Radford's thumbs-up for new Reserves division

Encouraged HULL FC head coach Lee Radford last night hailed the impact of the Reserves Championship structure saying his club's opening game was almost Super League speed.
Good test: Liam Watts, left, in action for Hull FC Reserves against Warringtons second string at Hull Ionians. (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)Good test: Liam Watts, left, in action for Hull FC Reserves against Warringtons second string at Hull Ionians. (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)
Good test: Liam Watts, left, in action for Hull FC Reserves against Warringtons second string at Hull Ionians. (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)

Admittedly, there has been little fanfare about the competition’s start this season perhaps unsurprisingly given it consists of just seven sides.

Furthermore, only four top-flight clubs – Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors, St Helens plus Hull – have opted to actually include teams.

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Many decided against putting forward sides for a number of reasons, most commonly being the financial cost of an added side between Under-19s and first-team level.

Action from Hull Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)Action from Hull Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)
Action from Hull Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)

However, Radford believes it is a crucial platform not only to help senior players return to fitness and form but also for younger players not quite ready to step up to Super League’s demands.

The Airlie Birds defeated Warrington 28-18 in their first game at Hull Ionians on Saturday and he was enthused by the whole experience.

“It was a really, really good game of high quality, too,” Radford told The Yorkshire Post.

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“If ever there was an advertisement for the benefits of Reserves Championship football then that was it.

Hull's head coach Lee Radford.Hull's head coach Lee Radford.
Hull's head coach Lee Radford.

“In its speed, it was not far off what we saw against Wigan in Super League the night before, if I’m honest.

“We had Liam Watts, Curtis Naughton and Jansin Turgut playing plus Nick Rawsthorne and Jack Downs.

“Warrington had people like Joe Philbin, Brad Dwyer, Declan Patton and Andre Savelio.

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“For those involved, it will be the nearest any of them get to Super League intensity outside of a Super League game.”

Action from Hull FC Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)Action from Hull FC Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)
Action from Hull FC Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)

England Knights prop Watts returned having completed a four-game suspension by sitting out Friday’s win at champions Wigan while Turgut was also in action for the first time since a two-match suspension.

Radford believes that run-out will be invaluable for the duo ahead of this Saturday’s Super League game at Warrington.

“We’ll be able to call Jansin and Wattsy back this week having done some tough minutes in that game,” he said.

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“But also there’s fewer and fewer Under-19s players coming out of the Under-19s competition physically ready for Super League.

Action from Hull Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)Action from Hull Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)
Action from Hull Reserves v Warrington Reserves (Picture: Viewfinder Photography)

“That is particularly so with front-rows who need a couple of season’s development.

“This, though, is a good standard to be opened up to instead of relying on dual-registration.

“It means players are with you every day and are in your own systems, too, and it’d be great to get more clubs signing up to Reserve Grade.

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“Personally, given the benefits, I can’t understand why any coach or CEO would not want that option at their disposal.”

Winger Naughton, meanwhile, joined Leigh Centurions on a season-long deal but has been struggling to get a game with the newly-promoted side.

Radford continued: “He did sign for the season at Leigh but, with the Reserve Championship, there is a bit of a relaxed approach for registration which allows him to run out for us, too.

Hull's head coach Lee Radford.Hull's head coach Lee Radford.
Hull's head coach Lee Radford.

“That’s another benefit; Leigh are now going to get a player back with some high-level match fitness under his belt.”

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Halifax, Keighley Cougars and South Wales Ironmen also run sides in the competition with Hull’s next game against South Wales on April 8.

The East Yorkshire club saw youngsters Downs and Brad Fash – both part of their first-team squad – return from injury against Warrington.

Rawsthorne, the 21-year-old centre signed from Halifax, pressed his claims for a Super League debut with two tries and another strong performance.

Warrington used the game to give a trial to England Under-20s rugby union international Taylor Prell who has just been released by Yorkshire Carnegie.

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The full-back/winger certainly took his opportunity – he scored a hat-trick before half-time.

Keighley-born Prell scored 13 tries in 35 games for Carnegie following his debut in 2014.

However, he was due out of contract at the end of the season and the Championship squad allowed him and Alex Gray, the former Newcastle Falcons centre in a similar situation, to leave to explore other options.

Elsewhere, Huddersfield Giants stand-off Danny Brough could face up to two games suspended having been charged with a grade B offence of punching.

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The Scotland captain was sent to the sin bin after clashing with Leeds Rhinos second-row Carl Ablett during his side’s 28-12 defeat last Friday.

He will appear in front of an RFL independent disciplinary panel in Leeds tonight but any ban will see him miss Friday’s trip to leaders Castleford Tigers.

Brough was the only player from the weekend’s Super League matches to be charged by the RFL’s match review panel, although Castleford prop Matt Cook received a caution for a dangerous throw.