Bradford Bulls: We will nurture teenage trio, says Medley (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford Bulls: We will nurture teenage trio, says Medley
6:40am Wednesday 14th November 2012 in Sport
By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Bulls head of youth development Paul Medley
Paul Medley has given an assurance that young guns Olivier Roberts, Curtis Naughton and Sam Wood will be carefully looked after next season.
The three teenagers have been promoted into Francis Cummins’ senior squad ahead of the 2013 campaign.
Full back Naughton and back-row Roberts, both 17, last month signed three-year deals and centre Wood, 18, penned a two-year contract.
All three are set to feature regularly for the Under-19s in the coming season and will therefore not be heading out to Dewsbury, the Bulls’ partnership club.
Head of youth development Medley said: “We want them to develop in our system, in our club. We don’t want them exposed to an environment that they might not quite be up to physically.
“Our aim is to get them playing Super League in a couple of years’ time and we’re going to put them on a programme of development through Tom Clough, our new conditioner.
“To do that they need to play in their own age group and be comfortable.
“We don’t want them to be playing against men and getting bashed about in the Championship, meaning that their bodies spend more time repairing than growing.”
Head of strength and conditioning Clough is rated highly at Odsal and will work closely with the Bulls players to meet their individual needs.
“Tom is outstanding and has been with me in the Academy for three years anyway, where he has done a great job,” added Medley
Comments(11)
JAtkinson
says...
8:34am Wed 14 Nov 12
ifallwerelikemumby wrote:{yawn}
Lets hope the assurance talked about has more substance than his previous assurances to scholars.
Mumby was the best
says...
8:51am Wed 14 Nov 12
ifallwerelikemumby wrote:ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz
Lets hope the assurance talked about has more substance than his previous assurances to scholars.
zzzzzz
ifallwerelikemumby
says...
9:04am Wed 14 Nov 12
bullsone03
says...
9:15am Wed 14 Nov 12
Steam Pigs
says...
10:19am Wed 14 Nov 12
Simples
THEMANOFSTEEL
says...
11:12am Wed 14 Nov 12
i know we are struggling on props and FC says he wants one more but i would still look at another for options or at least borrow from Dewsbury.
Props dont exactly last a full year!
I know we dont have the cash but loan sign or anybody would be a good option!
Prycey
says...
11:24am Wed 14 Nov 12
We have still got a craking group of youngsters that other clubs have stated are some of the best. So we need to spend the £1.2m on youth development over the coming years as stated last week and who knows how we will be rewarded in a few years time. It may be a tough season ahead but things will steadily improve if we give the new owners and coach time.
ifallwerelikemumby
says...
11:25am Wed 14 Nov 12
franklyn
says...
7:11pm Wed 14 Nov 12
If you watch how other clubs blood their youngsters,they introduce them gradually against the weaker clubs in S/L. Most of the great players of past and present were first team regular in their late teens.
Was sad to see the young prop go to leeds. he was one we could have done with holding on to. but if they don't want to play for you it's no good standing in their way. best of luck to the lad.
ifallwerelikemumby
says...
9:18pm Wed 14 Nov 12
ifallwerelikemumby says...
8:08am Wed 14 Nov 12