How many academy products each Super League side has in their first 17

The backbone of Super League success is the production of young players in academies that can take the club forward.

Every team that has won the Grand Final has often relied on home grown players so today we’re looking at which teams have the most home grown players in their first choice 17s for the 2023 season based on squad numbers.

Unsurprisingly, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos and especially St Helens lead the way.

Hull KR and Leigh Leopards are the only teams without any but to be fair to both they have other young players in their squads.

In fact Hull KR will likely start a product of their academy at six in Mikey Lewis. This is because he wears the number 20 shirt with the six retired in memory of Roger Millward.

Castleford Tigers: 3
Joe Westerman, Nathan Massey, Adam Milner

Huddersfield Giants:
Jake Connor, Jermaine McGillvary, Matty English

Hull FC: 4
Danny Houghton, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash, Cameron Scott

Hull KR: 0

Leeds Rhinos: 5
Harry Newman, Ash Handley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Cameron Smith, Jarrod O’Connor (also spent time in the Widnes academy)

Leigh Leopards: 0

Salford Red Devils: 2
Marc Sneyd, Kallum Watkins (spent time both in Salford and Leeds academy)

St Helens: 9
Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Jon Bennison, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, James Roby, Matty Lees, Morgan Knowles

Wakefield Trinity: 3
Max Jowitt, Corey Hall (spent time in Wakefield, Wigan and Leeds academies), Jay Pitts

Warrington Wolves: 3
Josh Thewlis, Ben Currie, Joe Philbin

Wigan Warriors: 8
Liam Marshall, Harry Smith, Sam Powell, Liam Byrne, Liam Farrell, Morgan Smithies, Ethan Havard, Kai Pearce-Paul