I've already made my feelings about Lilley well known on here several times. I also said a while ago that we'd end up signing him on a permanent deal.

There'll be no complaints from me. He's still far from the finished product and is a hard worker - at the end of the day, a bit of skill and hard work is what most fans would be happy about.

He's a long way from being the finished article but he has some talent. I think it's a bit much to expect a player in his early 20s to come into a side and start pulling the strings versus grown men. This may have been normal 20 or 30 years ago but it isn't now, especially in our division. Also the way young players are developed between 19 and their early 20s means they can be ruined or never progress at all. He is improving but it may well be a few years before he fully matures. The same goes for Milnes. He's improved a lot but has a lot to learn. They both need gametime. I look at McClelland at Leeds who was picked above Milnes for Yorkshire Academy versus Australia and wonder if he's going to go the same way as Lilley. He's not getting gametime and could if he's not careful get his development ruined.

Says he has known for weeks in the report. He must have known it was coming deep down though. Anybody could see a mile off Leeds didnt/don't want him. I for one am glad they don't and now we have the opportunity to sign him long term.

Was talking to Jordan last night with our club president at the reserve game last night. Young man with a very old head on his shoulders. Was talking about what he demands as a coach from his players at Stanningley, was very thorough in his talk with a massive sense of traditionalism about him.

Playing wise hes a tough nugget of a player who's confidence is growing the more he is feeling wanted and getting game time. Defends far above his size, definitely worth signing up, although I feel he could end up being a 9. Only my opinion though

It says in the T&A that the club are trying to keep him parmanently and have offered him a good deal. Lilley says he's happy here but wants to sit down with his family and agent and see what his options are first.
I'm reading 'oprions' as meaning super league ones. So i would imagine that our chances of signing him will depend on what , if any, SL offers come his way.

He's effectively been jettisoned by a bottom three club - why would anyone else in Super League be interested?

The thing is that even if he was going to be signed by a SL club, he's probably going to be a squad player or back up. If he stays here then he'll be 'the man', around whom the team will be built. You'd like to think that would count for something...

And if he does a couple of years here, and does well - but we don't go up - then he'd still be young enough to step up to a SL club at that stage, with more experience etc.

Interesting to see that Featherstone have signed Chisholm on a permanent deal https://www.featherstonerovers.co.uk/ne ... holm-cKlTH That presumably frees up some money. Now, if only there was a replacement half back available to sign

Interesting to see that Featherstone have signed Chisholm on a permanent deal https://www.featherstonerovers.co.uk/ne ... holm-cKlTH That presumably frees up some money. Now, if only there was a replacement half back available to sign

His team talk and motivation for Saturday has just been done by Leeds. Hope he organises the game perfectly and picks them apart.

I fear Leeds know Jordan's limitations and weaknesses better than anyone. He's certainly a player that is still in that "has potential" stage rather than one reaching it yet, and I worry a little that Leeds will know how to play him.

I honestly can't see anything other than a comfortable Leeds win. Brad Dwyer will absolutely rip us to shreds and I'll be having some money on him for Man of the Match.

On the other hand he said that he hasn’t heard from Leeds in 18 Months? Maybe they haven’t been keeping up to date with his progress? And giving him the news about not wanting him this week might just give him a boost.

I can see Leeds winning comfortably too, even more so after seeing their squad for the game. Quite a bit of NRL talent there too. But as you say, Dwyer around the ruck plus Parcell off the bench will be devasting to us, especially considering our marker defence. I’m just hoping for a close game and see what happens. They aren’t invincible though!

Anyway hope we sign Lilley permanently. Would be nice to have a settled halfback combo of Lilley and Milnes for a couple of years.

They may well not be anyone interested from SL but he probably doesn't want to commit to us until he's tested the water. I would imagine that's what his agent would advise too. As for Leeds, they may be bottom 3 but they're still the biggest club in this country and their expecatations are much higher. There's still plenty of smaller SL clubs who might be interested if the price was right.

never rated him when he played for leeds when he did so hope he can up his game for this one, if he can't show against this leeds team and at least look the part I'd wouldn't find him other that a squad player and not worthy of a position to get you back up. cross fingers lets hope hes come of age seen too many drop away

Unfair to judge him on today's game given the gulf between the sides.