I have to disagree with this part.

Some of the kids have taken their opportunities and are really blossoming. Lilley, in particular, looks the real deal. Though they will need to protect him defensively that is my lowest priority for a half. Handley has really taken this opportunity and built on last year's form. He ought to retain his place whether the brittle Briscoe (T) or off form Hall come back. And I think Golding gave a fantastic, brave, display last night.

The only young player struggling is Sutcliffe and if McGuire were fit we might be able to take him our of the firing line

We simply don't know whether Baldwinson could flourish in this environment because he hasn't been given the opportunity.

Frankly, I'd be chucking more of them in if we're destined for the middle 8s. I've seen what Achurch has to offer and it makes me sick to the stomach to watch it. Let's see what the young back rowers in our Academy have to offer, given the opportunity.

If a bit of adversity could damage a young player then I am not sure they are cut out for the sport.

You forgot to mention how many of the 80 minutes featured in the highlight package you've seen. How can anyone who didn't see the game give an appraisal of the individual performances. I couldn't, I'm surprised anyone who wasn't there could.



I think Hardaker is a good all round player, I also think he could develope his attacking play. You follow these things, how many try assists has he had? How many of those were passes?

I hope GH doesn't wait to the end of the year to review. If we want new players for next year and/or a new coach, he needs to be talking to them now.

As for this year, ignoring the nonsense of BM still targeting the top 4, the whole focus should be about coming home strongly at the end of the year, and given our actual form and upcoming fixtures IMO the realistic focus ought to be on survival. I don't mind the coach spouting positive rubbish for public consumption, but internally its time to stop messing about.

Secondly I'd stop picking any not fit players. Give those that are injured a chance to recover fully, and play kids in any gaps. Our injured players have shown they can't win games, so why bother to continue to pick them? We may as well use Falloon and Baldwinson rather than have the likes of Delaney come back, get injured during a match where they contribute nothing and then are out again for 2 weeks.

Thirdly I'd be telling all the senior players that their positions for next year and beyond are not guaranteed unless they pick it up. I doubt Watkins is being talked about by NRL or RU sides ATM. The way some of them are playing they'll be lucky to stay in SL at all, never mind get a big cheque elsewhere.

I genuinely think the younger players need to be left out of those discussions, but some of the more highly paid members of the squad barely deserve to be called pro RL players on what they've dished out this year.

Agree, It's time to batten down the hatches and start treating it as a 'playing for your mortgage' type gig. Top 8? Let's just get some win's on the board so we don't have the worst fixtures if and when we do have to play in the middle 8's, which if we are poor enough to be contesting by seasons end will NOT be easy.

You are playing the slippery eel again. You were specifically asked to comment on the break Lilley made for our first try as you had previously questioned his ability to break the line. I did not ask you to comment on the full game so your 80 minute comment is irrelevant and an attempt to avoid answering the question.

The highlights also showed Lilley to have a nice turn of speed and Golding to show how to link from fullback with heads up awareness and good hands for this try.

You admit to rarely attending matches but this doesn't stop you commenting from the VT so why so shy to comment on this one try from the highlights VT?

Haven't been docked any points yet. Leeds lost I've somehow managed to avoid seeing any of it bar one grainy try on the BBC prior to the Castleford-Salford game.

Just the one break was it - what's the line you use to cover that exception?



I don't comment on performances I haven't seen. Highlights can be misleading just as when Wells shows a poor line from Watkins and compares that to a good line from Keinhorst, it illustrates a point but doesn't tell all the lines run by the two centres that day.



I try not to comment on games or incidents I haven't seen until I've at least seen some footage. That would normally come via SLFT on Sky and The SLS on the BBC - neither have produced anything to cover the 6th round Challenge Cup games that were not broadcast.

If it's available online post a link.