As the golden generation comes to and end, is the next generation ready to step up? (Leeds Rhinos)

Last week saw one of the final remaining members of the 2004 Grand Final squad, Ryan Bailey, depart Headingley to East Hull to play for Hull KR. It is only a matter of time before Sinfield, McGuire, Burrow and Jones-Buchanan follow suit. So the Academy and Hetherington's/McDermott's transfer policy start to play an incredibly important part in the club's future.

We've been very lucky to be a part of this golden era, numerous trophies, numerous finals and many incredible memories. The next generation have a lot to live up to. Our Academy is yes, clearly very successful and the next crop of youngsters coming through do look promising. Where the problem lays is that these players simply do not have enough experience and currently can not be relied upon to takeover from the golden era.

I'm not going to rifle through every promising youngster we have coming through, but our main problem is in the forwards. With Kirke and Bailey departing and only one replacement in Adam Cuthbertson of Newcastle Knights coming in we do look light in the forwards. Rumours have been aplenty this week as to who exactly we will be bringing in, currently Olsi Krasniqi of London Broncos looks the likely option. The re-signing of Baldwinson from the Warriors already confirmed as well. Rob Mulhern, fresh from his turnout with the Irish national side is also one to watch this season, and of course Andy Yates signed from Hunslet last season, whom had a torrid year with injuries is a promising forward. This still doesn't fill me with confidence for the years to come. Yes, 2015 we may well have enough cover, beyond that though I really don't feel we do. With Peacock and Leuluai both set to retire the future in the forwards feels bleak. This brings uo the question of has our policy of using experience forwards worked? In the short term yes, long term certainly not.

Now is an important time for Leeds to change their policy. With the rumour of Ryan Brierley's arrival from Leigh quashed by Hetherington in mid week because we have enough cover in that position, does not fill me with any confidence. This kid is talent, of which we saw first hand at Headingley in the cup. It is time for Leeds to quit this reliance on McGuire and Sinfield and put our hands in our pockets and throw money at Leigh to get this lad in. If he turns out half as good as Hardaker has then we have a talent on our hands. Don't need him this year? Put him out on loan to gain experience, something that in Hardaker's situation worked wonders.

I have a lot of respect for St Helens following their success last season. The Grand Final saw them missing a huge number of key players, and their young guns really had to step their game up, and they did. Their success bore down to spirit and hunger, and a drive to defy the odds. Wigan aren't too far off the Saints mould, both utilise their youngsters in abundance and this is one of the reasons that they are driven to success. This is the way Leeds need to go forward this season. Give Lilley a chance, give opportunities to Mulhern, Baldwinson, Tonks etc and don't let them rot away and slip down to a Championship side, talent wasted. Use them in the team. We do however need to strengthen, Cuthbertson is the start, but i'd like to see another forward and Brierley brought in. Alongside our youngsters, this could see the start of the next era mould into shape for the club. We have to stop looking at the past, looking back at the success we've had and start planning for the success we are going to have. Stop buying 30+ players and start to bring in players that have an extended future at the club and to use our own crop of youngsters. Could they be the platinum generation? Who knows.