Bullseye wrote:
I'm not so sure. Dual reg/loan doesn't really work for some young players - take Jordan Lilley's example. Now Bentley may be the opposite but I don't think the suggestion is ridiculous.
Last season he was training full time with Saints (and learning from players like Jon Wilkin, James Roby & countless others), whilst playing either for a Championship Dual Reg team, or occasionally for Saints themselves (those 3 games). From an outsider point of view, it looks like he improved and impressed enough to be given a chance in the first team, despite still only being young.
If he'd stayed at Bradford, he would have played Champ 1 all year, whilst full time training (probably) in a hybrid squad that with all due respect is of a lesser quality, so less opportunity to learn from that level of player. I can't see how that would be better for him.
This year the only difference is that he would be playing regularly in Champ rather than Champ 1 if he was at Bradford. The rest remains the same, except he's learning from Paulo instead of Wilkin. He's still around a far better quality of player in training every day, he'll still be playing regular Championship rugby (with Leigh) and he'll likely get a couple of SL games too.
Sure there'll be the odd player who would prefer to be at the lower level club, training with a lower level player (again, I mean no disrespect there, it's actually a reflection on the top quality of Saints) and might prefer the nicer atmosphere. But I'd say it'll be 1 in every 20 or so. And I'd be absolutely astounded if Bentley himself wasn't a better player for being at Saints for a year rather than a lower league club.
He was a huge loss for Bradford, no doubt. But I also don't doubt it was 100% the right move for the lad's career.
