having seen both hull teams this week find that rovers make a mistake all the players are round picking the player up .......hull today player made a mistake and other players went ape at it .....(watch the penelty in firat half for obstruction when westerman went throught the line and miller ran behind him ....weterman went barmy at him)

Quote ="BoothferryBoy"The clubs youth development is totally dependent on the strength of the community game. Any one involved in the amateur game at youth level will tell you its in crisis and there is absolutely no attempt by either of the professional clubs in this town to address the low numbers playing the game. /> For example you maybe surprised to learn that at under 14 level there are only 6 teams who can consistently raise 13 players. There are another 2 teams that can play an 11 or 9 aside game. In reality there are around 120 boys playing the game at U14 level and a similar amount at U15 level. /> How can two SL teams expect to fill their 16s and 19s teams with quality players from a supply chain so small !! So in reality the youth development spin is just that, spin.'" /> That's worrying for sure. However professional clubs will be more concerned not with where a player comes from but if they can be found, come through the clubs' ranks, and make the first grade. Crooks and Lineham for example are from out of town but they've come through the Hull professional junior ranks and the whole game is talking about them. They weren't in the Hull schoolboy 'supply chain'. That isn't spin at all that's fact. I'm sure the clubs could do more locally but I don't see it entirely down to clubs to get more school kids playing rugby at school. That's a much wider issue where they could help more perhaps.

Quote ="BoothferryBoy"The clubs youth development is totally dependent on the strength of the community game. Any one involved in the amateur game at youth level will tell you its in crisis and there is absolutely no attempt by either of the professional clubs in this town to address the low numbers playing the game. /> For example you maybe surprised to learn that at under 14 level there are only 6 teams who can consistently raise 13 players. There are another 2 teams that can play an 11 or 9 aside game. In reality there are around 120 boys playing the game at U14 level and a similar amount at U15 level. /> How can two SL teams expect to fill their 16s and 19s teams with quality players from a supply chain so small !! So in reality the youth development spin is just that, spin.'" /> That's worrying for sure. However professional clubs will be more concerned not with where a player comes from but if they can be found, come through the clubs' ranks, and make the first grade. Crooks and Lineham for example are from out of town but they've come through the Hull professional junior ranks and the whole game is talking about them. They weren't in the Hull schoolboy 'supply chain'. That isn't spin at all that's fact. I'm sure the clubs could do more locally but I don't see it entirely down to clubs to get more school kids playing rugby at school. That's a much wider issue where they could help more perhaps.

I am genuinely worried about the game at grass roots levels and the effect it will have and is having on the elite level game. In my opinion there isn't enough quality in SL, especially now our better players and the better overseas players are going down under. /> The reason the game is so large in Australia is in many respects down to the number of players at junior level. A ready made conveyor belt. /> The only body with the resources to address the short fall in numbers are the SL clubs. Can you imagine how many boys would sign up to a club if for example D Houghton and J Hodgson once a month gave a hooking master class or if Horne and Dobson gave a halves master class. /> There are well over 50 full time professional players and 15 professional coaches in this town, I'm sure their presence could increase numbers at every junior club. To stand a chance we need at least two divisions of 12 teams, if the SL clubs don't do it who will ?

I am genuinely worried about the game at grass roots levels and the effect it will have and is having on the elite level game. In my opinion there isn't enough quality in SL, especially now our better players and the better overseas players are going down under. /> The reason the game is so large in Australia is in many respects down to the number of players at junior level. A ready made conveyor belt. /> The only body with the resources to address the short fall in numbers are the SL clubs. Can you imagine how many boys would sign up to a club if for example D Houghton and J Hodgson once a month gave a hooking master class or if Horne and Dobson gave a halves master class. /> There are well over 50 full time professional players and 15 professional coaches in this town, I'm sure their presence could increase numbers at every junior club. To stand a chance we need at least two divisions of 12 teams, if the SL clubs don't do it who will ?

Quote ="BoothferryBoy"I am genuinely worried about the game at grass roots levels and the effect it will have and is having on the elite level game. In my opinion there isn't enough quality in SL, especially now our better players and the better overseas players are going down under. /> The reason the game is so large in Australia is in many respects down to the number of players at junior level. A ready made conveyor belt. /> The only body with the resources to address the short fall in numbers are the SL clubs. Can you imagine how many boys would sign up to a club if for example D Houghton and J Hodgson once a month gave a hooking master class or if Horne and Dobson gave a halves master class. /> There are well over 50 full time professional players and 15 professional coaches in this town, I'm sure their presence could increase numbers at every junior club. To stand a chance we need at least two divisions of 12 teams, if the SL clubs don't do it who will ?'" Fair question.

Quote ="BoothferryBoy"I am genuinely worried about the game at grass roots levels and the effect it will have and is having on the elite level game. In my opinion there isn't enough quality in SL, especially now our better players and the better overseas players are going down under. /> The reason the game is so large in Australia is in many respects down to the number of players at junior level. A ready made conveyor belt. /> The only body with the resources to address the short fall in numbers are the SL clubs. Can you imagine how many boys would sign up to a club if for example D Houghton and J Hodgson once a month gave a hooking master class or if Horne and Dobson gave a halves master class. /> There are well over 50 full time professional players and 15 professional coaches in this town, I'm sure their presence could increase numbers at every junior club. To stand a chance we need at least two divisions of 12 teams, if the SL clubs don't do it who will ?'" Fair question.

Quote ="Rock God X"I think most people are happy with the way the youth development has improved, but still a little concerned with first team performances. There's no escaping the fact that we have underachieved given who has been available to us this season. Until we start playing at or close to our full potential on a more regular basis, questions will remain about Gentle's suitability for the job. Personally, I think he probably is the right guy, but I'm less convinced than I once was.'" /> I agreed. I was hoping that with best part of 2 season gone under gentle that we'd be showing consistently good performances in relation to the players available but we're nowhere near that

Quote ="Rock God X"I think most people are happy with the way the youth development has improved, but still a little concerned with first team performances. There's no escaping the fact that we have underachieved given who has been available to us this season. Until we start playing at or close to our full potential on a more regular basis, questions will remain about Gentle's suitability for the job. Personally, I think he probably is the right guy, but I'm less convinced than I once was.'" /> I agreed. I was hoping that with best part of 2 season gone under gentle that we'd be showing consistently good performances in relation to the players available but we're nowhere near that

Quote ="A unknown superstar"Really don't get the McDonnell bashing on here. /> He's been far from poor and has been a good signing imo.'" /> You forgot to put the bits about him being ex-rovers and the a young a hull born full back who wants to play ahead of him.

Quote ="A unknown superstar"Really don't get the McDonnell bashing on here. /> He's been far from poor and has been a good signing imo.'" /> You forgot to put the bits about him being ex-rovers and the a young a hull born full back who wants to play ahead of him.