JJB plays 3rd prop/LF not second row; is Smith a second rower?; Walters is crap and Keinhorst is our very useful, competent utility player. Nope! not convinced we should let Ablett go.

If you're clearing out back-rowers, then it's Achurch and Walters for mine. Neither offer anything you wouldn't get out of the likes of Cam Smith or Josh Jordan-Roberts.

I agree, Achurch is a certain goner at the end of the year anyway and Walters, he is a trier i will give him that but some of his attempts at tackles are shocking, and i just don't see him ever being a front line SL back rower.

I think Walters has done ok-ish in a few games this season compared to his mostly disappointing 2015 but he's always going to be someone in the 21-25 shirt number region and no further up the pecking order. If you've got new signings lined up then expendable but if not then fine to keep around for numbers. He'll also be cheap unlike Achurch so not really too much you could bring in on his wage that'll be a significant upgrade.

I agree Printer, but to me he is not a player i would want blocking the path to other young lads looking for a break.I don't see him ever becoming a fixture in the 17 when all are fit anyway although Mac does seem to select him over others you would expect to get in over him at times, how much that has to do with his match winning score at OT who knows?

Alex Sutcliffes is a definite upgrade, and I would guess much cheaper. Would not want his development blocking.

He'd need bulking up & filling that something which has done Walters no favours whatsoever.

People are obsessed with bulking up on here. A player of the exact same build and muscle mass but 10 years older and no one would mention it.

They would, they just isn't 27/28 year olds playing with the build, muscle mass, ligament/tendon strength and muscle toughness of 17/18 year olds.

So why do teams spend so much time in the gym if bulking up has no benefit?

I didn''t say it has no benefit. Players are bulking up in the gym from 14 at most junior clubs, then continue this further in scholarships, and further again on pro contracts. I just pointed out the obsession with bulking up that is immediately levelled at a player who is not past 20. The physical side of our game isn't the main issue to most players with a skill set, it is speed of the game that is key difference between making it and not. Of course to improve you will then need an edge, which would probably be strength. But this shouldn't stop the starting development. if you go to most clubs gym sessions the major concentration is on legs anyway, not filling out.

If junior clubs have kids in the gym at 14 adding muscle mass - often under the supervision of unqualified but well-meaning amateurs - then they are going down a dangerous road.

The physical development of young players is best left to qualified, experienced conditioning staff who can manage the process in a way that does not adversely affect their growing bodies. If that means waiting until they are 16/17 and on scholarship programmes, so be it.

We've all seen from watching Walters over the last two years how adding too much muscle in the legs can adversely affect a player's athletic ability.