If Golding was that 'cack' a reasonably strong team like Warrington would have scored a lot more than 18 points.

The game is more physical than it was even a decade ago, so I'm not surprised a teenager struggled in that regard. His performance was also by contrast to Hardaker, one of the physically strongest full backs in SL, and whose game is based around strength. From what I've seen Golding's more of a ball handler with a bit of zip, which makes it far harder to make an impact on a team than a strength-based player.

In any event, if Hardaker is out (for a while at least), then Golding should be given his chance. He'll learn more playing against Warrington and Wigan than in a whole season at U 19.

He isn't or wasn't "cack" but it is a bit of an issue if Hardaker is missing for a prolonged/permanent period that we play in a certain way that doesn't suit Golding at the moment with his physical build. One of our strongest areas is the work our back 3 do in taking carries and making good metres back in our own half early in sets giving our forwards a breather. All three (Hardaker, Hall, Briscoe) were all in the top 10 in the league last season for metres made and also are for this year so far, in neither year did/does any other club have more than 1 back in the Top 15 (where yet another Leeds back in Watkins is roughly around both seasons).

Hardaker was top before missing this weekend and still sits 2nd. Last year he finished 3rd but would've comfortably finished top had he not gotten himself that 5 match suspension. Golding whilst an emerging talent and with some skill obviously doesn't have it in his locker YET to be giving us those kind of metres in that sort of fashion. I believe it's one of the main reasons why we opted to get Briscoe in ahead of BJB as the latter wasn't as strong in the donkey work department as our two current wingers are. It could be something Golding improves/develops in time but you'd imagine it'd take an off-season of bulking up ala Stevie Ward, which is obviously a significant period away from the present.

I would agree with all this.

He contributed a damned sight more than Hardaker did.

I'm a bit bemused what people seem to think Hardaker offers linking into the line from full-back, other than to usually represent the end of a move by either taking the tackle or throwing a pass at someone's feet?

Well you were certainly right on this occasion. And it was also nice to know you are booking an appointment at Specsavers

I think the criticism of Golding is very harsh - if Hardaker's positioning was always perfect all well and good but it isn't and we have seen examples this season of his inability to read the game.

Hardaker's error rate also seems to be very high compared to previous years - I may be wrong in that?

I fully agree. Hardaker makes plenty of metres but often at the expense of creating opportunities for others. He is not a 'head up' player and is either just greedy or simply unaware of how to create space and overlaps. It is unfair to expect fireworks from an 18 year old making his first start in a difficult fixture against a top defense. He did ok given the circumstances and has shown in his junior career so far that he has all the skills to make it into the first team either as a linking fullback or a half back. I look forward to seeing him develop further.

Agree 100%. And I've seen plenty of worse performances at FB than Golding's - which was, in no shape or form, a bad one overall.

Maybe he had other things on his mind whilst playing those games recently?

Don't think it matters what team you put out you will muller us. Wigan are average at best this season.

My thoughts too, although that does assume that he has a mind that he uses to think with.