Are you in a position to form the view that they are?


As far as I am aware it's up to a few guys with McDermott getting the final call. So far his judgement hasn't hurt the team at all.

I can not say I am, because I don't see them.

I do however still have contacts with a lot of respected scouts in the game, who have given me information on two or three of them. So no I would not make the sweeping statement that none of them are ready.





I will reserve judgement on hurting the team, as I am a big believer in plan for change. I don't believe McDermott has an idea of what that means.

Whilst it may not have hurt the team now, only time will tell on what effect the way he does things pans out.

To be fair to Mac he has brought through or made regulars of Ward,BJB,Watkins,Clarkson and Hardaker in his time in charge and we do have the best young three-quarter line-up in the league, which should serve us well for the years to come so to say he he has no idea of what change means is a bit wide of the mark.

Mcdermott is in his third season at the club now,its highly likely that he will be gone anyway by the time the sweeping changes have to be made in 3-4 seasons time as Sinfield,Burrow,McGuire etc.. hang up their boots.

Watkins and Clarkson were regulars before his time. Hardacker was a big money signing, and Ward could not be ignored.




That's the worry I have, and why I made the comment that you quoted.

They weren't regulars Gotcha. They had been gradually brought into the team over time. Also, Hardaker was a signing, but we loaned him straight back to Fev to help him develop before just throwing him straight in. Even after he came back from Fev, he didn't play every week. It was a gradual process of getting him integrated in.

Going back to your, "I have a mate at the club who's in the know" post, who does he/you think should be playing First Grade who isn't at the moment?

Hang on with that one. Where have I said that sort of childish comment?

You have missread there mate.

No they wasn't at all. Had it not been for injuries Watkins would have been regarded as a veteran in number of games terms before McDermott. Clarkson had played continuously and played a challenge cup final before McDermott.

There is no way McDermott has played a part in their development.

Hardaker, yes was still developing, but that didn't stop a big money transfer been paid. You don't pay big money transfers and play them in the juniors. He was always going to be in. How many games did he play for Fev that season again?

There is no point in worrying.These great players we have that came through at the same time, giving us this golden period and will move on together are not going to make way for youngsters right now under Mcdermott thats for sure,unless they are proving they can not be ignored as you rightly pointed out was the case with Stevie Ward.

We are certain to go through a period like Saints are at the minute and Bradford did before them and Wigan did before them etc..where we have to rebuild with the youth and have to take a back seat for few years as far as silverware is concerned.

I personally would have liked to have seen us giving a young lad a chance on the wing these past few weeks, as i stated at the start of this thread as i dont see how they could have been any more out of their depth than Vickery but generally think Mac has done well bringing through the youth he has at his disposal in his time here.The good ones are making it,if the others turn out to be good un's i would suggest they will still make it too.

Not true. I advocate giving promising youngsters at the earliest opportunity ....if nothing else but to keep the exisiting first teamers on their toes.

I simply cannot understand the holding back of youth if the alternative is to play first teamers out of position or to have a no-better-Aussie with no pedigree speculatively flying in and leapfrogging his way into the first team (who then continues to be selected despite inept or poor performances - -plural).

Andy Gilder is probably correct in forecasting Watson and Chisholm will move on.....but in the meantime would it not be better to utilise both rather than having Watkins learn the FB role as he goes along.... and having a cart horse (with an apparent lack of any other attributes to compensate) commanding a now regular right wing spot ??

Didn't we have all this hand-wringing regarding Jay Pitts? He's not exactly setting SL on fire now he's free from the McDermott tyranny...

... but was/is he better or worse than the likes of the older Kirke/the older Moore/the older Griffin?

...ditto Kyle Amor? Was/is he better or worse than the likes of the older Kirke/the older Moore/the older Griffin?

I have a sneaky feeling we will soon be saying the same about Singleton (with 'the no-better-Achurch' superseding the soon to depart... 'the older Griffin')

Good to see these Dual-Registration partnerships are going so well.

The SL clubs sold it to the Championship clubs as both.