Great player who can look back on his career with pride - it will be a long time before Leeds see the likes of him again

I know kids will be kids, and they want to try new things. But I always remember Sinfield as a kid and how he was so focused, not touching alchohol then, and concentrated on his own perfection. Bumped into some of the Leeds under 16's yesterday, and these were first years, and had a couple of crates of beer between them. A day of fun is not going to effect their game, so don't want to be a killjoy, but as you said it will be a long time before you find a youngster with the focussed values Sinfield had.

This has been my worry for a few years seeing the younger guys coming through into our squad. Seem more interested in Snapbacks, tattoos and twitter etc.

A proper review of what's gone wrong ought to include a root and branch look at junior development. We've produced very little talent for a number of years.

Something I seem to remember McDermott commenting publicly on a few years ago, about players being more interested in their lifestyle than their game.

These are young men, often not the brightest, who are given an opportunity for money and status that they wouldn't have a hope of earning in any other career. They need strong role models around them to set the bar for what you need to do to achieve great things, and also be encouraged not to think they've "made it" just because they're a first team rugby player at a big SL club.

You do wonder where those models are within the current Leeds squad, certainly once the likes of JJB and McGuire hang up their boots.

I'd hope those first years in the U-16s weren't on any kind of official club duty. If they were, someone needs to have a fairly strong word.

There is a drinking culture in rugby union amongst younger players, sadly driven in part by parents who set some pretty bad examples. That was one of the reasons I was not particularly bothered when my son quit club rugby a couple of years ago to concentrate on swimming. Swimming is tough, but they do bang home the message about lifestyle continuously. Way more than in rugby where diet, sleep etc was barely mentioned. I must have sat through 5 or 6 nutrition talks directed to parents in 3 years of him swimming, sleep, school were all discussed frequently. I heard from a mate whose lad plays for Bath that when they go on tour without parents (U15) they will drink.
Swimming is all about small percentages, if my lad had improved his times by 4-5% for his 100's and 200's then he would have gone from regional to national qualification. Another 1-2% and he'd have been national champion. Players like Sinfield, JJB, Peacock, McGuire, they all know this applies to rugby as well. Inches separate getting into the right position to make a tackle and the wrong one and a missed tackle can cost a championship.
I can't comment on league, I have no experience of it at junior level but I do wonder why a lot of our academy products over the last 10 years have not made the grade with our first team and those that went elsewhere, although seemingly talented, seem to lack consistency to really make an impact on the game.

Quote: Andy Gilder "Something I seem to remember McDermott commenting publicly on a few years ago, about players being more interested in their lifestyle than their game.'" www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-4527017 Interesting looking back given some of the trials and tribulations concerning Mr Hardaker and how he himself was once seen as a positive role model for other youngsters making their way.

Quote: Andy Gilder "Something I seem to remember McDermott commenting publicly on a few years ago, about players being more interested in their lifestyle than their game.'" www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-4527017 Interesting looking back given some of the trials and tribulations concerning Mr Hardaker and how he himself was once seen as a positive role model for other youngsters making their way.

The Hardaker/Minchella incident last year which took place just a few days before the season opener rang alarm bells for me. Not just the obvious issue of potentially having to sack Hardaker but that those two as well as Handley, Robbie Ward, Mulhern and one other (Walters was it?) were in that situation at all with the season opener just days away. Not saying that they should live like nuns 24/7 but 5/6 days before the season starts? Just so poor.

I think I recall another McDermott interview when going on about players that he and the club look at the person as a whole and not just what they can do on the pitch. Whilst not saying as such it did come over that they prefer family guys, knowing they'll be more likely to spend their Saturday nights in with the wife and kids and not out in some nightclub having a drink. Think Hardaker and Delaney are really the few ones who don't have kids who have been established first squad members and old enough to realistically started a family.

Bang on. A friend of mine was a young player at Leeds when Ellery Hanley was there. He saw Ellery as the player to aspire to in terms of preparation, commitment etc.

In the end it didn't work out for him at Leeds but that mentoring paid dividends in other ways.

Ellery was the most fantastic professional. Yet those bemoaning the attitude of the "kids" should remember that his attitude/scrapes before he'd grown up was the reason Leeds didn't sign Ellery in the first place!

I don't know Jimmy Keinhorst personally but the way he has stuck at his game over the last few years where others may have felt "messed about", is an example to others. He clearly gives everything on the pitch and has become a highly effective player for us. Great defender, quick thinking and with excellent attitude and discipline.