Richards is fine - for his age. If anything I'd say he's a fraction above the curve.

I don't rate Walker any higher than I do Richards, but Richards has 4 years on him - there are times when I question whether Richards will make it and there are times when I'm convinced he will. He's playing one of if not the toughest position for a teenager and I'm willing to give him a couple more years yet. It took singleton that long at Leeds and I'd put them in a similar bracket. For a year of two having him as 5th choice prop would be my preference but really pushing 4th choice.

As for Mose he's really disappointed me this year. I defended him a lot last year and thought he showed signs of kicking on ... Unfortunately his workrate seems to have fallen off a cliff ... Probably correllated to him signing an NRL deal I'd guess. There are lots of props I'd take a punt on to replace him (Adam walker being one, as he's looked good whenever I've seen him this year) however Phil Joseph is like having a smaller, less fit version of Mose!

I completely agree. Props are the slowest to mature to potential but, while he'll fill in with no disgrace, he's yet to turn in any outstanding individual performances (although I've seen him put a couple of cracking hits on people this season, including Benny Westwood).
I expect him to improve (probably into a club stalwart) but, at the moment, if you discount his age and potential and judge him solely on current ability, he's below what we want from a starting 17 player IMO.

I've noticed that I seem to be the only person that rates him.

I always though Jordan Cox would have done better than he has, but he's still only young and in general props don't fully develop until their mid / late 20's.

Another prop to watch out for is Will Maher a Cumbrian lad who plays for Cas U19's academy. He's a monster, about 6'6" and 16 stone plus

We have got and can do better than Cox.

I think you are being a bit unfair on the lad. After all, it's tough to look great when you have four or five forwards literally pulling up trees alongside you over the last 12 months.

The mere fact he's keeping his head above water speaks volumes, IMO. He's a useful player now. He'll be a very useful player in eighteen months.

I think Richards of last year was head and shoulders above walker at his best but I don't think Richards has kicked on how I expected. Richards is only Young and has time on his side so hopefully he will kick on.

I think it's fair to say he's had an element of second season syndrome which gets magnified by the fact Thompson hasn't (yet) - but I also think there's an element of that to do with the amount of experience we lost in the pack last year - Richards always had the safety net of Laffranchi and he doesn't this year.

Sometimes it can take a few years, at 19 time is on his side, and hopefully a bit of competition and support for that 4th prop place in the coming years will see him really flourish. I'm still very hopeful he can become very very good.

Is he 19? If so he's a BIG 19.

I agree, his defence is OK with a high tackle count and missed tackles very low. The next stage of his development should be more metres and maybe an offloading game, but that needs to addressed by the coaching team.
He,s giving more penalties away this season, that could be seen in a positive way though in that he is trying to impose himself more on the game, I think he will have learned something from the recent derby game.
Richards is probably a season behind Thompson, these two I would imagine are nowhere near the finished article.

Quote: Mugwump "Is he 19? If so he's a BIG 19.'" www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/11265 20 in July

Quote: Mugwump "Is he 19? If so he's a BIG 19.'" www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/11265 20 in July

He plays with a smile on his face. Got a bit of LMS in him.

That's a good attribute to have.

Catalans reserves prop Gadwin Springer. 20 years old, 6'3, 17 1/2 stone. Watch him score a 60 meter try against grown men and some former Super League players at 0OZQYxNiHxto[/youtube

He looks like one of those natural athletes the NFL spews out on a conveyor belt. He's undoubtedly got the physical attributes. But if ever there was a position in which mental attributes are essential, prop is it.

Judging by the alarming way he protects the ball whilst running I'd say some coach will likely gain many grey hairs with him in the future.