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Thread: Saints Academy 2023

  1. #26
    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk STIDDY's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Euroboy View Post
    Wasnt Roberts the guy who pretty much every SL club offered a contract to but he only ever wanted to play for Saints? Or was that Whitby?
    Yes, quite a few top clubs were interesting in him after he won the player of the year in the NWC comp. Its looking as though he is on a similar progression to Lewis Dodd just needs to bulk up a bit. I think George Whitby came from rugby union.

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    Learning All The Songs Brian Nazareth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Euroboy View Post
    Wasnt Roberts the guy who pretty much every SL club offered a contract to but he only ever wanted to play for Saints? Or was that Whitby?

    Robertson


    As well as Harry Robertson, there's two other lads in the Academy with the surname Roberts (Louie & Will)
    He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.

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    Quote Originally Posted by STIDDY View Post
    Yes, quite a few top clubs were interesting in him after he won the player of the year in the NWC comp. Its looking as though he is on a similar progression to Lewis Dodd just needs to bulk up a bit. I think George Whitby came from rugby union.
    Whitby played for Blackbrook for years, think he just played both.

  4. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by wirefox View Post
    Harry Robertson is reported to be the new Jack Welsby. If that is at all possible.
    I've posted this before, but I'd say their build is the only similarity. Robertson doesn't have the passing or kicking game Welsby does and for me isn't a classic half or modern fullback. If anyone on here is old enough to remember Brett Mullins the Canberra/Australia fullback/centre/wing, that is who I'd liken him to. In juniors Robertson was never a fan of contact and although he can tackle well, he didn't seem to enjoy that side of the game either. He has no kicking game and doesn't pass the ball well, he's certainly not throwing the kind of passes Welsby is capable of. What he would do in juniors is touch the ball five times and score four tries. He was always tall and once he got through the line he was rarely caught. His Halton team were largely bang average, with him and a couple of others who made scholarship elevating them to the top division. It really was a case of 'how do we stop Harry?'. He's showing no signs of stopping scoring in the academy setup and seems to be joining the line well from fullback if that's where they are playing him. But he's not a modern fullback and I'd think it's likely he'll come through on the wing or centre initially. He could play fullback as a running threat I guess, but it would go against the way the modern game has gone where the fullback is essentially expected to have the skillset of a halfback.

  5. #30
    In The South Stand Noel Cleal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by southernsaint7 View Post
    I don't disagree...however how many clubs are fielding 11 home grown players and another from outside the heartlands that went via a different pathway (universities then york)? That side comfortably beat Whitehaven this weekend too. You learn by playing better standard of players and games. May be a few tonkings, but those guys need to play at that level
    I think part of it is that it is tricky to attract players from the North to London. There is no London weighting so the Broncos either have to pay players through the nose or develop their own.

    My point with a University style academy system is that there would be an incentive for players to move out of their parents houses and go play for these teams if they got incentives such as a good education. This could potentially level up a lot of the lob sidedness in the academy system. Obviously this is very pie in the sky at present and would only really happen long term.
    I could agree with you but then we would both be wrong.

  6. #31
    In The South Stand Noel Cleal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    Whitby looked like he could play Super League at 15, his speed of thought and the quality of his execution was that good. It'll be interesting to see what he's like now if he does come through. Where is Robertson playing these days? Fullback, six or centre?
    Last game he has 3 on his back but was at 1. But at that level he will play where he gets the ball in his hands most.
    I could agree with you but then we would both be wrong.

  7. #32
    In The South Stand Noel Cleal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    I've posted this before, but I'd say their build is the only similarity. Robertson doesn't have the passing or kicking game Welsby does and for me isn't a classic half or modern fullback. If anyone on here is old enough to remember Brett Mullins the Canberra/Australia fullback/centre/wing, that is who I'd liken him to. In juniors Robertson was never a fan of contact and although he can tackle well, he didn't seem to enjoy that side of the game either. He has no kicking game and doesn't pass the ball well, he's certainly not throwing the kind of passes Welsby is capable of. What he would do in juniors is touch the ball five times and score four tries. He was always tall and once he got through the line he was rarely caught. His Halton team were largely bang average, with him and a couple of others who made scholarship elevating them to the top division. It really was a case of 'how do we stop Harry?'. He's showing no signs of stopping scoring in the academy setup and seems to be joining the line well from fullback if that's where they are playing him. But he's not a modern fullback and I'd think it's likely he'll come through on the wing or centre initially. He could play fullback as a running threat I guess, but it would go against the way the modern game has gone where the fullback is essentially expected to have the skillset of a halfback.
    Interesting post. I would guess that he probably could get a run on the wing if he makes it to first team and take it from there.
    I could agree with you but then we would both be wrong.

  8. #33
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    Whitby played for Blackbrook for years, think he just played both.
    I read somewhere he had a spell with Sale Sharks.

  9. #34
    really is sorry Reacher's Avatar
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    Anyone go to the U16s game last night against Wigan? Great win for Saints, 32-12. Wigan are always strong at that age so we must have a decent team too.

    I went to the game last year and Wigan were much better, all of that team are now playing Academy this year and so will take some beating.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Reacher View Post
    Anyone go to the U16s game last night against Wigan? Great win for Saints, 32-12. Wigan are always strong at that age so we must have a decent team too.

