2025 Transfer Tracker

[graveyard johnny]

56 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

Nonsense from you as usual.

guess u have not seen the u-19s origin game? thats what development looks like - hall and watkins would look  like pensioners if they had even tried to take part in half of that game - doing great against some of the dross SL  has to offer though so that makes it ok

Edited June 19 by graveyard johnny

[Gooleboy]

47 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

guess u have not seen the u-19s origin game? thats what development looks like - hall and watkins would look  like pensioners if they had even tried to take part in half of that game - doing great against some of the dross SL  has to offer though so that makes it ok

The U19s Origin game shows how much talent the Australians have.

[DoubleD]

Cas sign Joe Stimson. An extremely underwhelming signing, although does allude to the point McGuire made about it being difficult getting people in. Stimson is noones first choice, Jacob Host would’ve been a decent pick up but it appears he wants to fight it out at Souths

[Chrispmartha]

15 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

guess u have not seen the u-19s origin game? thats what development looks like - hall and watkins would look  like pensioners if they had even tried to take part in half of that game - doing great against some of the dross SL  has to offer though so that makes it ok

You simply cannot compare the game here and in Australia. Rugby League in Australia is huge , they have the pick of the young athletes and it competes in a totally different sporting landscape.

But have you seen any of the young players coming through at Leeds? It’s taken a while but were finally getting a very good crop of youngsters through and having players like Hall and Watkins around will help.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

Renouf Atoni apparently not being offered a new contract at Wakefield for 2026 so going to Cas. Shame that as I rated the guy until we put him alongside the likes of McMeeken, Faatili and Uele.  Overseas slot and a bit injury prone so fair enough.

Similar rumour regarding recently released Issac Shaw making same move?

[dkw]

12 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

You simply cannot compare the game here and in Australia. Rugby League in Australia is huge , they have the pick of the young athletes and it competes in a totally different sporting landscape.

But have you seen any of the young players coming through at Leeds? It’s taken a while but were finally getting a very good crop of youngsters through and having players like Hall and Watkins around will help.

How anyone can look at our league this season and claim theres no youth coming through is beyond me, its packed full of exciting young uns, every team has 2 or 3 in every single game. But as ever with him the NRL is king and were the paupers, its so boring.

[DoubleD]

26 minutes ago, dkw said:

How anyone can look at our league this season and claim theres no youth coming through is beyond me, its packed full of exciting young uns, every team has 2 or 3 in every single game. But as ever with him the NRL is king and were the paupers, its so boring.

It's at odds with clubs wanting to increase the overseas quota though. I think the balance is right, and am firmly against increasing it further, to pad out squads with NSW/QLD cup players.

Leeds already have Clark-Wood who's played 1 game and not looked like getting near the first team. A complete waste of money

[lucky 7]

1 minute ago, DoubleD said:

It's at odds with clubs wanting to increase the overseas quota though. I think the balance is right, and am firmly against increasing it further, to pad out squads with NSW/QLD cup players.

Leeds already have Clark-Wood who's played 1 game and not looked like getting near the first team. A complete waste of money

The future for our game is junior development and not have beens and never was players from down under.

Why do some clubs want to increase overeas quotas, is it because some clubs only want the easy option of ready made players instead of developing their own?

[DoubleD]

1 minute ago, lucky 7 said:

The future for our game is junior development and not have beens and never was players from down under.

Why do some clubs want to increase overeas quotas, is it because some clubs only want the easy option of ready made players instead of developing their own?

Official line is to counteract the increasing number of homegrown players going down under. That's a smokescreen IMO - there are only a handful of players going there, so it's to cover up inadequate attempts at growing junior development

[lucky 7]

15 hours ago, Gooleboy said:

The U19s Origin game shows how much talent the Australians have.

It's called taking junior development seriously and just not paying lip servive to it.

We need to phasing out overseas players and then you will see ALL CLUBS take jnuior development seriously

[lucky 7]

1 minute ago, DoubleD said:

Official line is to counteract the increasing number of homegrown players going down under. That's a smokescreen IMO - there are only a handful of players going there, so it's to cover up inadequate attempts at growing junior development

You couldn't get a starting 13 from the amount of British players playing in the NRL. Just a pathetic excuse by some clubs who don't want to do the hard yards with junior development.

[Chrispmartha]

36 minutes ago, lucky 7 said:

It's called taking junior development seriously and just not paying lip servive to it.

We need to phasing out overseas players and then you will see ALL CLUBS take jnuior development seriously

But as posted, you simply cannot compare it to Australia, how much money do the Australian clubs have, how much money does the NRL have, the fact is it's a huge sport over there and they have the resources and pick of the young athletes that we unfortunately do not have.

What the answer is I do not know. I don't support increasing the quota spots, but simply lowering it or getting rid is not going to solve the problem, what would is cash and more national development officers

[lucky 7]

3 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

But as posted, you simply cannot compare it to Australia, how much money do the Australian clubs have, how much money does the NRL have, the fact is it's a huge sport over there and they have the resources and pick of the young athletes that we unfortunately do not have.

What the answer is I do not know. I don't support increasing the quota spots, but simply lowering it or getting rid is not going to solve the problem, what would is cash and more national development officers

Junior development is the answer, and like some coffee it isn't instant.

