Great to see Shorrocks on the pitch given the nature of his recent injury. The nature of the game today is that lads cannot be given time to mature. Several other clubs have benefitted from players to whom we showed the door. So far he has looked a player in the Smith/ Powell mold rather than a George Williams, however he seems an excellent prospect. Of the eight or so debutants this season he looks the most ready to step up. The question marks about the rest, with the possible exceptions of Breatherton and Higginson?, are about their ability to continue to play the positions that they have as juniors. Gregson was a second row who had to deputise for Shorrocks after the broken leg, several of the others have probably reached their peaks in performance terms and one is still in the u19s. Having said all that we may find that we cannot carry a third hooker or an extra 6 or 7 or even a not quite big enough second roe. If that happens someone will be getting an excellent player in a short time.

I think Shorrocks would benefit for a season loan if we can find a club who would pick him every week. If he's still in our plans Hampshire is good cover for the halves, FB, wing and even possibly centre. A lot would depend on what Wane's plans are.

Daryl Powell has selected a prop (Millington) and a hooker (McShane) before Hampshire as cover for our halves. Solomona has been preferred as cover at half back, and we have used the like of Oliver Holmes in the centre before Hampshire. The only position he has looked even half decent is on the wing, and he has some deficiencies there too (kick returns and getting dragged into no-man's land defending the touch line).

Back to the topic. What would you do with Shorrocks next year? Do you send him out on loan or let him shadow Tommy whilst playing in the reserves? On a rather disheartening note the posters on another board are firmly of the opinion that none of the debutants from this year will make it. I, on the other hand, think that we have some good lads comming through if we can sort out their best positions.

Think he'll have a big part to play next year now with the Smith news.

He's impressed me this year after returning from a bad injury. Hopefully he'll kick on next year and play himself into a more regular first team slot.