puroresu_boy wrote:
As for the idea that players playing first grade is some kind of measure of the quality of acadamy it isn't. More important is if they are actually good enough and actually stay in first grade for a sustained period. Playing a handful of games means nothing.
Obviously lads with high squad numbers can get games late in the season covering injuries, and I agree that dosen't make them "professionals" nor the academy a producer of professionals.
Leeds were the first club to push for academies followed by Wigan. I am thinking Carl Ablett, Danny McGuire, Lee Smith, Ryan Bailey, Matt Diskin, Jamie Peacock (via Bulls academy) matt Diskin (from Dewsbury) Luke Burgess (Liversedge), Ben Jones Bishop, Jamie Jones Buchanan, Richie Mathers, Mark Calderwood, Chev Walker, Paul McShane, Danny ward and Ryan Hall (rothwell)....
All successful players indeed, but where are such players now at Leeds? Liam Sutcliffe and Ash Handley seem to be the only successes from the Leeds area academy.
If the founding academy with a lengthy record of producing it's own talent is struggling badly what of other clubs beyond Wigan & Saints......