Don't know if you can call them back but Annakin and Trout are on season long loans with us but still training full time at Wakey It sounds a good move for Fev as we will basically have 2 full time players in our team all year but they won't cost us full time wages If they improve they are still yours the season after so a win win for both clubs Thing is will they want to come back if Wakey don't want to give them game time

That's a good example.



That team was outstanding at colts level, as was the coach.

BUT the step to first division was quite big. Our team wasn't strong enough to carry them all while they learned their trade.



Spencer and Conway were clearly capable but even then I don't think Billy just walked in to the team.

But Potts is a great example of a great player at colts level, good leader, big guy who dominated and had a good off load, but didn't quite make it at top flight.

Maybe if he'd been at Wigan where the pack was strong enough to ease him in he would have faired better but at Wakefield he just didn't quite (and only just) make it. Injuries make a difference too. The stress on the body is a big step too.

Green and Moules were outstanding at colts level and should have been our half backs for years to come but injuries and a steady introduction cost them and us.



Some might say they were not good enough and some might say we didn't train them well enough, but either way, it shows how hard it is to move from under 19s to top flight. Talent alone isn't enough.

States on the clubs web site under the 1873 draw , the lottery has helped retain Ben Shulver, haven’t seen that before

It was, but surely when the job was done (I.e. mathematically impossible for us to be relegated) the young guns should have been given there shot over players like Gilmour ?

As we seem to have given up on the top 8, then surely we have to plan for the future and although you cant put all of the youngsters in together, maybe one or two more may get a shot in the 1st team and yes, if the loanee's are not staying, then now would be the time to "rest" them.

I would assume its because we suddenly found ourselves in the hunt for the top 8 play-offs.

I never know whether to laugh or cry at these threads as they are a ludicrous mixture of sentimentality, lack of knowledge and seeing what you want to see.



First of all the Academy team that Anakin came from is not the first to win a title and then see none of the players really make it. I clearly remember the Featherstone Colts team from the very early 80's being the best around by some way - yet not one of those players made it and I know because a pal of mine was one of them. The good but not as good Trinity Colts team of the time however produced a number of long serving Pro's - why I don't know. Often some of the greatest RL players come from very poor junior teams, in essence success at that level has never been a guarantee of success higher up the ladder.



Also Leeds are a red herring, yes a lot of their juniors made it from that team but look at the players and coaches they were surrounded by - now look at us and our stability on all fronts.



As far as Im concerned the Academy is there to give us a possible talent pool. it is however not a social obligation to the city or the players. You want to purely represent your town play for Eastmoor - you want to be a SL player play well for whoever pays you. Frankly I don't see the issue as to where we get players from so long as they are the best available, their origin is irrelevant IMHO. For example Sinfield is from Oldham but do Leeds fans care. I firmly believe in a fair crack of the whip but no special rights to our juniors - whether that happens none of us really know and never will.



What really irks me is the number of touchline internationals who come on here claiming that Anakin is the future and worth keeping - how the hell do they know! Do they know Anakin, do they work with him day after day, do they know how he fits into the team dynamic - no! I don't mind speculation but to talk with such authority about something they have no knowledge of - come on.



As for Anakin I can't make my mind up on what I've seen, but so far he's put in nothing like the stella performances some on here have suggested. What I do know is Webster is his third coach and so far none of them have felt willing to back him - why. Oh yes because they are all in a conspiracy against him and just can't see the rough diamond in front of them - yeah right their all in it together

Also why have no other teams snapped him up or why have Fev not taken him as they are so flush at present?



Maybe just maybe he isn't ready yet and the coaching staff feel another year at Fev will make or break him. Remember it's a loan not a transfer.



So lets move on.

Wise words Vasty. Can't argue with any of that.

I can , to make a judgement on a player even as just a fan you have to at least watch them , the trouble with Wakefield and its proving the case now with Gilmour and Riley is THAT OUR OWN ARE NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO SHOW WHAT TALENT THEY HAVE ,using Wildie as an example, have a look at who his appearances were against and who else was or wasn’t in the team .  Richard Own made his 150th first team appearance 2 weeks ago and is no better than what we have , Cas were prepared to play him and back him , we don’t .  

I am totally with Vasty on this one.

Anakin has not yet shown attributes to convince me has what it takes to be a regular Superleague player .

As for Wildie he definitely has had the opportunity but cannot quite move up to the required level.

