And if it was every week then I would agree. But it was a 17 year old against fully grown adults. He was never going to be utilised in the first half when the opposition are still fresh. He certainly won't learn anything from being knocked senseless.

I think it was a positive move giving the lad a taster of what it is all about in the first place.

And at what age do we let them get knocked senseless. How old was Sam? How old was Pryce? How old was Fielden?

Apparently not, it's good practice for them warm up in their kit, soak up the atmosphere, sit on the bench for 75 mins and then come on for a little run and a tackle.

It screams 'I haven't got the confidence in you and if I put you on it might cost us the game' to me.

But that's just my thoughts.

I don't think there is a set age, each player is different. But Donaldson is still a bit on the small side to be playing long stints of top flight RL in the pack.

Exactly. So why have him in the 17 and limit ourselves to 16 players on such a hot day.

17, 16, 18.

Getting knocked senseless is part and parcel of a junior player getting intergrated into the first team. God knows why people think getting roughed up and a few big hits is going to ruin a young mans career. All youngsters are targetted, and if they are good enough and tough enough they dust themselves off and go again.

The fans don't expect juniors to set the world alight, and if they make mistakes then so be it, they are learning and they will be better for it next time.

Youngsters in England are all to often wrapped up in cotton wool way to much instead of just letting them go on the field and play their game. A bit of exposure to to what is needed will do them no harm whatsoever.

Then play him at 6.

Although I do agree with what you're saying and I don't necessarily disagree with Donaldson not getting much game time today, there's nothing to lose now. If they don't play so well, oh well nevermind, we're not any worse off than we are now. If they do play well, we've got essentially a new player. We may be able to mathematically make the playoffs, but realistically, it ain't gonna happen. So let's salvage something else out of this season.

I expect McNamara was hoping we would dominate Cas more than we did do. If we had taken the effort and performance of the last 2 games into today then it would have been a much better environment to blood him into.

He obviously been playing well for the academy and the coach felt he should be rewarded. The other option would have been to pick Cook, but is there other reasons for him not doing this?

Well I'd play Sam at 6 if that meant BJ to 7 and Deacon out the team!

I made a much similar comment when Scruton was about to come back onto the field in the second half today. Something along the lines of "can he play in the halves?"

I'm not a fan of ball handling 13's but I realise that you have to have some skill in playing that position. Sam Burgess can't even handle the ball well enough at 13, god help us playing him at 6. It would be a disaster of epic proportions.

James Donaldson is supoosedly a ball handler, it should have been a chance to see him in one of his two best positions in 13 & 6.

I don't think he was suggesting Burgess would be a good 6. Just can we please god get Deacon off the pitch.

OK then.

Yeah, Deacs time is long gone.

Indeed!

Well Donaldson looked hungry enough when he came on. Have to admit that the young lads coming through seem like , if they make the grade, they'll be good players.

Why does Deacon still get a free pass? Regardless of form or fitness he gets the number 7 shirt every game. It's all very well claiming "there's a great team spirit" however, Deacon doesn't need a comforting arm round the shoulder, he needs a kick up the Harris.