Didnt watch much ;ast season but saw him play wing more than centre so just presumed he always played there..looked good there and scored a few...



I thought it was jake senior as thats whats on lists but bulls have him down as luke and lexpress have him as luke on list but call him jake.

Generally speaking, how many academy players tend to "make it"? I know it must depend from year to year but roughly?

In his biography John Monie said that the best academy set ups can expect is 2 players to come through every year. Occasionally clubs get a glut come through but this is the exception rather than the rule.



When you look below at the players who broke through to get more than the odd game per season it looks about right:



This is off the top of my head so I'm sure I missed some.



98 - Deacon, Fielden.

99 - Peacock, L,Pryce.

00 -

01 - Langley, Sykes

02 - Parker, Bridge

03 - Reardon

04 -

05 -

06 - K,Pryce, Halley

07 - Kopczak, James, Cook, Burgess

Err......... 3.

Cant see him making it....Has great hands and work ethic lacks in pace..........ohhh and is a pussy ehhhh macka

On a serious note interesting to see nobody as mentioned Duane Straghuier as a potential to come through the ranks inthe next cople of seasons, and as far as i'm aware ooc at the endof the year!!! One to keep hold off

Brett Ferres, Richard Moore, Aaron Smith, Andy Smith? Depends on your definition of "an odd game".

Ryan Atkins was obviously produced by our system but didn't get first team time so do you include him?

Dave Halley didn't play at all for the first team in 2006.

98 - Deacon, Fielden.

99 - Peacock, L,Pryce.

00 -

01 - Langley, Sykes

02 - Parker, Bridge, Wilkinson, Moore

03 - Reardon

04 - Smith Aaron, Smith Andy

05 - Ferres

06 - K,Pryce

07 - Kopczak, James, Cook, Burgess, Halley



Looking at that lot it seems that if our academy set up continues in the same vein we will average about two regular first teamers per season coming through. Obviously the quality is very variable. 50% have been selected for England IIRC and some have either gone onto NLs or gone completely.



Unless we get a "one off" bumper crop through in the next few years I see no reason to think we'll get more than a couple per year. Exactly why the first team recruitment is so important.

thought burgess broke through earlier than 2007. didnt he come through into first team in 2006 and was pretty much established by 2007 season?

Yeah think he made about 9 or 10 first team appearances in 2006. It was 2007 that he made a real impact though.

Burgess played in 6 of the last 10 games of 2006.