I hope I am wrong in both cases.

It is not as though they do not still have the opportunity.

If they are good enough they will come through.If it happens at another club so be it.

We need a team to certainly challenge for the top 8 and personally, at my age I do not really care where they come from.

I am also sure that the missing, apathetic Wakefield, so called fans ,are only interested in a successful team.

In an ideal world, yes, it would be great to field a team with a considerable percentage of 'home grown', but it can only be achieved by gradually blooding more and more, following on from on the field success.

As I stated on another thread the real problem is the lack of reserve grade.

Jowitt, Crowther etc. would now be ready to play regular 2nd team alongside and against some seasoned pros. and then be fit enough and experienced to gradually ' step up ' when required.

And this is what irks me, so you know better than the previous three coaches? - sorry but prey tell how unless your one of them?

To be fair Vastman he probably knows more than Agar





Agree with you on this though, coaches work with these players day in day out so they know there ability inside out and they have no reason not to select them in the team other than they believe there is a better option or there not ready for SL week in week out.



For what its worth I think Chris will become a solid SL player, from what I have seen he is the closest of the homegrown talent to been a regular SL player, love his style and love his effort.



I just hope that we have a recall option on this agreement, as Webster has already stated we will be running with a smaller squad next season and if injuries occur we could be in a sticky situation!

Sorry Vasty but I've heard you wax lyrical about that Fev team before and they were good but no where near as good a team as the Wakefield Colts that swept the board under Trevor Bailey and I'm not being rose tinted in any way.



The Fev team wouldn't have lived with the speed, intensity and movement of that Wakefield team and there was some real class from a few of the pivotal players which underpinned everything they did.



Leeds, Wigan and Hull in particular all sent teams brimming with first team experience in an attempt to beat that Colts team and all went home after 30 & 40 point lessons.



There were a number of reasons why a few of them didn't progress and they weren't all down to things under the control of the players themselves.

Annakin played really well when he´s had the chance for Trinity.

I think another indicator as to how good the youngsters are that have been mentioned is the amount of interest shown in them from other SL coaches - none I think.

I think Walshaw has the most potential - I have seen nothing in Anakin yet to convince me. Wildie had his chances as did Trout but none of them set the world alight.

Your opinion, which despite what you seem to think isn't always right - anyway it's not the point as to who was best it's the fact none of them made it so it's hardly an unheard of phenomenon is it

Yes it's my opinion, given that it's me who's writing it'd be strange if it wasn't!

Maybe there's a way by which I could borrow someone else's opinion and give that instead but if there is a way to do that I don't know it.



I don't think I'm right all the time, there was this one time about 23 years ago when I might have been wrong and maybe there's others I don't know about. Anyhow, ironic that you should be the one accusing me of that!



On the wider point being discussed . . OOOER Missis, I've forgotten what the wider point was now . . Never mind!



I like Chris Annakin, hope he makes it at Trinity!

Bit of a bitter response really, far better to say nothing rather than embarrass yourself again

Really, I thought I was being humorous!

Easy to say after the event

Maybe it's me that's not that funny or maybe it's you that's had a sense of humour bypass!



What's it got to do with you anyway, if Vastman wants to argue his point then I'm pretty sure he's capable without the help of some randomer who's just here to troll

As you have pointed out before when it's suited it's a forum, as for vastman your quite right there he is capable, fwiw your not the first poster on here who he has made a monkey of

It seems to me that VASTMAN made some good valid points in his post and that it was you who was doing the arguing trying to justify your obvious disagreement with him.

Feeding times over after this one







To Troll No1.

That only happened in your fantasy world!









To Troll No2





It was a discussion till you and your mate turned up and derailed it, or are you one and the same Troll

So anyway, ***shakes head in despair***



The thing with Annakin for me is that he has sshown potential and we'd all like the potential to be realised as it was spotted at our club. Having a young guy come through is far more than just another player being bought, simply because we have invested time in him and it feels good to get a result.

If he doesn't realise that then we should not hold on for centiment only (as Vasty says) but equally, we should give it the best shot we possibly can as there are knock on benefits of encouraging others to do the same, cheaper in the long run, player has a long term bond to the club, good kudos for the club.



I really hopes he pushes on at Fev and comes back a better player, but his clock is ticking unfortunately and he clearly hasn't convinced Webster yet.