People keeping saying that he is young & WILL improve given the chance !
Sorry, but he has been around for several years & has NOT really improved !
He tackles BUT so does every forward in the Super League !
He makes little or no ground in attack. He is not big enough & so is ineffective against bigger opposition.
His passing is poor (half of them are forward) - hence the reason why it has not really worked using him at hooker.
Time to make room for the new breed that are coming through.

The best anyone seems to be able to come up with, is that he is a squad player.
Is that why we have lost to Saints & Wigan reserve teams ? Who are full of quick enthusiastic talented players !
I believe that we need to off load several 'average players' in order to give our up & coming talented youngsters a chance to impress !

We also beat both Saints and Wigan btw. But we get it, you're another one with a serious hard on for the academy lads. Have patience and it'll happen (Clarkson was probably the most rushed into the first team Academy lad we've had in the last several years.....how's he doing again?) they can't exactly start stripping apart the squad mid-season......a season we are currently topping the table in btw.

Good god. Clarkson wasn't rushed, he was at least 12 months too late. Had if not being for injuries to team, he would have being gone that year. Said it clearly in his interviews that year. It's just that due to his versatility he was moved around.

As for the player, plain and simple his development stuttered with the coaching appointment. That is not just having a go at McDermott, it is just that was how it panned out.

He is actually a very good player, it's just we have others of the same ilk. The lad gives his all, is reliable, and does have qualities that I think the opening poster is being unfair on.

I am led to believe that actually this year he is one of the first names down for the squad, as McDermott has been very impressed with him and his attitude since preseason training began.

A decent squad player. He works hard in defense. I would not get rid of him but I wouldn't be too sad if he left. With JJB looking more of the pace really I would expect him to be the first back row to move on maybe

I echo Eagle's points. He does easily enough to warrant a place in our 25 man squad. JJB's fitness and how the club decide to progress with Foster may change this going forward. Clarky will be here until we can't offer him regular game time I imagine.

I thought he was very good against Hull last week starting at loose forward - he tackles well down the middle of the field as he has done when playing hooker.