Quote: Smokey TA " snip '"
The same does not hold true for half backs. They require more composure and more experience than a second rower for example who can just "do lots of work".
I don't know why you're so against Brierley just because he's 23. I'd suggest that Brierley's 90 odd games against men stack up well against the handful of games Lilley and Golding have had. Especially Golding who has played at full back during his few games and not at half back.
I can understand if you don't think he's good enough and that Golding and/or Lilley will end up better than him at halfback. That's a subjective opinion and one that personally I honestly can't decide.
But to say somehow Golding and Lilley's few SL games put them (and even a hypothetical academy player who has yet to debut) "ahead" of him is rather silly.
As for his age, if Leeds were to sign him Brierley would be the 4th (out of 24) youngest first choice half back in SL. Behind only Williams, Miller & Sutcliffe.
It would also make Leeds halves the youngest in the league by a mile. At an average (2016 ages) age of just 22.
The next youngest half back pairing being Wigan at 25 with Smith & Williams.
The average across the league is 28.
Ironically, even this year with McGuire & Sutcliffe we'll be below average.
As I said, I'm not particularly advocating one player over another, it depends how Lilley/Golding's development goes, but to write Brierley off because he's 24 is a bit silly given he's got what most academy coaches would love to give their halves, lots of games against adults in a decent team in a decent competition.
See Chris Hill.