Yep, completely agree.

Jones played continuously from his debut last season and it did him no harm. The same has been the case for other players. While some players will respond better to being dipped in and out, others will just be held back by it. Percival played against the current champions and on the losing side. It doesn't get any tougher than that.

I think that's not justified. Last year we had the same line up for most games, at least this year he is prepared to shake it up a bit.

Percival could be back next week, lets remember he's only a teenager and it maybe that his body can only take a full pro game every couple of weeks to start with. No point getting him injured and have to play with less potential strike players come the important end of the season.

Brown has seen what he can do, unfortunatley this league is about the last 2 - 3 months not the first 2 to 3 months.

Percival is a different player to Jones. Jones was a natural freak who was fully developed at 17, Percival isn't. Yes he performed admirably against Leeds but it's just stupid to put so much pressure on a kid so early into his career. A one off game against Leeds is much different to facing Leeds and Warrington back to back.

You're contradicting yourself. You rightly comment that Jones and Percival are different players. Exactly. Players are all different. But then you assume that because he is a teenager he is physically incapable of playing back to back even though he had Ablett in his pocket most of the night last week. Either players are all unique or they are not. Percival could be perfectly capable of fronting up at 18. Some blokes at 18 are big, some aren't especially big but they are strong. Others are not. Look at Jamie Foster. I don't think it will matter how old he gets, he will be a skinny git. Yet he has played lots of games, even when he was a teenager (granted, with Gidley on his inside to start with).

Percival was superb last week. He should have been given the chance to back it up. If he went to pieces then fair enough give him a spell at Rochdale or whatever but to not even be given the chance is pathetic.

Can you please point out the contradiction? I'm struggling to find it.

Percival isn't fully developed, that's plainly obvious looking at his build, Jones was. Just because he played well last week doesn't mean his body can take the strains and pressures of such a high intensity game week in, week out. I don't mean this condescending but as you've not played the game it's hard to fully comprehend the wears and tears on the body, especially at that level. There isn't anybody who understands properly without playing, no matter how much knowledge they have of the game, physios and medical staff excluded of course. There will be a lot of discussion between both the coaching staff and the medical staff in reference to whether Percival is ready at this point to back up against two of the best teams in SL. The staff have decided that at the moment it's a no and they know far more about the game than either you or I.

You mention if he went to pieces fair enough, play him at Rochdale for a bit. That would completely destroy his confidence at this point, it's much smarter to keep him on the high from Leeds then drop him in against Salford or Wakefield to continue that form.

I will spell it out for you. You say not all players are the same and yet you say that [ibecause he is a kid[/i he should be treated gently. So on the one hand you are saying teenagers are different but on the other you are saying they should all be treated the same.

You have no idea whether Percival is developed enough or not. Have you felt his muscles? Burrow is titchy in all respects but plays the man's game. Leeds' fullback is a skinny git too but he plays. It is strength that is important; not size.

And you have no idea whether his body could take it or not. Wheeler's clearly can't and he is definitely fully developed and into his 20s. You are just speculating.


There you go again, making assumptions! You have no idea whether him being unable to back up would destroy his confidence at all. It could have completely the opposite effect.

I think the best way with youngsters, if possible, is to dip them in and out.
Noble did it well with Sam Tomkins when everyone wanted him to play every week. You may remember David Moyes doing the same with Wayne Rooney. Mick Potter was also good at this when he introduced the likes of Wheeler, Lomax and Eastmond.
It's not just the physical test, it's the mental strain. First team rugby will be a sharp learning curve and introducing them gradually will benefit the player.

Steady on, Purple Aki.

I didn't say that at all, I said because he's not fully developed he should be cautiously treated, not because he's young. Most lads at that age aren't fully developed therefore need to be handled carefully, there are of course exceptions, like Josh Jones.



No, I'm not Purple Aki.

Sorry but you're wrong, looking at his build you can see he's not developed fully. I'm not saying that because he's not big, just because you can clearly see there's more to go on his frame. The same can be said with Gaskell.

When muscles aren't fully developed they are more prone to injury. no matter how strong you are. It isn't a case of whether he's big or strong enough, it's whether his body can take the strain. Even the strongest can get injured.



Re read the post, there was a lengthy point about the medical staff having conversations and htey clearly have decided it's best for him not to back up. That's not me speculating anythings, that's a decision made by the coaching staff and medical staff who know far more about this than you do.



So you're saying getting steam rollered tonight by Ryan Atkins would give him a boost?

I'm not saying he would get steam rollered before you insinuate that.

Rumbled

Purple Aki, is he still wandering about with his bag???

Banned from St Helens I believe.

I'm not one to be agreeing with the purple one, especially on matters of young men's muscles, but I'm going to take you on here.
Over the past few years we've seen stocky lads like Lomax, Eastmond and wheeler come through and reall struggle with injury. The skinny lads, however - Gaskell, foster, s Tomkins and Rambo Roby seem a lot more resilient to muscular injuries.

It's squeaky bum time and not because Purple Aki is knocking about.