in 1998 when he was about 20 (One year older than Donaldson) the Bulls had a pretty poor season and finished fifth. So din't buy that argument. the point is Peacock was one of our most successful juniors ever, but it took him time to develop.

Some fans want success instantly. How many threads are they moaning at the juniors we've let go that are playing for other clubs. Now we're starting to develop our own juniors and the same people are moaning their not world beaters are 19.

Donaldson does need to develop some skills in his game. But he's got a fair few years ahead of him to do that.

Im not moaning that Donno isnt a world beater, just that he's not very good.
Nowhere near as good as some seem to think he is.

I'm in agreement. Donaldson is massively over rated by mc McNamara, no one else rates him, he has been poor this season. Minus injuries he wouldn't have had a look in.

What? Better than the 500 metre a season machine that is Ian Sibbitt? Hard to believe.

Yes you are. Repeatedly.




Yes, he really should be a breathtaking world beater after a recent recovery from a serious injury at the wise old age of 19.

The caveat is simple. 19, bags of talent, minimal wage. Where's the complexity is maintaining that equation?

Only a laptop lieutenant such as yourself would continue with your continually farcical views. But keep on with it, we'll just put it down to your erratic lithium levels.

Gurus Beard, I do not subscribe to B4C2010's views, this is a genuine desire to know about Donaldson. what are his talents? His alleged weaknesses have been mentioned (size etc), so what are his strengths?

and his worse stats this year must be due to that injury, look at how badly Langleys stats have been affected in the games he has played this season compared to last

Sibbitt outclasses donaldson in all areas, who would have thought that of a 30 odd yr old ex salford player and donaldson being an up and coming 19 year old in the england knights squad! laughable really!!

Sibbitt is a borderline Chamionship 1/2 player. He makes the era of Matt Cook and Simon Finegan seem halcyon and should be in the taxi with Sykes and Herbert. He is Michael Worrincy without the tries, pace and likable demeanour.

Far too much hype/pressure has been put on the young players who are being brought into a very poor team. Whitehead, Burgess look good but the rest have all had one thing in common; they look physically short in a team which is itself lacking physical presence and leadership. If they had a decent crop of senior players around them we could judge but as they're packing down alongside crocks and journey men, it's hard to say how they'll develop.

Thanks Moislebugs, you got there before me.

Back to the question, what are his strengths that when added to more experience and coaching work on his weaknesses, will develop his potential into achievement for us?

if you watch donno he plays without fear and has fantastic technique in defence,in attack i think it has been obvious that he is low on confidence,he does have a good round the corner offload only seen it twice this year though i have noted it a lot more previously.he does have a passing game but i dont think he has ever had a run at thirteen to show this.he did prior to injury have good footwork and speed- only really seen in that break against halifax but he is building confidence and i think potter is saying just go and run the ball in build your confidence that way.think considering his size in that role he rearely goes backwards and does get over advantage line.

thanks domthebull, the stats confirm his tackling technique, a good offseason and with few injuries elsewhere in the pack he should have the confidence to get back to doing what he does best.

i must have been watching a different sibbit this year. the guy works, makes yards and tackles well. plus he will be on peanuts.

a rugby team needs players to do the dirty work, and sibbit does this. one of our better signings this season for me.

I don't normally agree with B4C2010 cos he appears to dislike everybody that plays for Bradford (and his opinion on Kearney inparticular is lunacy) but I'm with him on James Donaldson.

over rated. he's not very good. much like a lot of our young players.