It's not a matter of moving him to 6, that ship has sailed. He should have been brought through as a 6, where he was outstanding as a youth. Instead the coaching staff tried to turn him into Brett Delaney, and if you play like Brett Delaney your body will get bashed up, even if you're Brett Delaney.

I guess at the time you've got Sinfield and/or Danny Mags at 6, so that spot was filled. I still don't think Ward is dynamic enough going forward for 6, and I've not really seen his kicking game.

There is no guarantee that playing at 6 would have protected Ward; Danny Mags had quite a few injuries during his time. Plenty of backs get knee injuries. Shoulder injuries maybe tend to happen more in the middle.

Blaming the coaches for Stevie's injuries isn't on the right track IMO. Leeds won titles with Stevie at second row, under McDermott, and had international caps there. Was it the wrong call?

Apart from looking prettier now, there is zero evidence that Leeds post-McDermott has improved one bit in terms of results, I think some need to SUMO. You need a Brett Delaney, JJB, Marc Glanville or two in your side to do the hard work and that's the role Stevie plays very well. Injuries are either a conditioning issue or a luck issue, who knows which - but there's no safe place out on the field either way.

Or you might compare him with John Bateman who's of similar size and plays just as hard and who's got away with it comparatively unscathed.

One thing that is a factor for Ward now is the accumulation of injuries - you get to the point where you're always compensating for an injury, meaning you can be more likely to damage something else, and you end up in a vicious circle. I just don't buy the argument that if only McDermott hadn't played Stevie in such a direct role, he wouldn't be injured now. It is what it is - our issue is more the thin depth of quality we have right now, so that we miss Stevie quite a bit when he is out.

some players are just soft as in brittle not in heart or bravery but just their bodies are not up to it, its just the way it is sometimes, i don't think it is anything to do with were he plays or what role he has, i reckon he would be just as injury prone still. Ii have compared Stevie ward in the past to Nigel wright the worlds most expensive teenager , fantastic talent but like ward used to break down every 4-5 games. he had to retire early, i just cant see ward or the club keep going like this, played 3 1/2 games then out for 14, its just not good, the club may stick by him but clubs will have it in contracts that they can terminate contracts after so long out of the game, just the same as any employer can terminate an employee who is off sick more than they are fit. I just think this may be the last straw.

I do wonder whether it will have crossed Ward’s mind this time. Must be soul destroying for him. At the moment he is due to come back and take part in the second half of the season, if he gets badly injured again before year end maybe that will be the time to consider things.

He is only 25 and could have 5 of his best years ahead of him yet.

Stevie played as a dynamic back rower in his junior amateur career and was signed on that basis. He was played at 6 in the academy "to develop his handling skills" same as Jack Walker and Cameron Smith were subsequently. I recall an interview where he said that he saw himself as a back rower first and foremost.

Did Stevie Ward not play some of his earlier games at hooker, or is my memory playing tricks.
Good luck to the kid with this latest injury, he’s young enough to recover, stand by the lad Leeds he’s a class act.

Stevie Ward has a set-back and needs a further op, says Agar in today's YEP!

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... -1-9851659 Another op, another few weeks out.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... -1-9851659 Another op, another few weeks out.

Sad very sad . I feel for the lad