You should always feel free to criticise ....however it would be more prudent to not draw inferences as facts. I haven't "dismissed" Achurch...just questioned why he is given preferential treatment.

I confess I haven't picked up the fact that Vickery is English, but it must still be an irritation to those that have played in the club reserve teams in the hope of getting selected for a chance at first team rugby only to see another nail in the coffin from another [iapparently[/i average overseas usurper.

Achurch has potential, wasn't he named in rookie NRL team of the year last season. He just looks like he isn't fit at all to me

I'd hardly say Achurch has had preferential treatment, he probably wouldn't have played last night had Bailey not been injured, the same also for the Hull & Cas games when Leuluai was out. Vickery likewise getting a chance through BJB's absence. That you're trying to hint at preferred treatment because they've come over from Australia is quite funny considering we won a GF 4 months ago with only 1 Australian and 1 Kiwi in the team.

It might be handy also to remember that at the end of McClennan's reign we had Smith/Donald & Delaney at right wing/centre, straight away McDermott had BJB and Watkins playing there. Also the fact that Stevie Ward has already played in a CC Final, Grand Final and WCC Final less than 12 months after debut. So no I don't see any preferential treatment based on age or nationality, he's simply picking who he thinks is best to play. Sometimes they're young, sometimes they're old, sometimes they're English, sometimes they're Australian.

I'm sure if he picked the 32 year old Moore over 24 year old Achurch you'd have had him accused of preferential treatment to older players again but instead it's preferential treatment to Aussies now. Basically if he doesn't pick 18/19 years old Englishmen it must be something fishy going on in your mind.

Achurch was named in the nrl rookie team of the year and a few nrl clubs wanted him, including Manly, and iirc Melbourne. But, he chose Leeds because they were willing to offer him a 4 year deal. He's no mug, but some Aussies take longer to settle than others. Matt King and Delaney being 2 more recent examples.

A fair point, and lets not forget he has come over here as a player who had only played a few games at NRL level in whole career so far in the season just gone so he is hardly a seasoned pro that others like Cross was when he arrived.

He hasnt had a great start for us but it would be unfair not to give the guy until mid to late summer to make a real judgement on him.

Achurch has played something like 10 games in his entire career before this year due to injuries. Last year was the first time he got a half-decent run, and he started to look quite impressive for the Panthers. Leeds targeted him because he also has a British passport.

As for Vickery, please. He was signed as a reserve, not as Greg Inglis Mk2. He now has almost 1 1/2 games experience in first grade. What was clear watching is that he's solid in what he does - a far better bet to a coach (especially in a big game) than a player with the same level of experience in England. TBH it says more about how poor parts the game of Chisholm etc are that he gets picked first.

I think i trust the opinions of a CEO who has delivered 6 SL titles and a coach who has delivered 2 over someone who thinks that someone who shows a bit of promise in junior teams should.just be.moved straight into the first team. Unlikr some they can spot true talent from the flash in the pan types, and have an excelldnt record of.ddvelopinh youngsters into good SL level players and internationals.

Sinfield did mention that the club needed to invest in quality players at the end of the season, I'm sure Achurch & Vickery wasn't what he had in mind. These 2 players should be in the reserve team proving themselves before getting a spot with the big boys, Liverpool worked that way in the early 80's.

Achurch isn't on the overseas quota but is included on the non fed trained.
Vickery is not on the overseas quota and is English, but is included on the non fed trained quota due to being trained in Australia.

Overseas quota players are: Joel Moon, Brett Delaney, Kylie Leuluai.
Non Fed Trained players are: Mitch Achurch, Joe Vickery.

No-one likes to see Acadamy lads get a chance more than me Nantwiche but bleedin ell give these lads a chance to at least settle in.
There seems to those that taget the "new lads" or the "youngsters" when we lose a game or lose form.
I do believe that in a lot of cases during the regular SL season our coach has his "favourites" who irrespective of performance seem undroppable but i think the OP is way off his special treatment for the overseas lads rant.

Achurch admitted a few weeks ago that he was lacking in fitness and I think he still is, granted he hasn't been great yet but I'll reserve my judgement until he has played a few more games. I think part of the problem is that he is trying too hard to impress.

It's interesting that yourself and a few more are saying this, When he was interveiwed pre season in portugal he stated he felt the fittest he had been in his career. I do agree with most that he does'nt look fit but that will come with game time, I am looking forward to seeing him when the weather gets warmer. Anyone slating vickery after 1 full game needs to give their head a big shake. How good was a certain Mr Senior after a few games???

"Rant" ? Hardly. I am happy to see the lads given a chance and settle in.......my only point was that I would hope ALL new potential future regulars are given an EQUAL opportunity to stake a claim to regular first team duties, regardless of their accent or origins.

If Achurch is not fully fit, but other lads 'knocking on the door' (Singleton?) are, then why is the former and not the latter getting repeated first team opportunities?

I tend to agree with this.

I'd also say that if the proposed format of the WCC (top 3 vs top 3) does go ahead, we might get a better idea of how we compare. Would be interesting.

It should also be noted that our coach is asking Achurch to play prop. I thought he was a wide running second rower.