Cobblers. Yes he's 18, but I'm watching games this season and would struggle to name many full backs in SL he's currently better than. I can see glimpses of potential but he has a lot of work to do both with and without the ball to be a real force, and a lot of it's down to the fact that he's basically puny. If he can't accept criticism then he'll never be as good as he could be.

IMO we spend too much time excusing young players for their failings rather than expecting/hoping that they actually address them. That's why we end up with so many who look like a star at a young age but look more and more average with every year that goes by.

Burrow's an interesting and rather pointless comparison. His job was never to run the ball back into a straight defensive line, and in defence he had very good technique but would still get run over every now and then. That's manageable in a halfback.

Full back is least of our worries. Walker is still a kid but is pure class. He's 18 for God sake. Of course he needs to improve his overall game and get a bit stronger do people seriously expect an 18 year old lad to be the finished article? He's done fantastic so far.

Club legends Sinfield, Maguire and Burrow wasn't at Walkers level at the same age. Jamie Peacock was playing for Stanningley.

With the right coaching, development, luck with injuries and the right attitude from Walker in about 4 or 5 years when Walker is still young at 22 or 23 we might start to see the lad reach his potential.

Pick on some of our soft forwards instead of the class act at full back.

very few full backs don't get run over occasionally. he's quality and he will get more consistent with age.

Don’t take this as a sarky comment as its not intended to be as its a seious question... do you get to see all the games whilst in Aus?

X2

Agreed, it's very rare these days you see teenagers breaking into SL sides for even a handful of games a season, Walker is 18 and already has an assured GF display under his belt along with making the FB jersey his which is quite amazing. He will still have the odd bad game though and make some mistakes, we have to accept that. Could be a world star by 21/22 though if we stick by him.

Not sure what all the concerns are wrt Walker.
At present he is an average full back with time on his side.
He looks to have the skill set to do well but lets face it he has not set the world alight even though Sky think he has.
But before I get shot down If he makes all the right choices in pre season and puts the weight on he will come back a better player.
He is the best we have although I still think Golding should have been given more time at FB for this season alone.
And yes Walker might be more skilful I know.
He is taking plenty of high shots probably due to the way he plays the game.
Is that good for him at this stage of his career considering his previous head injury. Probably not.
He is not the only player who has come under criticism this year and a certain Mr Moon has done well to keep his place along with several others.
But our choices are limited even though some on here have said we should give youth a chance even if we get relegated
For me I would like to see Walker play at SO but we are running out of games and it might not be the time to risk it now. But there is no vendetta from me regarding Walker there are others who deserve that more.

An 18 year old fullback isn't performing to his best in a team full of experienced senior players all playing awful. Who'd have thought, in terms of a scapegoat this is really something else.

Where is he being made a scapegoat?

I dont think Walker has been as poor as some make out & when put into context all young players will hit blips in performances.
Our biggest concerns should be quality recruitment replacing has beens never will bes & a World Class Winger.

OK Walkers not perfect by any means, but at 18 plenty of time to develop as long as he does not think he is the finished article.
Even Billy Slater has poor games.
And speaking of defence he looked a right plonker when he thought he could bounce Ryan Hall into touch and landed on his booty.

Yep.

I'm not blaming Walker for our being rubbish. We have problems right across the team. I've also said continually that he has talent and could be a star in the future. But right now, IMO he's not a top flight fullback. Shaul, Ratchford, Tomkins, Barba, the old bloke at Cas, Quinlan at KR are all currently better IMO and he's got a lot of improving to do to reach the second rank, let alone scaling the heights of a Ben Barba.

qlt,shaul,quinlan all better? more ecperienced but ask there coached if they'll stop. usually such a sensible poster Brisbane but come on, that's laughable

Better today I'd say yes. Quinlan would get a game in an emergency in the NRL (and has previously), Walker wouldn't get a look in. Next year and beyond with some weight put on hopefully Walker's way better.

I really think a lot of its physique, and Slater's a really good comparison - if you look at his build now vs when he first started, he looks like he ate his teenage self, which in part reflects how the game's far more physical for backs than it was even a decade ago (Matty Bowen did the same). Hopefully Walker will be able to do the same without losing agility, because he'll then be able to run the ball back without getting smashed and also use his speed and footwork to break the line.