I think Golding needs to go out on loan somewhere and play HB and see how he goes before people start pencilling him in as a starting HB for a top 4 team.

The same does not hold true for half backs. They require more composure and more experience than a second rower for example who can just "do lots of work".

I don't know why you're so against Brierley just because he's 23. I'd suggest that Brierley's 90 odd games against men stack up well against the handful of games Lilley and Golding have had. Especially Golding who has played at full back during his few games and not at half back.

I can understand if you don't think he's good enough and that Golding and/or Lilley will end up better than him at halfback. That's a subjective opinion and one that personally I honestly can't decide.
But to say somehow Golding and Lilley's few SL games put them (and even a hypothetical academy player who has yet to debut) "ahead" of him is rather silly.

As for his age, if Leeds were to sign him Brierley would be the 4th (out of 24) youngest first choice half back in SL. Behind only Williams, Miller & Sutcliffe.
It would also make Leeds halves the youngest in the league by a mile. At an average (2016 ages) age of just 22.
The next youngest half back pairing being Wigan at 25 with Smith & Williams.
The average across the league is 28.
Ironically, even this year with McGuire & Sutcliffe we'll be below average.

As I said, I'm not particularly advocating one player over another, it depends how Lilley/Golding's development goes, but to write Brierley off because he's 24 is a bit silly given he's got what most academy coaches would love to give their halves, lots of games against adults in a decent team in a decent competition.
See Chris Hill.

I'd say that's a reasonable summary of any potential signing of Brierly.........does look however that you've angered "The Chief Guardian of Acceptable Opinions"

the same does hold true for halves. We have 5 halves at the club. Lilley Golding McGuire Sutcliffe and Burrow. All had played SL before their 19th birthday. Of those older than 20, all were regulars by twenty

Brierley has zero SL experience. He has played 90 odd games at semi pro level largely against semi pro players.

it is rather silly to think a player who has never played SL is ahead of one who had

and how many of those other 20 are 3 or 4 years in to their pro careers? Brierley is 24 in a couple of months, he will be 25 by next season when he would move to Leeds. He would then be playing his first year of SL gaining his first pro experience. He is way behind his cohort, he is way behind younger cohorts. For him to step up at 25 would be unheard of. For him to do it for a top 4 team would be unbelievable

Chris Hill may have been 24 when he moved to wire but he still had a year of SL under his belt.

Brierley has been out of academy level for 6 years and will have been 7 by the time he supposedly moves to Leeds. And every other half in the league has lots of games against adults in a better team in a better competition by his age because they had stepped up to first grade.

If this isn't such a crazy idea give me an example of a half who plays his first pro game at 25 and goes on to have a successful career? Give me an example of a half playing now who by 23 hadn't played 2 or 3 years of regular SL rugby?

You go up early to poorly execute someone else's joke? That's just seems sad

Ah, you're in this kind of mood. I'll just leave it here then.

It's not my fault your claims were demonstrably untrue. All I asked for was a successful example of what you are claiming. Don't pretend this is somehow you being treated poorly.

The fact is that most halves are playing first grade RL 6 or 7 years before Brierley, and are first team regulars at least 4 or 5 years before him. It is practically unheard of in the pro era for a player to start playing in SL at 25 and go on to be a top class player, especially in the halves.

As I said, I'll leave it here.

It's become apparent that would be best for you.

Now Now Children. It's about the Golden Egg Cups.

I don't think Brierley's age is the problem but his skillset. His main attributes seem to be pace and support play, two things already well covered by Sutcliffe, Burrow and McGuire. The area of concern for fans seems to be whether our halves have the ability to control a game and if they have a good long kicking game, both of which I believe Brierley is lacking from my admittedly limited viewing. If we're determined to bring in a half then I'd much rather sign an experienced player who can act as mentor to Sutcliffe and Lilley instead of a project signing.

Edited for accuracy.