Your kidding. I saw him in Boxing Day and he looked as good as he has looked in years, in real good shape. I have heavily criticised him, especially last year, but I can see a big year coming from him, surprising a few.

I agree mate, mega frustrating. I have given him a fair go and stuck up for him at times but 3 years gone now and he has not had any games i can think of where i have thought ' yeah that is why we got him' taking into account he was first name on the sheet back row wise for england at the time.

Hmmm there's also a good chance it'll be " Look like Tarzan play like Jane".

There is, but he certainly looked the part the other week. Certainly not the fatty Ferres we have been used to seeing.

It might also work in our favour as it`s the last year of his contract and he will certainly be wanting to extend that or at least put himself in the shop window for other clubs in SL.
As long as he can stay fit he should be in the 17 most weeks.

I think we are light in the front row this year, especially with Garbutt gone. If you look at the balance of the side, having a back row of Ferres, Ward and Merrin stiffens the pack up considerably. With Cam Smith featuring as back up (he now has some fantastic players and coach to learn from in his position), we're looking okay there. I'd have Ferres starting because I think he's too high profile a player not to be - if he's not a first choice back rower then I'd rather ship him on and give a young lad the chance. If he's on the bench, well what makes him value as compared to Ablett, JJB, possibly Cuthbo, Donaldson, maybe now Sutcliffe... ?

I'd like to see him cut the penalties out of his game - he plays aggressive which is fine, but he's a bit like JJB at giving mindless penalties away in crap situations which drives me bonkers.

Yes agree with all that and I too would like another prop with Seb whatever his name is from Huddersfield up there as one I would like to see.
But doubt this will happen and we go with what we have got for now.

2020 is a different kettle of fish, we should have loads of salary space available when Phase 2 of the Great Rebuild is on.

I do think we'll struggle to win anything this year without a harder front row, which is frustrating because we're close otherwise, but c'est la vie. Sinfield and Furner had a lot to change and they've done the best they can, I think.

We might even snag someone better than Ikahihifo. If we feed Holroyd, Dupree and Oledzski on spinach and live goats for a year I reckon they'll all be close for 1st grade in 2020. We really need to sort out which from Singleton, Crosby, Peteru, Cuthbertson, Mullally we are running with for 2020, look at where the academy lads are at and maybe add 1 or 2 senior props.

Oledzki is good enough for 1st grade now, he was a stand out for England Knights.

Could Ferres play prop?

Unless Mullalley can convince them otherwise

Just seen Furners pre-Cas interview & he's speaking highly of Ferres so lets wait & see.

This whole selection of Handley idea HAS to stop.

I'd rather get Newman or Sutcliffe starting until Watkins is back.

I'd agree he's just about there physically - probably has more punch than any other prop at the club at 20 years old - but he needs to work a bit more on his overall game for me. Deffo needs experience around him at this stage in his career.
What I mean is, the whole mighty Leeds club's go-forward shouldn't rest on a 20 year old lad.

agree, people need to realise the expression if your good enough your old enough does not wash nowadays, even back in the days, not every one is a Gary Schofield or lee crooks being full blown internationals at 18-19 or more recent Adrian Morley and some extent Sam Burgess players need a bit more drip feeding specially the forwards, think even Sam Burgess would be held back a bit nowadays and used a bit more sparingly, he was nearly burned out finished a couple of years ago.
That said i think he is not far off being good enough now and certainly expect him to be given heavy rotation this year and next season to really push on.