Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:31 am  

Tarquin Fuego wrote:

If the very best of our 18-21 year olds couldn’t cope with Bulls average players in the 1st half then how can we use them against Saints Catalans etc ?

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 11:22 am  

Tarquin Fuego wrote:

If the very best of our 18-21 year olds couldn’t cope with Bulls average players in the 1st half then how can we use them against Saints Catalans etc ?

Because we won't use them all at once?

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:06 pm  

https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seas ... mmary.html This is what happened when Saints chucked a load of young kids in against Cas a few seasons ago. It didn't end well and they still had a fair share of older guys in the team. I'd rather us drip feed them in when ready. Of the recent crop im hoping Balmforth will take his chances this season. Staveley and Martin could give the first choice lads some headaches too

https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seas ... mmary.html This is what happened when Saints chucked a load of young kids in against Cas a few seasons ago. It didn't end well and they still had a fair share of older guys in the team. I'd rather us drip feed them in when ready. Of the recent crop im hoping Balmforth will take his chances this season. Staveley and Martin could give the first choice lads some headaches too

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:11 pm  

scarrie wrote:

Because we won't use them all at once?

Obvious isn’t it?

But not for some it would seem

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:14 pm  

Not seen much mention of Diakhate.

How did he go?

[Bullseye]

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:25 pm  

You've got some good prospects coming through. They struggled a bit down the middle in the first half when we had five first teamers in the pack but even then one or two gave as good as they got.

There's definitely a case for giving some of the better Academy players a loan spell in the championship or some regular reserves games against grown men. Playing Academy games doesn't really test the better players enough to be ready for SL standard.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:52 pm  

mwindass wrote:

https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/super-league-xxvii-2022/round-10/castleford-vs-st-helens/summary.html

This is what happened when Saints chucked a load of young kids in against Cas a few seasons ago. It didn't end well and they still had a fair share of older guys in the team.

I'd rather us drip feed them in when ready.

Of the recent crop im hoping Balmforth will take his chances this season. Staveley and Martin could give the first choice lads some headaches too

Really don't think Martin is far away from regular first team action, has all the attributes needed to be a solid winger.

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:53 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

You've got some good prospects coming through. They struggled a bit down the middle in the first half when we had five first teamers in the pack but even then one or two gave as good as they got.

There's definitely a case for giving some of the better Academy players a loan spell in the championship or some regular reserves games against grown men. Playing Academy games doesn't really test the better players enough to be ready for SL standard.

Good to have some views from an opposition perspective. And yes agree on loaning rather than playing in the academy, theres also the social aspect of playing alongside older lads juggling jobs and RL rather than a dressing room teenagers sat on Tiktok

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:58 pm  

mwindass wrote:

https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/super-league-xxvii-2022/round-10/castleford-vs-st-helens/summary.html

This is what happened when Saints chucked a load of young kids in against Cas a few seasons ago. It didn't end well and they still had a fair share of older guys in the team.

I'd rather us drip feed them in when ready.

Of the recent crop im hoping Balmforth will take his chances this season. Staveley and Martin could give the first choice lads some headaches too

I can see Balmforth getting a fair bit of game time this year. Nu Brown will probably chop and change a bit between the halves and hooker depending on injuries. So when he is playing in the halves I think Balmforth will be lined up to be the bench hooker spelling Houghton.

Tindall and McIntosh will start the season as the wingers but they both have a bit to prove. McIntosh improved a lot in the second half of last season but even with him I don't think it's a case of if he's fit he plays. Martin could definitely force his way in if he keeps performing well.

[Bullseye]

Re: Pre-season. : Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:16 pm  

Tindall always gave 100% for us last season but not sure he's SL quality.