PROFESSIONAL Rugby League signings are getting younger and younger!

Warrington Wolves snapped up their youngest ever last week, 12-year-old David Orange from Leigh. Sources reveal Wigan recruited an 11-year-old last season.

It is all about signing the hottest young talent around before another club beats you to it.

Not so long ago 16 and 17 was the age a potential professional could expect to be spotted. It changed when Wigan broke new ground and signed Andy Farrell at the age of 14. The gamble proved to be successful in Farrell's case.

Other clubs, who had watched Farrell and then were left frustrated at missing out on his exceptional abilities, vowed not to be caught out again.

Warrington were one of those teams and their youth system has since produced GB players Paul Sculthorpe, Iestyn Harris and Jon Roper, England's Mark Hilton plus youth internationals Lee Penny, Mike Wainwright and Ian Knott.

But for every one of the youngsters that make it to the top flight, for various reasons there is at least another one that does not.

The scouts have to make sure they get it right, their judgement is crucial for children so young.

With the lucrative contracts that the game now offers to the kids that make it the pressures on a child of 12 to succeed must be enormous.

It is pleasing to see that many parents feel they can place the trust of responsibility for their talented son's future in the hands of Warrington's Alex Murphy, John Dorahy, Robert Tew, John Myler and Nigel Ashley-Jones.

It tells me the club are getting it right and that the future looks bright.

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