I'll be a bit more controversial too....I don't really rate Walker... Yet!
He's looked good in a few games, but I've seen many 17 year olds to the same and never improve
I'm a fan of Golding....and maybe one day Walker too...but for now, I'm still not convinced

The club is in a good place.

League express reporting that Walker could still stay at Leeds for next season.

Thats a difficult position for Leeds. Its not really something i would be hugely in favour of.

It would be better for Leeds in the short-term to have a player who is already there than to have to have one who has the potential to get there. The pay-off in blooding players who are young comes 2 or 3 years down the line. A short-term deal for Walker would see leeds blooding a player with no commitment that they ever see the pay-off from them.

Or it could be an opportunity for both sides to calm down, and actually see how good he is? Assuming that happened, if he's showing form that things might change a lot - e.g. he could be the first choice full back, in which case the whole issue becomes moot. Or he could suffer severe second season syndrome or get a bad injury.

In any event it might work well for both sides to take a deep breath before going nuclear and him signing for Leigh for 5 years. GH has not been slow before to offer long-term, upgraded deals to quality juniors during existing contracts.

Yet when you read the article it mentions nothing further that what the club and Jack have already released. Cheap journalism, click bait unfortunately.

Only way he'll stay is if he forgets about this daft 'assurances' idea. Leeds will not move on that.

i don't care what any body says. a kid that age should be prepared to play anywhere for the team, at 17 you just should want to play in super league as often as possible. worry about your preferred position once you have 40-50+ (couple of seasons)games under your belt. some of the best players of all time started in different positions before they ended up in there best/ or preferred position.
fact is for me also if he's not staying then he needs to announce were he is off, because i would not play him again if he wont commit.

Bang on.

He is 17 FFS, so much time to develop and earn the big bucks. example - He stays, he gets say 20 games next year plays 10 at FB (no way Golding stays fit for the whole year) and 10 wing/half. Similar following year. He proves himself to be the better option at FB.. is now 19 years old, has 50 SL games under his belt and GH is ready to offer a bumper 5 year deal and make him our official number 1 for the 2020 season and beyond.

Not such a far fetched scenario and surely the picture that should have been painted for Jack by anyone who really had his best long term interests at heart.

I noticed over the weekend that a few of the young players were quick to say that they would play anywhere for the team and they were just glad to have put on the shirt, I did wonder if it was a reaction to Walker's decision.

I mentioned before BJB having similar aspirations to be FB, I didn't realise he was with Show Me The Money as well....in his case the agent failed 3 times to get him in his desired position and according to a Wakey fan it was Chester who told him to just focus on rugby. ..So he doesn't always deliver the goods. Walker should heed his own wording in a Rugby Am interview ( July 4th) to take each game as it comes and just continue learning....that was after denying any knowledge of knowing where the Warrington rumours spread from.. It will be hard for him if he stays as all players seem to be closing ranks on situation, but that is part of life lessons and he can chalk it down to experience.. ..build and forge forge strong friendships within squad...and work as a team..then all will be forgotten , especially if season ends in success.

Also that playing other positions would help his development at FB. Sutcliffe said in the off season that whilst he hopes to play HB he learnt a lot playing FB about the HB position when viewing it from a different position on the field. Some games on the wing for Walker would help him understand his wingers jobs better, likewise if he filled in at centre, HB etc.