Hull FC • Castleford Away

One of the reasons, I suspect, why Wigan and Saints have a seemingly endless supply of quality youngsters always emerging, is that their young players take their lead at a young age from the senior staff at their clubs. It is made clear to them the standards and attitude they need to adopt if they wish to make the grade. Only the best with the right commitment survive at those clubs.

As you say, this applies in every work place, whatever sector we work in. It is always up to the experienced staff to create the working environment. Failure to do so means young people, in particular, will quickly become disenchanted with what is going on around them, a sort of 'if they can't be bothered, why should I?' mentality.

In any workplace, this isn't conducive to a successful business, but in a sporting club where you are dealing with, by and large, a group of young men, it can easily become self-defeating, physically harming the club and any ambitions it may harbour.

I could be wrong, but as I said earlier, it's difficult to ignore the impression that Hull Fc 2024 hasn't been the happiest of workplaces. I defy any sporting people to able to remain positive when you're being beaten (sometimes badly beaten!) on a weekly basis, it saps the energy and belief out of even the most positive of people, a banging your head against a brick wall feeling.

It is never the prerogative of the younger staff to set the business agenda, they would need colossal confidence to be able to do so, but if the likes of Balmforth, Charles, Moy, etc. are looking around themselves and thinking 'nobody here cares, so why so I' then all we are doing is potentially wasting highly promising youngsters. They will not develop into SL quality players simply by their own efforts, that is where coaching and guidance enter the picture, the onus is squarely on the club's shoulders.

Stifling young player development is an almost hidden negative from when a club is enduring the kind of season we are right now. Something that doesn't fully become obvious until later years. I have found myself wondering this year what on earth it must be like going into the club to work on a daily basis, pretty depressing at times I would think. The biggest effect of such a downbeat environment would undoubtedly be felt by the younger players.

I just hope we don't live to regret this aspect further down the tracks with other SL clubs ultimately benefiting from these young lads talents as they grow older.