If we keep Martin he starts for me, not a big fan of Mellor.

Bentley
Martin
Mellor
Walters
Gannon

With Bentley and Martin pencilled in as starters then no particular order after that, This looks about right for next season to me. I wouldnt be looking to retain Mellor after next season and would be hoping Walters would be ahead of him by then anyways. Gannons exceptional but i would be managing his gametime carefully for the next 18 month.

Walters has to become more physical or his game time will be limited at Leeds. Hes all the ability to become a very good player but toughness is a requirement and hes got to produce.

Like most taller players, Walters is currently struggling to increase his physicality. Think Chris Feather or Wayne McDonald. He needs to really work on his strength and determination if he’s going to fulfil his huge potential.

Agreed, he's not there at the minute but hope within the next 18 month he should be looking at getting ahead of Mellor who isnt the most physical/tough backrower himself.

They’ll get it even with Martin here, we’ll most definitely get injuries too and we need quality depth. His experience will help them too.

I'm not sure it's the physicality Walters struggles with, he just doesn't seem like he has much appetite for the graft. He's way more more talented than O'connor, but O'Connor definitely seems to more of the required mentality than Walters

We’ve not seen lots of Walters this year don’t forget.

He could be an absolute specimen physically with his frame - but it will take a little time. He needs to get his D sorted too; I get one of the downsides being so tall is bending your back for everyone else who’s shorter - it can all get a bit grabby.

I still think there’s a player in there and with a good pre-season I’m hoping we’ll see more of it next year. Gannon will also benefit massively from more conditioning, as will Tommy Holroyd.

Mellor is a tough one - I don’t think his skill level is where I’d like (really poor several times jumping for kicks for example)… but actually he was starting to win me round this year. I guess he has another year to cement his place.

I
I quite like Mellor, he has improved steadily this year and runs good lines off Gale. However, young Gannon (I can't believe he is 17) runs better lines than any 2nd row at the club. He doesn't flap either. I'm a fan.

That line he ran for the break in the first half yesterday was all class, Im a fan too!

I agree about Walters for mine he will only improve by playing more games on the bounce, not in for a game then miss the next 5.In the last game he was at centre. Bentley Mellor Gannon and Walters could be our main second rowers for years

Walter's needs more fire in his belly. Needs to up his intensity and aggression. With players like Newman and Gannon you can see how much they want it with how high their motivation is and their will to succeed.

So far a lot of what I have seen from Walters is a bit soft and half hearted and to me he does not appear to show any real desire to succeed. Possibly, because he has the size he has never needed to over exert himself whereas smaller players like O'Connor are not so naturally gifted so have to put their bodies on the line to succeed.

O'Connor is still under the radar a bit, but he is one of those all-round talented sportsmen actually. I just don't know whether he'll have the physical size to play much first grade at Leeds going forward. We have a big pack developing.

Maybe he takes Donaldson's role in due course.

Said it before but I think he could develop at hooker if Johnson packs it in again.

The way Cam Smith is going, I'd like to see him as the Leeds 13 going forward. Oledski, Johnson, Holroyd, Walters, Gannon, Smith would be my dream pack in another couple of years, if the lads develop. With a bit more size/strength on them that's a serious set.

I seem to recall JP was similar when he started before playing in Australia.
There`s hope for Walters yet but needs like you say to have that desire and put some fire in his belly.
I also said O`Connor would make a decent hooker.
Then again I thought the same about Donaldson.

if he played well enough he wouldn't miss 5 gannon and holroyd have taken their chances

Maybe so but we generally only have one backrower on the bench and earlier in the season that was always Donaldson. Gannon has certainly taken his chance. . Our backrow is a position that is hard to get in we have 6 vying for three places. I did think Walters should have been selected before L Briscoe who was for a few games used in the backrow.