: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:55 pm
Kelly's Eye wrote:
In the real world the only youngster we have capable of progressing to a higher level if brought along correctly is Higson.
Some may find that harsh but it is IMO the truth.
Some of the other youngsters we have can hold their own in this division against the bottom half like Donny etc, but they will be exposed for what they are like a streaker at Lords during a 1 day international against the likes of Fax, Barrow and the Chemics.
One thing Leythers don't have is patience. I remember a long time ago Hull (Sharks, as they were then) decided to put faith in the youth of Hull to get them into Super League. They decided that they would give every kid in the area that wanted the opportunity to play first team RL their head. They attracted kids that would have normally have gone to the likes of Leeds a spot in their squad. What happened? They unearthed the likes of Richard Horne and eased them in and out of their first 13, eventually sweeping all before them. We need to nurture the young kids we have in the squad and not solely rely on them. Ridyard is the classic example. Before the season started Ridyard was signed as a backup half back for the Aussie we had signed. Had his work permit have come through Ridyard would have been watching from the sidelines learning about this level, coming of the bench in certain games making mistakes and learning from them. What as actually happened is the kid has been given responsibility far beyond his experience and has been made a scapegoat. Talented kids need to have their talent nurtured and used sparingly easing them in. The fans of Leigh have been screaming for youth to be given their chance. The only problem is, the youth have been brought in as a cost saving exercise not as a development exercise. There are kids in Leigh and the surrounding areas who are more than good enough to sign for the club and improve the squad, but they don't want too because they see it as a backwards step. Someone on the board needs to ask the question why.
