ourla wrote: ↑Thu Sep 29, 2022 3:32 pm
One thing always strikes me as difficult with academies is that if very successful they will churn out far more players than you need.
I guess that is why you hear "ex-Man United academy player" so often.
It’s not just the academies producing these lads. It’s a few years I was involved but at one point in time there were 4 different England u18 teams.
I would imagine if you get 2 that make it to first team, from each year, you are doing well. Tigers must be well above that average which goes to show what a good job is being done.
Will Gatus, young winger and by the sounds of it a rugby union background who switched over to League based on where he was living. Now at Uni in Notts we are taking a look. We do seem to struggle to bring through wingers so could be a useful pick up.
Sir Kev will know him from his pre Tigers days so I'm sure he will have been able to give some insight on Will Gatus. All of which is a positive for him. I hope he does well in his trial.
Tigers for the premiership and European Cup. Get behind the team and make some noise!!
johnthegriff wrote: ↑Thu Sep 29, 2022 2:08 pm
The success of the Academy is down to David Wilkes and his team. It is correct that a few years ago Ged Glynn made changes that improved transition and that under Geordan those young players matured and progressed into the first team playing squad. However our record of winning the under 18's title three years on the trot (third year shared) speaks for itself. The credit goes to David Wilkes his coaches and of course the talent scouts. During the pandemic the lads had two seasons of no rugby so the chain was slightly broken but players like Louis Chessum and Archie Vanes are showing it is now repaired.
Anybody have an idea when YBY's contract is up, on the Big Jim podcast he said they timed the Youngs testimonial for when Tom would be retiring and when Ben's contract at Tigers was up
kpj tiger wrote: ↑Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:22 am
Anybody have an idea when YBY's contract is up, on the Big Jim podcast he said they timed the Youngs testimonial for when Tom would be retiring and when Ben's contract at Tigers was up
I don’t think it was quite phrased that way. They said they started planning 3 years ago, but obviously a lot has changed. I think a lot with Lenny will do with how he feels post RWC. He’ll be turning 34 and may feel he has another year left in him. I would imagine the club would want him to as Wigglesworth can’t go on much longer and it would give Edwards another year to mature behind JVP.
What was interesting was that he doesn’t do farming so he won’t be off to help Tom with the pigs.