Lets not forget that realistically Leeds will have planned for Hardaker being the No1. This idea that Leeds have invested everything in Golding being the Fullback for the next decade simply isnt true. Goldings promotion to the No1 shirt was in a response to Hardaker being Hardaker and Goldings performances, and again lets not forget that Golding had already played on the wing and in the halves.

And Leeds have never been shy to move on when a youngster stakes a claim. Brent Webb was moved on for Hardaker, Senior went when Watkins was ready, Donald went when BJB was ready, Smith was moved in to the centres when Hall took his place,

What were Leeds meant to do with the number 1 shirt? Keep it vacant because there's a promising 17 year old in the academy. Poor excuse to blame not signing on that.

Didn't Golding play 6 and Walker 1 against Wigan, or did I miss that? I wouldn't be that surprised if Golding rather than Walker ends up in the halves if both stay anyway.

If Walker plays well enough at full back, I would have thought he'd take over the spot. What is a bit odd is at 17 assuming a particular position is where you'll end up. Apart from wingers and out and out halfbacks, most players will move around a bit before settling on their best position. Even then as they develop that will also change over time.

No not at all - If Hardaker had behaved himself then neither of them would have had a sniff at the FB shirt.

The point is Leeds have given Golding the No 1 shirt and a 5 year contract, that would suggest - rightly or wrongly - that the preferred option at FB for Leeds is Golding. If you think Golding is a pretty good player then you must conclude that options in that position are limited.

I have said before Walker looks like a natural centre to me but there you go.

They think he's a good player and see his future at Leeds, currently holding the number 1 though is no guarantee he'll keep it or play elsewhere. Hardaker was given the number 4 shirt only to get the number 1 shirt a year later. I reckon Moon will keep the 4 shirt next year but will play in the halves again, at least at the start of the season. Leeds never changed Sinfield and Burrow's shirt numbers even though Sinfield hardly played loose in his last 5 years and likewise Burrow was mostly hooker.

The shirt number is not the issue - Sinfield played the same role in controlling the game from 2003.

If Golding is the club's view of what the FB will look like - not a bad option let's be honest - then for Walker that suggests his first team opportunities in that position will be limited.

I get where everyone is coming from but I think there is one thing that needs to be considered.

Supporters are passionate about the club and expect the players to be the same. To a player this is a job - end of. Why do so many supporters expect players to be more loyal to the club than they are to their employers - its so myopic?

Supporters give the club a work status that isn't justified and cannot understand why players don't have the same opinion.

In the real world what would you do if the opportunities to progress your career with your current employer didn't match your expectations? You would go and find another job and seldom ever think the firm you left.

I hope Walker stays because he is the most talented youngster to come through the academy since Watkins but I can also rid myself of the Leeds Rhinos bias and see from the other side.

as someone who's self employed I agree to a certain extent. whilst not being mercenary you go where the best opportunities lie. I rate golding , always have, but I think walker could be an exceptional talent and I really hope he stays. golding
golding at 6? he doesn't have the passing game for a full back let alone half back. but i'd let him have Briscoes spot. bulk up a little and I think he'd be great. it would give him time to learn the game in a less pressured role too

This is how I feel regarding Golding. There's no doubt he will be a decent super league player. But for me I'm unconvinced he has was it takes to be a top full back. And I've always thought that about him, nothing to do with walker. My opinion wavered slightly at the start of this season when he had a few good games defensively, but to me he looks lightweight and little slower than other attacking fullbacks. Maybe this is just me. He never breaks the line, has no passing or kicking game, not even scored a try this year.
And certainly haven't seen anything whatsoever to suggest he'll make a half, and don't know why so many people keep suggesting this.

BUT I know he's young and would love to be proved wrong.

I think something you can't fault with Golding is his attitude. I too would give him briscoe's shirt and tell him to bulk up a bit. Give him chance to learn and grow as a SL player.

I'm sure he will make a success of himself, I personal just don't see it at full back

If the shirt number isn't an issue then stop bringing it up because you're the one highlighting it.

If Wigan had a space at FB you could understand with how they play youngsters, if Hardaker was leaving Cas and they had a spot you could understand with how they're performing. But the clubs we're hearing about are Warrington and Leigh.....do you really think it's showing ambition to go to either of those?

Thing is his ambitions are to be a starting FB, that could very well happen, Leeds are just not making him any promises. If other clubs are making promises to play him only at FB then they're making him a promise they surely can't be certain they keep.

Like mentioned previously you said McDermott wouldn't stand for such a thing, do you honestly think Tony Smith will have a 17 year old telling him he'll only play one position and he'd be fine with that? He'd have to be lying to Walker to promise him that.

I think Leeds fans understood BJB leaving as he lost his first team spot. Walker hasn't even given it a go to cement a first team spot against another FB that most think he could displace.....certainly better chance than displacing Ratchford at Warrington.

I rate Walker as a player.....so far. If all that he's saying is true and not the words of his agent, I'd say that his attitude isn't good. Not being willing to fight for a shirt, seems to lack a bit of fibre. In a tough sport.....that's weak. His words suggest he's only willing to be at a club that will give him the 1 spot regardless of other factors.

His attitude stinks. He's a 17 year old pipsqueek, to be making proclamations about where you see your best position and what opportunities you'll have is madness.

Early 20's when you've actually played first team week in week out for a season or more in the position and gained experience but now your path is blocked? Sure, I think everyone gets that.

Furthermore, it seems playing different positions can be a useful part of a young players development, it allows them to gain instincts and understanding of the game from different angles, that they may not otherwise get.

If walker isn't humble or open minded enough to take on new ideas does he have the mentality to become a top player?

I'd say that's a bit harsh on Walker Flex. Whilst none of us were party to the discussions between the club and Walker, all we can say for sure is that Walker is worried by the long contract offered to Golding and the impact it might have on his ability to play full back.

We don't know how strongly this was really put, but the club's reaction suggests that Walker or his agent went a bit too far in pushing the fullback issue.

What might make all this a bit different is if GH/BM have told him they see him as a halfback rather than fullback and intend to play him there and not at fullback. That's different from them saying that he'd have to fight for his place at full back. But given in the latest game he played fullback and Golding 6, that would seem a bit unlikely

As for Golding, this is all hugely unfair on him. If he doesn't star every game this year people will compare him unfavourably to Walker. That will happen next year as well if Walker leaves, and yet Golding's a tyro too.

Re Golding as a player, he could pass as a junior from what I saw. Why he isn't now I have no idea. Then again Hardaker barely did either at Leeds and look at him now.

That was the point I made some weeks ago now.
The amount of "supporters" having a go at Hardaker for not being able to pass the ball or join the attacking line are probably the same ones saying the same about Golding now.
Golding like Hardaker worked hard on his defence.
Hardaker now is being coached to use his attacking flair something he had at Fev in his early days.
Maybe if Golding played for Cas he could do the same.
I like Walker and think he has bags of potential.
For me he needs to stay at Leeds for a couple more seasons.
However I do think GH was wrong to comment on a private discussion with Walker even if it was to pacify some of the fans.

And Walker and his agent were wrong to let these private discussions leak out. The club deserve more respect than for stories to be spread around the fan base making them out to be the bad guys (AGAIN)

Probably some lessons to be learned from both sides.
Agents however will do all they can to put their clients in the public eye and tout their services.
I can see why Leeds felt they did what they did but for me it still doesn`t make it right imo.