Indeed. I am not usually keen on loan deals but can't help think larne Patrick or danny tickle might have been worth a punt given we are so busted. Cam smith might get 10-15 mins but at 17 it's a poor reflection we are so desperate to play a forward at that age. We have nobody to play aged 18-22 . The guy is a talent but which other club is playing 17 year old forwards. Agree with Salford fan on another thread the sleeve should shut his grid and focus on our mess of a season. If I was a cynical man I might wonder if he is trying to distract attention from us being forced to play a side like the one above

Is Baldwinson not in the 17 tomorrow?

They play different positions. I want to see Baldwinson in, but he can't play backrow, and he doesn't have the brain of Smith.

Also to those questioning loan, etc. Anyone who seriously thinks Danny Tickle could offer us more than Cam Smith, regardless of the number on his birth certificate, seriously needs to check out with a doctor. Patrick fair enough I can understand the argument, but doesn't he play prop these days? We are not short there.

Like I said not keen on loan deals but also not keen on playing a boy in the pack. We should not need to. My concern for smith is his long term development and A few games sat on bench watching or 10-15 mins playing In a struggling team this year will not help him. See Stevie ward and injuries. Bottom line is we should not need to even consider smith or desperate loans to get a team on the paddock.

It'll be interesting if this season changes GH's views on a reserve competition. Had we an old-style A Team then the likes of Luke Briscoe would probably still be at the club and at least be able to fill a spot.

I'm with Mark Laurie on Cam Smith - IMO its verging on negligence to put a 17-year old into the forwards in today's game. I don't care whether the lad himself thinks he's up to it, he's not played regular open age and has basically played against boys.

Im not on about nerves or training im on about actual performance & the 1st year lads have struggled in games including CSThe team are also finding that they dont have as much time & space to play fast open RL they did at u16 level.
Ive no doubts it will come after all they are only half way into their 1st year but i stand by what i said.

I agree with you that the situation is not ideal for throwing the lad in. He should be used when we have a full side so that no pressure is on him, unlike now. But people need to stop looking at ages, as regardless he was always going to play this season anyway. He is good enough, and he is the future, not to mention he is a first team salaried player.

On the reserve front, I mentioned a few weeks back after speaking with a Leeds and Huddersfield coach, that they both felt their clubs had it wrong on their decision there, and pointed it out at the time that it was no coincidence that the clubs doing well had gone for reserve teams.

Im firmly of the opinion that all SL clubs should run a reserve grade.

I wasn't, but I have firmly changed my mind. What certainly shouldn't happen though, is two or three clubs going against the rest. If the majority voted for it, then all Super League should have done it. It does appear at the moment at least, that GH will have to eat some humble pie.

Nobody knows whether he will good enough - he hasn't yet played against full time elite athletes. At junior level he was like Karl Pryce i.e. significantly bigger than any of his team mates/opponents albeit more skill than Pryce ever had.

I am looking forward to seeing how he goes - but like others I would concerned about a young lad who may be large but will lack bulk, tendon/ligament strength, muscle toughness etc playing against players who are bigger and stronger than he is and will target him. Has he ever played open age rugby?

Get him in. Get him playing!

Get him injured.

So far McDermott has been careful not to throw young forwards into SL until they have been physically and mentally ready. He has chosen to play senior players who may be carrying minor injuries rather than risk the youngsters and has been criticised for doing so. He has shown that he will play young backs when needed as the physical demands are much less, but modern day rugby in the forwards is a different matter and immature youngsters have to be protected.

Anyone remember the last 17 year old forward to come into top division RL and look physically ready for it? You're probably going back to the days of Sculthorpe and Farrell, maybe Nick Scruton more recently?

Thankfully clubs take a more long-term view when it comes to the physical development of young players these days, looking to build muscle mass more slowly onto bodies that are still developing.

Wasn't stevie ward only 17/18? Though I suppose some of his early games were in the halves and it was only last year he looked physically ready for life in the back row.