke Mearns, Patrick O’Donovan.

Interchanges: Alfie Crawford, James Hartley, Joe Mitchell, Sam Peel, Courage Mkuhlani, James Ferguson, Tommy Lee Corke.

The reserve game against Salford was streamed live this afternoon
The full match is available on YouTube
Sorry for some reason it won't let me post the link

Franco, Cozza, Croft and Bain all featured for the Trin

Croft best player for Trinity today despite a silly shove. Cozza was decent. Bain seems to be more of a loose who likes to pass the ball and look for offloads close to the line.

Don’t get Franco at fullback and thought we would see Booth there.

Agree TH it looks like Bain is a LF, got to his feet and played the ball quickly, when he was allowed to get up,
No idea who thought Franco is a full back, he looked totally lost particularly in defence, Delany showed decent pace for his try. The young hooker took his try well too

I think the same applies to wing position,