When Brett Ferres joined Leeds , I was expecting to see the international second row forward that we had seen running down the left side channel against us & other teams . with the one handed pass that set up many tries for Huddersfield.
What we have got is an injury prone forward who has made little impact on the team and who, if we had some alternatives would be lucky to keep his place.
Since his suspension for a terrible tackle , he looks far from fit - has he been training during the layoff oeriod.
At the end of season clear our of Mullaly, Handley, Walters etc , he really could be in the mix, unless he has a massive improvement in his performances.

I agree although he has always played on the left yet BM plays him mostly right, which can't help.
however he has been disappointing yes

Cant really argue with the OP. In his defence, not that he really deserves one, but he is yet to get a real run of games for us this year.last year was tough for everyone so hard to judge there. We can but hope he gets a run this summer and finds form. Seems like him Ablett and Ward are cursed to never get a run together always at least one or two of them out for a period for one reason or another and its hurting us.

This was in the news a few weeks ago.....

“I missed the start of the season and then getting in for a few games and then getting this big ban was probably not ideal, but it has given me an opportunity to get a few things fixed up. “I’m fortunate that Leeds have been able to sort them out and I can move on and hopefully be fit when I get back to play.” Ferres revealed. “From last year I felt it every day, it was horrible – probably the worst injury I have had. “It’s a niggly one, if you bust your shoulder or your knee you get an op’ or a needle and you get it fixed up and you’re done, but with this it has just been time and trying to manage it. “We’ve finally found a solution with this specialist who has corrected a few things in my running style and technique and how I move about."

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Hopefully this will see him improve - once he gets some game time under his belt, Sunday was his first game back vs SL opposition (and against the form team)....Barrow not a proper contest really.

A decent injury free run should sort it out..............hopefully.

He's always been prone to giving away stupid penalties, and although he doesn't seem to ever be more than steady, he is one of the forwards we have who regularly makes over 100m per game. He;s not been great since signing, but I reckon he's still one of the best in the league in his day,

Looks a good stone (at least) overweight this season. Would have liked to have seen him come back from the ban a bit leaner - looks worse if anything.

I think he was really good last season, albeit not in the way I was expecting. Like you I was expecting an explosive wide runner, when acctually he just ended up as another workhorse.

This season between injury and suspension has pretty much been a write off though.

Think there's still a good player in there, I think partly he needs to stop trying to be a ball playing backrower and just stick to running some good lines that he used to do well for Hudds.

Agree with the OP that we certainly haven't seen the best of him yet.

Though wouldn't agree with the OP on having an end of season clearout that includes Mullally. Think he's a useful player who adds some impact whenever he comes on.

The problem with "end of season clearouts" is there's nothing to replace what you clear out - unless you sign a load of crap from other clubs end of season clearouts.

As for Ferres, well he didn't exactly pick the best time to join us did he. Last season we would have made Wally Lewis look like a waste of money.

I said when we signed him he was garbage, he remains garbage (actually worse) and I am sure he will continue to be garbage into the future. We should sell him to Toronto as soon as they offer us a couple of quid for him.

Don't be too sure any of them will be released

Ferres, like Briscoe, look to have a bad case of Danny Brough syndrome. Thrive as a big fish in a small pond, struggle when the expectation is on to stand out in the big ponds.

For a 27 year old with a decade of SL behind him, Briscoe's mentality, decision making and positioning are terrible. For a a supposed international standard back rower, Ferres makes an amazing amount of basic, dumb, decisions. Whether its a stupid grubby tackle, a dumb penalty, or crazy off-load.

I think we are a long long way away from those two even getting close to offering value for money in an salary capped sport.

Agree. As with many of McDermott's decisions it's hard to understand. When Ablett is just as comfortable playing on the right as he is on the left (and has regularly done so) there has never been the need to have them playing in the opposite channels.

you are miles off with Briscoe. he has been a very good player for us and was a good signing. certainly an upgrade from BJB.
however a few long term injuries have all but finished him, and is now a pale shadow of his former self.

I think the thing with Ferres is he misses Danny Brough. Brough played to his strengths, Hudds always played to the left in an opponents 20 with Brough Ferres and Wardle. From the little I have seen of him in a Leeds shirt I dont think he is getting the same service in the same positions from the halves and being used as more of a cart horse which he certainly has the frame to do too

I agree with this. Although i do think some are being a little over critical, the post from Printer further back with the direct quote from Ferres makes a fair point, he is still coming back from injury. I hope and expect him to improve by getting a long run in the team from here, if he is still mediocre come the end the year with a long run behind him that i think it's fair game to lay into him but i think he deserves a few months to prove his worth.

I think he will come good. Always rated him to be fair, and if you had a fully fit and firing Ferres im sure he would have had that left second row spot ahead of McMeeken against Samoa (although McMeeken has been superb) IMO obviously

He was excellent for the last few years for Huddersfield and especially England, which proves he has something about him. Last year was a virtual write off for us and he has barely played a handful of games for us this year so far, i too am quietly confident he will come good with game time.

I believe ferres is carrying an injury, apparently he has not been able to train flat out for some time. Certainly looking at the half time shot of him shirtless at the magic week end game would confirm that.
The coaching staff should sort the briscoe problem out, at the moment he looks like he does not want to be on the pitch. It's not good for team morale if the team works hard to score, then poor defense negates the score.

I have to disagree. Briscoe has looked good when we have gone well, but when we have struggled or the pressure has been on, he has been nowhere to be seen at best and a liability at worst. An awful dropped ball cost us the game in the play-offs 2014, Was great in 2015, poor last year and poor this.

Im not saying he is a terrible player but for a big name international coming in to the prime of his career he should have really kicked on when he signed for us but he has taken a step backwards if anything.

I don't disagree but several long term injuries have taken there toll

He's not our least effective player, he just hasn't lived up to expectations.

I agree with Biff.

And to Smokey, you couldn't be more wrong (no change there) with your 'big fish small pond' comment. Ferres has always been one of the best on the field when playing for England.