Maybe he sees a better pathway to first team football at Saints.
Or maybe he wants to be closer to home.
Or maybe he wants to win things regularly.
Could be a number of things.

But if the Saints rumours are true, then you can't really blame him.
Bizarrely, he'll probably get more game time there.

Was a hard one with Lisone tbf because he clearly needed to play himself into some form and fitness and he wouldn’t have got that in the reserves .

Walters is obviously behind Holroyd, Mik, Tet, Sangare and Lisone. He’s rightly leapfrogged Donno and you perhaps can take Tet out of that list given he seems to be moving towards back row, and the fact he’s going home. I think it’s a bit strong to say that his route to the first team is blocked.

I get people saying that maybe he deserves the same chance to develop as sangare is being given, but I would hazard a guess that Smith sees their roles as different. Sangare and Lisone are very clearly impact props, where as I’d say Walters is probably being moulded more into the role of the other 3.

Also worth taking into account he may want to be closer to home.

Is Tet going home?

If the team were performing anywhere near their potential I would agree - but they were awful at Leigh, terrible at Cas, appalling against Hull, grim at Hull KR!!

This is true and I understand the need to keep a winning team that`s playing well.
But like you have said we have been awful for large parts this year and fringe players maybe should have been given more chance to impress.
Smith of course has to balance that notion with getting others such as Lisone fit.
But Walters didn`t let anyone down when he did play so not sure what the answer or problem is with Walters.

That's not entirely true in the run last season, when he made a few basic defensive errors that sometimes led to tries conceded. But would still like to see more of him than we have so far this season.

I’ve had doubts in the past about Walters in defence and whether had enough toughness/aggression but he has clearly been on an upward curve in last 12 months and likely to keep getting better.

How good he will be, is anyone’s guess at the moment but he performed v Saints for sure.

Given we have a lot of 2024 cap space I’d be very disappointed to lose him after we’ve got him to SL level.

It’s not as though Lisone and Sangare are the finished article either.

I may be reading too much into it but a few weeks ago Smith went on about Mik, Cam etc wanting to play for Leeds….

I took that as a dig at Leeming, mentioned the players were really happy to get their England call ups but first and foremost they want to play for Leeds and dont talk about their England ambitions in the media like others do (Leeming).

I hope Walters stays he could become a very good player and he’s awkward to defend.

I don’t have a problem with how he’s been used this year, he doesn’t get in ahead of Holroyd or Oledski yet and Sangare and Lisone are much more mature physical props.

He will get chances this year but like most young players need to bide his time a bit.

When he has played well he has been left out afterwards , i do not get all the Sangare hype i am afraid . Walters is a far better player and prospect

Sangare is very big, and takes some tackling. He might not always look flashy but he takes energy out of the opposition.

Walters may well develop into the better player of the two but right now we need to pick sides to win games.

What I would say is that Walters could have had a bench spot once or twice this season when Smith has messed about carrying backs for various reasons.

But that's not really happening with the side being picked. As you mention we need to ditch putting an outside back on the bench. Martin goes back to second row and fights it out with mcdonnell / Bentley / Gannon we need to bring in an outside back but tindall comes in for now

Oledski and Holroyd the rest no better Lisone and Sangare can do about 40mins per game between them Tetavano goes through the motions still.

Myler
Tindall
Mcdonald
Newman
Handley
Austin
Sinfield
Holroyd
O'connor
Oledzki
Mcdonnell/Bentley
Martin/Gannon
Smith

Johnson
Walters
Lisone
Sangare/Tetevano

I dunno the balance isn’t quite right yet is it?

I think the main reason we’re struggling is the spine. The pack could be improved but we are miles better than we have been for years up front.

Walters could be very good as he fills out, but he can be daft and who knows what he’s like behind the scenes / around the club.

I am hoping this is a storm in a teacup and he’ll end up staying; Tet is almost certain to leave next season and possibly one or two others in the pack. Walters does have an opportunity.