St Helens’ star Kyle Amor has called for the Rugby Football League to unlock the potential for the game in Cumbria.
Whitehaven-born Amor was speaking after playing for Saints in their Challenge Cup clash at Whitehaven on Saturday, watched by over 4,800 fans.
The following day over 3,000 fans watched Barrow give Huddersfield Giants a terrific game in the Challenge Cup.
The 34-year-old Amor, who made his pro debut for Whitehaven back in 2009 has been speaking with the sport’s trade paper Rugby League Express.
He believes that recent events have highlighted the potential in the county for the advancement of the sport – with all three pro clubs now operating in the Championship and two of them showing up well against Super League clubs in front of decent crowds.
Amor said he feels the clubs and the talent in the region are not able to reach their full potential because of a lack of investment and professional structure.
“I do believe the game is missing a trick up there by not having something.
“I understand the logistics and it’s an old question – will the clubs merge? – but you’ve only got to look at the amateur set-up and how well they’re doing in their respective leagues to see the strength,
“A lot of these kids have never had any influence at a Super League club. They don’t have community coaches coming into schools. It’s all just coached off raw passion and ability.
“We’ve tapped into other areas such as London and Wales. If we had the amount of time, money and investment that’s gone in there, the amount of quality coming through the ranks in Cumbria would be unbelievable.
“There’s an awful lot of talent but it’s a lot easier for professional clubs to go down the road and look at a kid than it is to drive 180 miles.
“From my perspective if you weren’t signed up when you were 14 or 15 by the time you got to 16 that was you done.
“My way was a bit of an ugly way to go, working for five years, going through the lower leagues and then get my crack at Leeds when I was about 22. It was difficult.
“Without that Academy pathway you’re a bit like a Barrow lad we have at St Helens in Morgan Knowles. He had to drive down to St Helens with his family, two or three times a week, not knowing there would be a deal for him.
“It’s a big commitment for a Cumbrian kid to get a crack at a Super League club.”
