: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:08 pm
Oldham Rhino wrote:
The lower grade system is about to change as well. There are plans to scrap the reserve grade as it is and introduce an Under 20's competition as it the case in Australia at the moment.
I don't know why people are getting too beat up over the reserves at the moment, it's a crap competition. It's no preparation for Super League. The jump in class is simply too much. It would be better if some of these kids got chance to play for a championship club and were brought into Super League in this way.
Although fortunate to play for his own club, 12 months in what is now the Championship hasn't done Richard Myler any harm has it?
Will that really help?
The academy and reserve grade is terrible. Wigan reserves have played 6 won 6 and are winning almost every game by 30 points or more and not breaking sweat.
How moving to U20's will change things I don't know.
Apart from Pryce and Flanagan, the entire team that played on Saturday were under 20 anyway, and quite a few still qualify at U18.
We tried U21 a few years back, but there were so few players available that they allowed up to nine over age players in the 17.
How will U20 change that? Where are all these young players going to come from or will they scrap the U18 academy?