I don't disagree but then again I wasn't one of the posters a few weeks ago sticking the boot into young Watkins.

How old is Watkins. He's been in and around the 1st team for 4 years I think. ok, last year was a write off, but he should really be given the chance to sink or swim in his correct position

About 20 at a guess, he has been arround first team a few years, but think from early age.

Watkins has shown up pretty well when played on the wing. Would it be fair to say all his best games have been on the wing throughout his career to date?

Perhaps, just perhaps mind, that position suits him best for now.

Even his ball security is finally improving out there, presumably he's finally been told to keep hold of it by Coach McDermott.

Not by me! Id never slate him down. Ive LOVED the kid ever since I saw him rip Wests Toyota Cup team to pieces a few years back (playing at 4 funnily enough)

He's the most exciting player to come out of our academy since McGuire. He may even be the best.

I disagree with leaving him on the wing. It's got to be worth a proper look at him at centre on his preferred side of the field. That means a decent run, with the ability to put him back on the wing if it doesn't work out.

If he doesn't get a run this season, when the heck will he? Next season from the start with no other experienced option? I'd say this is exactly the time to be trying him out there, whilst we have Senior as an (increasingly dodgy) option. If it doesn't look like he'll ever be anything but a winger, then we have time to look at options for next year.

He turned 20 last month.

This is his 1st full season playing 5 in '08, 13 in '09, 6 last year and every game so far this year.

A lot of the "knock" on Watkins is his supposed defensive frailties. In that regard, is he really any worse than the current version of Senior, prone to doing his own fair share of ball-watching and lacking in mobility?

Exactly.

Those that are saying with the loss of BJB, Hardaker and Smith what option do we have but to retain Senior in the threequarters ? What message does that convey to the likes of Wilson and Chisholm ? Senior at the moment is not even a better option than a mannequin dummy.

I repeat the mantra if you're good enough you're old enough.....bring on the kids this season. We need to start blooming the future team NOW for a good start to the 2012 season.

Chisholm is not the answer, he's got awful hands!

Nothing a bit of fairly liquid can not help with.

He said you had awful ears by the way.

I would certainly give Watkins a run at left centre. On this season form he will be much better than Senior on attack and on defensive cannot be worse. He has extra pace and has to be better the Senior under the high ball.

I still think Senior like Delaney can do a better job for us in the pack than the likes of Pitts and Kirke (once he reverts to 2nd row) because as forwards they will have more pace and a better chance of busting tackles.

Still dubious on playing Senior in the pack. Delaney yes but senior i am unsure

Interesting you should say that about busting tackles, because one other thing besides Seniors defence that has peed me off this year is his effort in the collission. Even the smallest of players he appears to completely lack busting the tackle.

As a comparison tackle busts for Senior in 2010 were 50, in 2009 60, in 2008 59. I know he has only had 9 outings so far this year, but he has made 9 tackle busts. He is going to have to go some to get anywhere near those previous years figures. Infact even if Leeds really do turn the tide It would be a worthwhile bet to say Senior will be lucky to break 30 this season.

On misssed tackles aswell as a comparison. In 2010 Senior missed 29 tackles, in 2009 he missed 22 tackles, and in 2008 he missed 14 tackles. Again after only 9 outings this year he has missed 11 tackles already. Going back to the same little bet, you wouldn't be far off if you guessed he would end up with 35 misses by end of season.

People try and not put a lot on stats, fair enough, but the above clearly demonstrates a rapidly declining Keith Senior.

Interestingly Kallum Watkins already has 28 tackle busts this year.

He played against Hull last year and pout in 30 tackles with several tackle busts.