I can't really comment on individual players, having seen so little of Trin this season, but...

What's the point of using tried and failed combinations in a local derby at the back end of the season with nothing more to play for other than pride?

Will it really kill the young lads' development to be given a run out in this game, even if we end up on the back of another hiding? Playing against Cas means something to most of them, I would imagine. Being on the telly will give them an even greater buzz. The supporters want it, the players seem to want it, so why not?

What's the logic behind holding them back? There must be some, because Kear doesn't strike me as stupid. Far from it.

So why?

Is it out of spite?

Will it damage their development to be involved in the first team at this stage?

Does he really believe the 19 he's picked will trouble Cas?

Is he being good to us for the future, or is this Kear's revenge?

I don't know - what do you reckon?

I do not think its out of spite, but he probablly has not got the confidence in the young uns to upturn the senior players. I do agree that he is showing no enthusiasm in the 19 he has picked as most of them have played during our heaviest defeats.
However I don`t think its putting JK in a good position for any future employers to look at his team strategies, & don`t forget that at the start of the season he was saying that he would introduce the young British players & give them the opportunity to shine !

I can't fathom it, I've tried to recognise, during my analysis, that I don't know everything that JK does about the state of our current squad and I've looked for some semblance of logic in the selections.

Maybe JK feels a sense of loyalty to the players who've turned out for us all season and understands that publicly dropping them now would probably end some of their careers.

Maybe he genuinely feels that this is our strongest team and bringing in younger players would lessen the chances of our being competitive and lead to even wider losing margins.

Maybe he is protecting our youth players and is forcing those senior players who think they can take the proverbial to turn out and get a public flogging.

I've tried to see it from all possible angles in search of some reasoning behind what seems to be a stubborn reluctance to accept advice,

Ultimately, I think we should be playing Moore, Walshaw, Trout, Davey & Anekin alongside others who really do put the effort in and deserve some support from their team mates.

I genuinely felt sorry for Wildie, P Johnson, Amor, Henderson, and a couple of others because a number of their team mates couldn't even muster up enough energy to even reach the level of going through the motions.

Logic went out the window when he threw his teddy out of the cot over his failed release to go to the south of France.

I 100% agreed with the clubs decision to play hardball with the dragons over this, but in hindsight it was another decision the old regime got wrong.

Kear is an idiot!! I really do not understand why he wont give the young lads a go. We'd score more tries if we get the ball to the wing more and Gareth Moore would do that. Kyle Trout looks like a fantastic prop with loads of potential! Give them a go Kear, you want strong performances but putting the same tired lot out wont give us strong performances!!

Could it be because the U20's are one point behind third with a game in hand and nearing the end of the season, and could put together a good play off run?

If these young 'uns are playing well together and are in a good position for a good finish why break them up? Keep the nucleus playing together now when they're due some tough matches, so that when they are ready they can all move on together with experience of playing together and gaining success.

I'd have thought its better that these lads play in the U20's rather than a first team that has been performing poorly, is falling to pieces and where the youngsters won't receive the protection or support they need.

I don't agree that Kear is either an idiot or sulking and trying to make things worse.

I do think that the kids are not ready yet and putting them in to a big derby that could end really badly can break both their spirit and physically hurt some.
You don't just throw kids in for the sake of it.

Likes of Morton can handle it so play him yes. I think I would have played either Moore or Wildie but you can't just throw people in on their debuts just because you don't like what the senior guys are doing.

Some are most definitely ready. It would be reckless to make wholesale changes but 1 or 2 each game should get bench spots. John Kear has presided over these academy lads and talks a good game but delivers nothing. There is never a good time to introduce young lads into the squad but they must learn the hard way just like many before them as this will strengthen them as individuals and make them aware of what they need to do to compete. Didn't do Gareth Ellis any harm!

Nothing wrong with giving some a bit of time on the bench.
Publicly dropping some players could end some of their careers - well some realy do need it ending the effort they have put in.
Didnt do Gareth Ellis any harm - nor Albert Firth in his time.

What I do want to see is Tongia at FB. I don't care if we have no place kicker on the pitch (Vievers) we don't need one anyway as we cannot score try's so they are not going to need converting.

If that's the reason, it's partly why we seem to not be producing players to play 1st team rugby. The strategy of winning pots is all well and good, but if the academy isn't producing players ready to play in Super League, there's no point to it.

Does it matter if we win the U20s? No. Does making the play-offs, progressing in the Challenge Cup, putting together a team that can compete in the top flight? yes.

So which one of our youngsters are you saying are as good as Ellis or Firth?

None!! We're drawing similarities between when they got their break in the first team and the learning curve. He is one of the youngsters given a shot in a team regularly beaten. The time will never be perfect, but we should at least give them the opportunity rather than wrap them up in cotton wool.

Thats the point, nobody knows because they aren't getting the same chances as Ellis or the other fella.

I certainly don't think that JK is an idiot.
With regard to giving young lads a go, take a look at the squad I suppose it depends on your definition of 'young' or relatively inexperienced; for me 8 out of the squad fall into this category ie PJ, Dean, Morton, Gledhill, Howarth, Vievers, Wildie and Tongia. Surely there must be a balance?
Also, with all due respect to Gareth Moore, I'm not sure where all this hype regarding him is coming from. A couple of months ago he was a part-time player in a lower division team, he's just coming back from an injury lay-off and to be fair on previous first team outings he's not been particularly a stand out (perhaps someone could give a view on his outstanding performances in the reserves as I've not viewed these games). Yet some are expecting him to be the catalyst for the upturn of the team.
If you were the Castleford coach what would you do if GM was in the team, I know what I would do (and what I know about tactics is negligible), I would taget him with a few big guys running at him and unless he is something very special then his attacking ability goes out of the window. I would leave GM for the future, with a good off-season, he may be part of the answer with better around him.