    I went to the game last year and Wigan were much better, all of that team are now playing Academy this year and so will take some beating.
    Saw someone on Twitter saying we're picking up the scraps at that age and that Warrington are far stronger. All the best at Wigan junior clubs are with them apparantly. No idea if true as I've never watched that year. Big shift if that's the case?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    Saw someone on Twitter saying we're picking up the scraps at that age and that Warrington are far stronger. All the best at Wigan junior clubs are with them apparantly. No idea if true as I've never watched that year. Big shift if that's the case?
    Yes to be fair thats what I've been told as well. Warrington are the strongest at this age group. To be fair they've really got their youth set up sorted now after years of being behind Saints and Wigan.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Reacher View Post
    Yes to be fair thats what I've been told as well. Warrington are the strongest at this age group. To be fair they've really got their youth set up sorted now after years of being behind Saints and Wigan.
    They have, they're much stronger at all age groups than they were historically. They're absolutely dreadful at then bringing them through into SL and need to work on that if they want it to bear any fruit.

  13. #38
    Learning All The Songs Brian Nazareth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reacher View Post
    Yes to be fair thats what I've been told as well. Warrington are the strongest at this age group. To be fair they've really got their youth set up sorted now after years of being behind Saints and Wigan.

    You mean they've thrown loads of money at it, dishing out some silly-money contracts to promising youngsters from the region and beyond?

    Not the first time we've seen some club decide to go down this path, and it's always been a flash in the pan that has borne little fruit.

    Wigan as a town produce probably the most number of quality young players, but with Thatto Heath and Blackbrook especially, a fair number of local St Helens lads progress. well.

    Even if Warrington go big on the Academy for the few years, gobbling up all the top talent from the region, I'd still rather us keep our established formula (and with the unique attraction of regular Australia tours) that has served us brilliantly.
    He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.

  14. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Nazareth View Post
    I'd still rather us keep our established formula (and with the unique attraction of regular Australia tours) that has served us brilliantly.
    That's something else we'll no longer be unique in having. I think the 16s we're talking about here are going to be the first of an annual Warrington trip to Australia, the itinery I've seen for it is surprisingly similar to the way we used to do things. Almost as if someone has copied our homework

    Fair play to them though. If 10 other teams pushed the boat out like this, we'd probably have a far stronger domestic competition and wouldn't be so reliant on overseas players to improve the quality. We'd also be far less damaged by the inevitable movement of some of the most talented to the NRL if we were pumping them out as a nation and the national team would grow ever stronger too.

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    In The North Stand With All The Old Folk The Wee Waa Womble's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    That's something else we'll no longer be unique in having. I think the 16s we're talking about here are going to be the first of an annual Warrington trip to Australia, the itinery I've seen for it is surprisingly similar to the way we used to do things. Almost as if someone has copied our homework

    Fair play to them though. If 10 other teams pushed the boat out like this, we'd probably have a far stronger domestic competition and wouldn't be so reliant on overseas players to improve the quality. We'd also be far less damaged by the inevitable movement of some of the most talented to the NRL if we were pumping them out as a nation and the national team would grow ever stronger too.
    I agree. I’m never going to complain about a club pumping money into the future of the sport. At the moment some of super league is relying on the production lines of Saints, Wigan and Leeds to prop them up.
    Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    That's something else we'll no longer be unique in having. I think the 16s we're talking about here are going to be the first of an annual Warrington trip to Australia, the itinery I've seen for it is surprisingly similar to the way we used to do things. Almost as if someone has copied our homework

    Fair play to them though. If 10 other teams pushed the boat out like this, we'd probably have a far stronger domestic competition and wouldn't be so reliant on overseas players to improve the quality. We'd also be far less damaged by the inevitable movement of some of the most talented to the NRL if we were pumping them out as a nation and the national team would grow ever stronger too.
    The players at Warrington have to pay £1500 each for the privilege of going on the Australia tour.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dagzie View Post
    The players at Warrington have to pay £1500 each for the privilege of going on the Australia tour.
    Really? That’s very short sighted from Wire given the cash they have sloshing about.


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    Quote Originally Posted by FearTheVee View Post
    Really? That’s very short sighted from Wire given the cash they have sloshing about.


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    My friend’s son is raising money to be able to go.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dagzie View Post
    My friend’s son is raising money to be able to go.
    Good luck to him, will be a great experience if he can


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    Will Roberts was just as highly rated at junior Rugby than the likes of Whitby. Roberts was the best half in the junior competition and luckily our link with Rylands won us his signature although he is a Leigh lad. His younger brother is also at Saints and his older brother played for Wigan and is currently playing in the championship.

    His been fantastic for scholarship and the academy and scored a hat trick in pre season against Swinton. He is only slight thou which may be the stumbling block.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dagzie View Post
    My friend’s son is raising money to be able to go.
    Your son has started the season well! Hows he finding it ?

  22. #47
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    Saw someone on Twitter saying we're picking up the scraps at that age and that Warrington are far stronger. All the best at Wigan junior clubs are with them apparantly. No idea if true as I've never watched that year. Big shift if that's the case?
    I think there were four in the Saints side from Wigan St. Judes.

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    I think it is sensible for clubs to have talent scouts going to places were they think there is a chance of good players playing , about 2or 4 or 5 years ago i was at a Saints game and i think it was 10 lads that had just been signed i think 6 of them were from Warrington .

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    Quote Originally Posted by Titan Saint View Post
    Your son has started the season well! Hows he finding it ?
    Thanks. He’s really enjoying it. Very much looking forward to the Wigan game next Saturday!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Saddened! View Post
    Saw someone on Twitter saying we're picking up the scraps at that age and that Warrington are far stronger. All the best at Wigan junior clubs are with them apparantly. No idea if true as I've never watched that year. Big shift if that's the case?
    Thats definitely not the case with the latest scholarship intake. Warrington are the ones who've picked up the scraps. Other than Ellis Liversey (NWC player of the year last season), the rest of their lads are bang average at best and a couple of the lads, well, most knowledgeable observers of this age just don't get how they have got picked. Whereas Saints and Wigan got the best players at this age signed up early on. Wire seem more focussed on looking at Warrington based players.

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