The successful development of Rugby League players at Northampton is certainly paying dividends with 6 Northampton players now at professional Rugby League clubs.
Will Lovell, Matt Meek, Dan Brotherton, Santino Decaro, Ben Hanger and Aidan Power are the 6 players in question who are now on the first steps to making a full time career out of the game. Will and Matt are on the books of Quins RL, Dan Brotherton is at St Helens and Tino, Ben and Aidan are on the scholarship programme at Sheffield Eagles.
The club has been receiving regular updates from the three clubs and particular praise must go to Tino Decaro who was voted as the Player of the Year for his age group at Sheffield. Decaro, Hanger and Power made their mark in Rugby League in the highly successful Knight’s Under 14’s and 15’s teams and it was their exploits that earned all three selection to the Midlands squad and from that point they were spotted by Sheffield. Such has been the progress of the players that they have all been invited back to the Eagles for 2011.
Dean Thomas from Sheffield has been impressed with the application and quality of the 3 players and is on the lookout for more players from the club.
Will Lovell took the route of attending an exhaustive trial process at Quins in which he was ultimately successful. He initially played for their Under 16 team, 18 months ago and has now played for both the Quins Under 18’s and 20’s. Also making the trip to the capital on a regular basis is Matt Meek. Forward Matt is nearing the end of his first year with the Quins and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He also played for the Under 18′s and Under 20′s during the season and represented the Midlands at the Under 18 age group.
Will made it to the London and the South Under 18’s squad in October 2009 that competed in the national carnival which was a trial for the Great Britain Under 18’s. Dan Brotherton played and captained the Midlands Under 18’s at that event and was selected for the Great Britain Under 18’s Community Lions train on squad.
Phil Jones from Quins RL has paid tribute to the quality of the 2 players both on and off the field and wants them to continue their progress under his umbrella. Indeed he has conducted training sessions at Northampton and was impressed by the players under his charge and the club as a whole.
Dan Brotherton is the latest Northampton player to earn a contract with a pro club. Dan is the most experienced Rugby League player out of the 6 having played for the adult team back in their debut year in 2007. He sent a DVD of his exploits to a number of clubs and he was invited to Saints to train. After 2 games, 3 tries and 3rd place in the Fastest Man in Super League race he was offered a contract and is splitting his time inbetween Northampton and St Helens.
He commented, “ I am so pleased that I started to play league back in 2007 and am thankful to the coaches that I have worked with in those 4 years. I am looking forward to the challenge that faces me at St Helens and will certainly try my hardest to make the sport my full time career.”
The above all shows to the current crop of youngsters at the club that there is a future in Rugby League as a professional and for those players who want to follow that path, they should join and play for the Clubmark Gold accredited club.
Club Coaching Coordinator and Northamptonshire Community Rugby League Coach, Patrick Wilson, commented, “ Rugby players in the area would naturally gravitate to Northampton Saints but the examples of the 6 players show that there is a pathway in Rugby League via the East Midlands and Midlands performance routes to earning a contract with a pro club. For me the progression of Decaro, Power and Hanger is particularly satisfying as I coached them for 2 full years. I knew that they had the ability to make it all the way. I am pleased that they chose to play RL and I would urge all “Rugby” players to play League at the Knights.”
“The fact that the players have not been available for selection for the club this season is a small price to play for enhancing their careers and as a club we fully support their ambitions. It would be some day if the 6 players ended up on opposing teams in the future! I am sure there would be plenty of spectators from Northampton at that game. It means that as a club we need to produce a further 11 players to have a professional team of ex Northampton players.”
“The pathway for RL players is being enhanced this year with the continuation and expansion of the Regional Performance Development Centres which will now start at Under 13 going through to Under 16. Northampton have a number of players within this set up and it can only benefit them.”
Wilson ended up by saying, “ as a club we must be fairly unique within the Midlands having 6 players at pro clubs and it is a sign that we are on the right path.”
Pictured are the 6 players in their respective kits. On the front row left to right are Tino Decaro, Aidan power, Ben Hanger and on the back row is Will Lovell, Dan brotherton and Matt Meek.
Post Script – Will Lovell will be training with the first team at Quins next season!!
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