I wonder why?

Scott Murrell? Albeit he ended up playing a chunk of his senior rugby at 9 or 13.

Looking back over the Rhinos Academy half back combinations over the last 5-6 years, it includes the likes of Callum Casey, Simon Brown, Gareth Moore, Sean Casey and Jack Carvill.

None of whom have really gone on to do anything at the top level with their careers to date. So it's perhaps a bit harsh to blame the club for not promoting them if the talent isn't there.

The question is how hard have the club worked to develop that talent - you could be correct that no matter how hard you try you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. That then questions the scouting prowess?

I always liked the look of Ollie Olds from a few years ago, he looked to have the talent to be an SL player but he was probably at the club 3 or 4 years too soon. He's playing in the WLD cup last I heard.

I make it that 50% of the first choice halfbacks in SL were not developed here.
I'm now off to vote UKIP.

I do wonder about the ability of coaches in such a specialist role. I generally don't think that good coaches have to be good players, but in the case of halfbacks I do wonder about someone who never played the game to any level coaching them, or a former prop. It'd be very interesting to see what Joey Johns does in his one-on-ones with halfbacks here in Aus, and almost definitely worth getting him over to spend time with junior halfbacks in England via a coaching clinic.

One other thing that strikes me is that whilst we talk about halfbacks being 'small' that's not necessarily the case - many are around or about average height. Aren't the best athletes of that kind of build (and sporting brain) far more likely to end up playing football? If you're 6 foot 3 and big built you'll end up in RU/RL, but isn't the competition for average sized/build kids a lot stronger?

I agree - not sure what McDermott or Anderson can offer a young half back - all the more reason why Leeds need an assistant or a specialist coach. It perhaps explains why Leeds lack any attacking creativity and focus is almost solely on defence - its what McDermott understands It does beg the question why has Singleton taken so long to develop?

opportunities or lack of them. Even when in the 17 he may not get off the bench for more than 10 mins if at all. Still, now some of the deadwood in the pack has been cut adrift that may help him and the other young forwards like Mulhern.

Hopefully that will be the case

I hope so too. As an aside, does anybody think that heatherington forced mcdermotts hand as the juniors were not getting the chances they needed in the first team?

I don't actually think so, I think Baldwinson coming back and Walters emergence last year and the signing of Cuthbertson did for Kirke & Bailey.

As for the Singleton and other youngsters not getting a lot of game time, whilst there may be other factors at play I know the coaching staff, not just McDermott, are very concerned about the physical rigours of the game and the effect of that on young lads in the forwards. Members of the conditioning team regularly study the kind of effects RL has on the body. For instance things such as muscle mass and bone density. They both decrease significantly over a season and is something that is obviously of a concern to lads who are still growing. Not to mention that, obviously, not every lad is the same.

Personally I thought Singleton got about the right amount of game time last year, especially as a prop.

Didn't Singleton play a part in 24 games last year, and has over 60 career appearances?

Not sure how long "lack of game time" can be used as an excuse for his stagnant development. Maybe he's just peaked?

Being in the 17 and having a minimal amount or no game time is something that happens very regularly for Leeds forwards not named Jamie Peacock.

Personally think he can kick on, for me he needs to bulk up a bit and have a good off season in the gym.