Would be harsh for a player who hasn’t played in the first team for about 6-8 weeks to judge him on a single performance. Playing a few games in pre season he was showing very promising signs.

Watching the Batley game back he made some good contributions in attack and defence along with being primarily responsible for Crofts try which helped turn the screw.

He isn’t the finished article but I certainly think if he works hard he won’t be too far away next season. Look at Lewis for KR, he was a little hit and miss when he was first in the KR team as a young lad not far from Lawford age. Through the couple of seasons of experience he’s turned into a pretty good halfback.

I do think though that a Lawford will play a bit for Hunslet on dual reg when he’s not playing for us. I can see him getting 5-10 games for us this season though.

I haven't looked into the reserve side of our game, or seen anything about games on our social media, I've seen scholarship and Acaadmy games on YouTube I think they were but no reserve games. Is the reserve league better run with more regular games than past years?

Yes there has been two reserves game I believe and announced on social media the teams. I do think the comp only has a game every 2 weeks and is only 12 or so rounds for regular season. This would allow room for some players to go out on DR those weeks.

Personally think that maybe sending Smith out to play long minutes a Hunslet is a big risk. He's very young and needs some physical development. Getting smashed and targeted week in week out might do more damage than good. He's still doing 3 days at 6th form too.

Fundamentally yes on Lawford, but not because his first run out wasn't as good as was hoped for - there is a difference. I'm also pretty sure that Powell sees Jowitt as a go to HB if Gale or Lino get injured, and then moving Walmsley to FB, especially once JM is fit again. Whether you agree that Max can play HB and LW can play FB is up to you, but I do, and Powell seems to think so. But then it's all Academic because if Lino or Gale got injured long term, we could use our DR with Wigan if we needed to, or just buy one. Thats what's so truly great at the moment, the club now has options.

I think you're very wrong about Smith and clearly so does Powell.

In every game he's played in, he's been good in. So why on earth would you want to loan out a player who on any given day could easily get into the 17. What good will it do him? He's not a fringe player like Lawford, he's already proved himself to be Championship level, so dropping a level achieves nothing IMO. He's far better off remaining totally within the clubs coaching framework for now. He doesn't need the game time, he will get at least another 5-6 first team games this season IMO, plus reserve team games, that's more than enough for a player his age.

If Hood and Doyle don't get injured then maybe, but that's highly unlikely, and clearly Powell has no hesitation in using him.

Finally, if and I know it's an if, we have sealed the number one spot before the play-offs, then he will get even further opportunities,

I agree with most of what you're saying, and that's my point about Hood and Doyle, Smith only plays if they're injured. I don't agree that he's proved himself at Championship level yet, but I've no doubt he will. If he's out on DR he'd still train with Wakefield during the week, he might do a session or two with Hunslet at the most. He can also be recalled at any time, it's not like a loan where he has to stay for a set period of time. I've no issues with him playing for us, but if we know the other two are fit I don't see what harm it will do.