Quote: SmokeyTA "In a month Brierley will be 24.
By the time Mcguire was 24, he had won a grand finals, played in 2, won an LLS, a WCC, played in challenge cup final, for GB, had 6 years of SL experience and appeared in 2 SL dream teams.
Ryan Brierley has yet to play an SL game.'"
The game has also changed significantly since then. Players are becoming established in first teams at a much later stage and age than they were. In fact IIRC the NRL are bringing in (or seriously considering it) a minimum age for NRL players.
You're unlikely to get players with that kind of experience at that age again due to the physicality of the game.
I also don't think comparing Brierley to a 24 year old McGuire is the best option. Its more helpful to compare him to who the other contenders for a half back place at Leeds are. In this case Sutcliffe, Lilley and possibly Golding.
Against them he stacks up pretty well and also being a few years older may be a help rather than a hindrance. Especially as the retirement age for players has shot up in recent years due to Leeds top notch conditioning and physio teams. You could easily get 10 years out of a 24 year old Brierley.
For me it's who partners Sutcliffe and that all depends on what the plan is with Golding & Lilley. Lilley especially looks good to me but then obviously the coaching staff know much much more and it will depend on their view of those players potential progression.
If they don't think there's a place for them, it'd be a shame but I'd be happy with us signing Brierley as a halfback.
If they're happy with Lilley and/or Golding then I've seen enough of them to suggest they're not unworthy of a shot so I'd be happy with that too.