Remember the chinese saying "When was the best time to plant a tree, answer 10 years ago, and when is the best next time,answer NOW"

[Chrispmartha]

Just now, lucky 7 said:

Junior development is the answer, and like some coffee it isn't instant.

Remember the chinese saying "When was the best time to plant a tree, answer 10 years ago, and when is the best next time,answer NOW"

Of course Junior development is the answer, but that takes money, and status, something we haven't got.

[lucky 7]

4 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

Of course Junior development is the answer, but that takes money, and status, something we haven't got.

Sent some players into schools for Rugby League coaching lessons for the kids

[SUPERSTUD]

4 hours ago, Chrispmartha said:

You simply cannot compare the game here and in Australia. Rugby League in Australia is huge , they have the pick of the young athletes and it competes in a totally different sporting landscape.

But have you seen any of the young players coming through at Leeds? It’s taken a while but were finally getting a very good crop of youngsters through and having players like Hall and Watkins around will help.

Will the club make a pigs ear of it again? Only time will tell!

[The Future is League]

9 hours ago, DoubleD said:

Official line is to counteract the increasing number of homegrown players going down under. That's a smokescreen IMO - there are only a handful of players going there, so it's to cover up inadequate attempts at growing junior development

Why do some clubs want to take the easy option of has been and never was players from down under and not try harder to develop their own players?

Little wonder we are behind the Aussies on the international front with that attitude.

[DoubleD]

11 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

Why do some clubs want to take the easy option of has been and never was players from down under and not try harder to develop their own players?

Little wonder we are behind the Aussies on the international front with that attitude.

You answered your own question, because it’s the easy option. Putting down and expanding development pathways takes a lot of hard work and costs more money. The fruits of that labour also take 10-15 years to deliver 

[lucky 7]

13 hours ago, DoubleD said:

You answered your own question, because it’s the easy option. Putting down and expanding development pathways takes a lot of hard work and costs more money. The fruits of that labour also take 10-15 years to deliver 

Surely its about time some clubs got real about the benefits of junior development and stop making excuses so they can raise the overseas quota.

[The Future is League]

18 hours ago, DoubleD said:

You answered your own question, because it’s the easy option. Putting down and expanding development pathways takes a lot of hard work and costs more money. The fruits of that labour also take 10-15 years to deliver 

So obviously some clubs are not prepared to do it for the future of the game in this country, and just taking the easy option.

[Dave T]

I do think we are maybe expecting too much when we want all of our players coming from the local area. Many sports have loads of overseas players, maybe hoping to get world class athletes to fill a whole comp from such narrow geographic regions is hugely flawed.

Remember, we used to get a lot of RU players to pad out squads.

[The Future is League]

25 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I do think we are maybe expecting too much when we want all of our players coming from the local area. Many sports have loads of overseas players, maybe hoping to get world class athletes to fill a whole comp from such narrow geographic regions is hugely flawed.

Remember, we used to get a lot of RU players to pad out squads.

Well I would like to see some clubs do more in their local area to tap into young athletes, and uncover them diamonds which are out there.

[DoubleD]

2 hours ago, Dave T said:

I do think we are maybe expecting too much when we want all of our players coming from the local area. Many sports have loads of overseas players, maybe hoping to get world class athletes to fill a whole comp from such narrow geographic regions is hugely flawed.

Remember, we used to get a lot of RU players to pad out squads.

I don’t think we’re demanding enough. Participation in the so called hotbed of Hull has been withering on the vine for a number of years now because of lip service paid by the 2 professional clubs there. Hull KR are only now realising the consequences of that.

Not only should they have been ensuring there was a strong conveyor belt in and around Hull but they should also have been looking to expand their presence to adjoining areas. Lincolnshire is a virgin untapped territory without any major sporting teams. The only community club of note is in Immingham, which developed without any help from either Hull club AFAIK. In fact it’s Trinity who have been providing some support 

[Agbrigg]

1 hour ago, DoubleD said:

In fact it’s Trinity who have been providing some support 

We sure have, but they won't find such rich pickings these days

[V02]

On 18/06/2025 at 20:32, Hopie said:

They've both improved Leeds so earned another year, but the number of players coming through across the league is a worry.

 Not sure it is. Certainly not at Leeds.

On 19/06/2025 at 16:52, graveyard johnny said:

guess u have not seen the u-19s origin game? thats what development looks like - hall and watkins would look  like pensioners if they had even tried to take part in half of that game - doing great against some of the dross SL  has to offer though so that makes it ok

Half of those u19s aren’t even playing State Cup yet so not sure that argument has any merit.

On 20/06/2025 at 07:56, Chrispmartha said:

But have you seen any of the young players coming through at Leeds? It’s taken a while but were finally getting a very good crop of youngsters through and having players like Hall and Watkins around will help.

It’s an absolutely stacked pathway for them currently. One of the biggest challenges will be keeping everyone happy when fighting for minutes.

On 20/06/2025 at 08:39, DoubleD said:

It's at odds with clubs wanting to increase the overseas quota though. I think the balance is right, and am firmly against increasing it further, to pad out squads with NSW/QLD cup players.

Leeds already have Clark-Wood who's played 1 game and not looked like getting near the first team. A complete waste of money

ECW was clearly a hedge signing to protect against injury risk or to give the ability to rotate Lumb as needed. He hasn’t needed that but that doesn’t make it a bad decision.