The future of our young players : Sun May 19, 2013 6:33 am  

Outside of Sarginson and Dixon, what is the future in Super League for some of the others? Does Lovell have a strong future at the top level? He has had a lot of game time. What about Krasniqi and Dollapi? How much game time has O'Callaghan had? It's all very well saying they would prosper quicker up North, the game needs a strong London team with locally produced players, but it's hard to see that at the moment. Heretic thought, but would they develop quicker in Super League 2?

Re: The future of our young players : Sun May 19, 2013 9:02 am  

It's a crap shoot I think, trying to envisage how these locally developed players will evolve over time.

They're not really fully physically developed yet, the grind of season after season of full-time pro rugby takes its toll, injuries affect all players, and these young London players haven't really played many games of rugby league in their lives: school comps down here might have 6 games, club comps have only recently risen from 10-12, and the scholarship levels have traditionally been restricted.

At least it looks like we're going to have more choices than ever before - that's what I'm telling myself, anyway! (as long as that pathway is maintained - the vast majority of the money for it came from Sport England).

Re: The future of our young players : Sun May 19, 2013 9:50 am  

Let's get it straight. If there is a "Super League 2" that is NEVER the place for the Broncos. If you want to see part time football (and I love the Championship on Premier Sports by the way) go to the Skolars.
We have some promising players in the squad right now - let's hope Will Lovell recovers quickly - but the real pipeline opens when we have Londoners who have played the game since they were 5 not 15.

Re: The future of our young players : Sun May 19, 2013 10:23 am  

Lovell is only 20 though, he may not be at his best until he is 23 or 24. Perseverance and patience is needed with some players.

Re: The future of our young players : Sun May 19, 2013 12:01 pm  

but the real pipeline opens when we have Londoners who have played the game since they were 5 not 15.

We've got that now. Get down to Aldershot and ask the kids when they started playing. The answer is different to what it was 10 years ago rest assured