48 replies to this topic

[Futtocks]

Yeah I'd love to see as a academy curtain raiser before the main games. It would allow juniors to tour/train at same venues alongside stars and get the feel for a tour/international comps.

Countries could do this as part of prep of juniors for the future without hindering their chances of the current senior competition.

I remember, a couple of years ago, I had the chance to <ahem> 'acquire' a recording of that year's ANZAC test. It also came with the Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis game that was played before the main event. Most interesting and a very good match to boot. It also gave a chance to see tomorrow's star players in action.

I think it would be an idea worth trying, and would help turn each round into more of an all day event instead of just the one game, with people turning up close to kick-off and disappearing as soon as the hooter sounded. Obviously, many spectators would still just go for the main match, but I think you'd get plenty who would be tempted by another earlier game. Maybe have live bands playing too before and between games, generating a sort of 'festival' atmosphere.

[trakl]

I remember, a couple of years ago, I had the chance to <ahem> 'acquire' a recording of that year's ANZAC test. It also came with the Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis game that was played before the main event. Most interesting and a very good match to boot. It also gave a chance to see tomorrow's star players in action.

I was at Wembley in, I think, 1993 to watch Great Britain defeat the Kiwis before 35000+ spectators and remember enjoying the curtain raiser between GB Academy v Junior Kiwis almost as much - Iestyn Harris was our star player but was outshone by captain, Henry Paul in a performance that Wakefield Trinity, for one, recognized as portending greatness.

The Junior Kiwis were clearly thrilled to be playing at a prestigious venue before such a (relatively) big crowd and marked the occasion by giving a "victory" Haka before all corners/curves of the ground. It was fantastic to witness such excitement on the faces of these young players and I remember thinking how important it was that the game provided many such opportunities for youngsters seeking a career in our game.

[bendyas]

I don't like the idea of just giving them experience as i want to go there to win the tournament.

What i would like to see is an under 21s comp at the same time.

Both teams picked from a Senior and an under 21s SoO series mid-season.

[The Best The Beautiful The Only]

I don't like the idea of just giving them experience as i want to go there to win the tournament.

What i would like to see is an under 21s comp at the same time.

Both teams picked from a Senior and an under 21s SoO series mid-season.

Very well said.

[1976PMJwires]

I don't like the idea of just giving them experience as i want to go there to win the tournament.

What i would like to see is an under 21s comp at the same time.

Both teams picked from a Senior and an under 21s SoO series mid-season.

so your in agreement with me, with the extra idea

RFL need to explore this option.

It could improve the chances of the froggies keeping their talent within SL as well. (just a thougt)

[HappyDave]

What do you think about my idea regarding an England 'A' (under 23s) squad playing Test matches against France & Wales? Couldn't that work? Would cost the RFL a heck of lot less than sending them Down Under and possibly give a similar level of Competition?

[The Best The Beautiful The Only]

What do you think about my idea regarding an England 'A' (under 23s) squad playing Test matches against France & Wales? Couldn't that work? Would cost the RFL a heck of lot less than sending them Down Under and possibly give a similar level of Competition?

Cant see the level of competition providing by France and Wales U23's/21'S or any age group really being anything similar to to a bunch of junior Kangaroos or Kiwis.

[1976PMJwires]

My opinion is we need to be playing the Junior Roos and Kiwis.

need the intensity of these games.

welsh / french not at the same level. (sorry to our welsh forum members)
a few years yet for me, Wires are bring 5 along at present, so just a few more years

[HappyDave]

Cant see the level of competition providing by France and Wales U23's/21'S or any age group really being anything similar to to a bunch of junior Kangaroos or Kiwis.

Ah! I think you misunderstood. I mean England 'juniors'/'Academy' (under 23s [to give a big enough scope for quality players but not too old to be our of reach of building to the full team?]) Vs the full International level French and Welsh squads.

[HappyDave]

My opinion is we need to be playing the Junior Roos and Kiwis.

need the intensity of these games.

welsh / french not at the same level. (sorry to our welsh forum members)
a few years yet for me, Wires are bring 5 along at present, so just a few more years

Is there the money for this at present? Surely the 'junior roos' can't be that much better than a full strength French (les Cats?) squad?

