Agar did a podcast like the one Tom did and I found it really interesting. The guy can certainly talk. He talks through his whole career and because he didn't have a stellar carrier like some it gives an insight into how players make decisions about their career. But around the 50 minute mark he gets on to Wakefield which is truly eye opening. The guy gets some stick from some fans but when you listen to this it explains a lot. I've always rated Agar and his time at Wakefield so maybe I'm biased. See what you think. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/3 ... 0510804605

Agar did a podcast like the one Tom did and I found it really interesting. The guy can certainly talk. He talks through his whole career and because he didn't have a stellar carrier like some it gives an insight into how players make decisions about their career. But around the 50 minute mark he gets on to Wakefield which is truly eye opening. The guy gets some stick from some fans but when you listen to this it explains a lot. I've always rated Agar and his time at Wakefield so maybe I'm biased. See what you think. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/3 ... 0510804605

He talks a good game and certainly seems knowledgeable on details, however he just doesnt appear, from the outside anyway, inspirational. My major gripe with him was the reluctance to use junior players, a criticism aimed at him during his spell at Hull. The fact he'd rather played a disinterest Mathers on the wing when we had a young Tom Johnstone waiting in the wings said everything.

Maybe but I also though Kear had that flaw.

CC has definitely been the coach who has given more youth players ago than any coach since Toppo.

I have a lot of time for RA a seemingly nice bloke, regarding youth, he gave Jordan his debut in 2015 and Max around that time and when ever our paths cross he’s always up for a chat about Jordan. I haven’t listened to the podcast, but there is always things that we don’t know about and we are quick to have a pop without knowing all the facts , I guess that’s life. I’m sure he’s under more pressure at Leeds than he ever was at Wakefield and seems to be going in the right direction as much as I dislike them

Do you think this has been a choice or something forced upon him by injuries and more recently, due to players being unavailable through covid etc

This is one area where the "bigger clubs" have a huge advantage.
The likes of Saints and Wigan are generally so comfortable in their league position that they can give their youngsters game time, knowing that should they not succeed, it wont have a detrimental effect on their league position or, put them in any danger of relegation and they also have the added luxury of being able to drop their youngsters into a winning side, giving them a better chance of progression.

The one huge plus under franchising/licensing was the ability of all clubs to be able to bring youngsters into a less pressurised environment.
There were just a few seasons when there seemed to be young players getting more opportunities and it was refreshing to see.

The one certainty is that if/when it gets tight at the end of the season, every club goes with experience over youth

He talks in the interview about recruitment.

It's interesting to hear the conversations he had with MC when they were trying to sort things out.
He mentions asking them to not resign good players because he needed good players in a different position (and unlike the big clubs, we can't afford both)

Last year certainly yes but not in general. The careers of TJ, Crowther and Jowitt have been pretty steady and planned as far as I can see.

Having worked with Richard and. shared a long lasting friendship and many nights out in our youth - I can say he’s a great bloke that has time for everyone & will happily chat RL with anyone. He’s massively respected across RL - you don’t get the jobs he does without forgetting more about the sport than any of us is likely to every know.

That’s about it in a nutshell

I think some on here scoffed and predicted doom at the news when he got the Dirty Leeds job.....
But its obvious then - when with us - and now - with Dirty Leeds, that RA knows what he's doing!

Overall, and given the cards he was dealt, I thought he went ok for him, and felt for him towards the end of his reign with us.