Edited by HappyDave, 07 July 2010 - 11:02 PM.

[TBC]

id be happy with everyone going who has been mentioned, bar cudjoe.. i thought he was gonna really kick on a season or two ago.. but i just dont know, theres something i cant quite put my finger on.. but its enough to stop me from putting him forward like the others mentioned.

lawrence i think would benefit hugely, as would larne patrick..

The problem for Leroy is that he's been moved around at lot over that period - full back to wing and now to centre.
He lost the full back spot when Brett Hodgson arrived, was asked to play wing when Martin Aspinwall moved to 2nd row and latterly has covered in the centres when Jamahl Lolesi and Paul Whatuira were injured. Now Paul Whatuira has left Leroy and Michael Lawrence both have a great opportunity to push on. Nathan Brown has said he thinks Leroy's future lies as a centre.

[TBC]

Great idea to take a couple of young players but would they be future stars only with no intention of getting on the field: if so could take anyone really even people with little 1st team exp. Or are we looking at people who could add to the squad as well in which case you look at cuurent good players with international potential in the near future.

Patrick, and Whiting are great but arent actually that young i dont think.

there are plenty of young 1st team regulars like Chris Riley, Mossop, Lawrence, cudjoe, Myler, Whitehead etc who would benefit and prob do a job v PNG for experience.

Theres also those that are less regular like Lomax, Emmitt, Thompson at cas, Marsh etc who would prob be less able to play and would be more there for the tour experience.

Id be inclined to just take 2 a forward and a back and at the moment Id maybe look at Mossop and Lawrence.

FYI - Patrick is 22 - same age as Cudjoe. Lawrence is 20.

[HappyDave]

I think we've gone off the main subject a little guys.

[petero]

i think it would be great to take a few of the younger "talent" along on tour.


but for me.... why not have an academy 4 nations before each game?????

how good would that be???
how easy to create???
great for the future stars and easier to spot the talent, plus the danger players of the future.

only an idea, guess someone will shoot me down.

Yep I agree, with the last sentence that is!
If you are wanting to demoralise our younger lads even before they become S/.L regulars then go ahead and arrange these games, but they will be on a hiding to nothing and, you ought to have the intelligence to realise that.

Watching the NRL on MSK has been a total eye opener. The young element over in OZ is frightening, size skill and overall expertise is way ahead of our youngsters and there are oodles more of them to choose from also.

I would advise that this would not be a good grounding for most of the younger lads here, some would be alright, granted, but a squad of them............. frankly that would be completely out of it's depth.

[HappyDave]

So petero, would you go for the England 'A' under 23s Vs Wales & France idea then?

[hindle xiii]

Ben Jones-Bishop.

If I weren't a tight ######, I'd pay his air fare for him.

[1976PMJwires]

Yep I agree, with the last sentence that is!
If you are wanting to demoralise our younger lads even before they become S/.L regulars then go ahead and arrange these games, but they will be on a hiding to nothing and, you ought to have the intelligence to realise that.

Watching the NRL on MSK has been a total eye opener. The young element over in OZ is frightening, size skill and overall expertise is way ahead of our youngsters and there are oodles more of them to choose from also.

I would advise that this would not be a good grounding for most of the younger lads here, some would be alright, granted, but a squad of them............. frankly that would be completely out of it's depth.

have you ever read biting back???????????

[Bitofaboogie]

I was just wondering should McNamara be taking the likes of Widdop (starting full back?), Johnny Lomax (interchange?), Michael Lawrence (interchange?), Leeroy Cudjoe (interchange?) and possibly Richard Owens (too much of a risk seeing as he's been out for the season?) to the Gillette 4 Nations to try to build-up the squad for the RLWC 2013 rather than just looking at the G4N?

Well, what I mean is: the best 2 or 3 youngsters to travel as part of the full squad?

Whoever we take, we'll be better fixed if we leave Mac at home and find a better coach.

[hindle xiii]

Whoever we take, we'll be better fixed if we leave Mac at home and find a better coach.

No!

He's the country's problem now.

[Bitofaboogie]

No!

He's the country's problem now.

I didn't say leave him in post at Bradford, I just said leave him at home (and tell him to lock the door and not come out again if you like!)