With Boxing Day just two weeks away, what do we think the squad will look like? Apparently all the new lads will get a run out for the game.

Any players had post seasons operations? obviously Watkins won't play, think I've seen on different social media sources that Ferres and Crosby have had leg braces on and think i saw Cuthbertson with a arm brace on but not 100% sure about them.

It will be a mixed bag from both teams - I actually love these games because you get to see up and coming players for the first time in a semi competitive game. Tom Johnstone amongst a few others made his first team debut in one of these games - spotting who's going to make it is part of the fun, and yes I did think TJ would make it.

Golding
Briscoe
Newman
Hurrell
Briscoe
Tui
McClelland
Singleton
Parcel
Cuthbertson
Ward
Ablett
Merrin

I wouldn't mind seeing all of the young Rhinos who played for England v the Aussies getting gametime tbh.

They'll be in the squad

Do Wakefield have any notable up and coming young players? There were no Wakefield players in the England Academy squad last night, Leeds dominated the squad with 7 players.

Think quite a big thing was made about Delaney putting in a swansong appearance for Leeds in this game wasn't there? Though he's been in Australia for the last week or two and has only just resumed pre-season training so might be just a cameo.

I wonder if Donaldson would be allowed to play even if he hasn't officially signed?

Yes trialists are allowed to play. In theory a trial player can play in any game.

Skip that, interview on YouTube says his eye injury is still anissue and he can't play yet.

Last year yes, this year no - some years you do some you don't. However if you had even the basic knowledge of how the game works you'd know that only a relative few make it in the senior game - far less in fact than those who never got close to Academy International selction who do make it.

Just from my own club Gareth Ellis, Danny Brough and Tom Johnstone didn't to name but a few and they have done just fine - likewise I bet I can name a shed load of Leeds and Wigan players through the years who got honours but never progressed.

It's a dangerous game banking on youth players and one of the few things that Hetherington does that I don't agree with. Leeds and Wigan hoover up all the best talent at aged 16-19, that's fine as far as it goes but it's just a snap shot of a player at a certain age and absolutely no guarantee of quality. Yes there are the very rare exceptions who you'd put your house on but not many.

I can't see many of those in this years England Academy team, which looks more solid than brilliant, this isn't a bad thing as it's often these players who progress well.

Wakefield currently have 13 Academy products in the first team, I'm happy enough with that. Of the three promoted this year Titus Gwaze, Jack Croft and Yusuf Aydin I have high hopes for all three.But you carry on Kev its quite amusing.

Gareth Ellis is 37 and Danny Brough 36 next month. Personally i’d expect a Super League club to be producing more than 2 international players every 18 years.

Jeez you went off the deep end didn't you.

yet the league is full of ex Leeds youth players.apart from the 2 or 3 seasons macdermotts meddled with the academy Leeds have consistently brought youth through.
if only other clubs had the same attitude the game would be far stronger

I don't think that's what he's saying, the players he mentioned weren't England Academy players but went onto have good careers. FTR Trinity has had 2 England players this year but don't let that get in the way of your pop at the club.

Of course, Leeds are going to have more, look at the size of their catchment area, it dwarves other sides since it's what the 3rd/4th biggest City in England depending on where you look. As well as the ability to get youngsters from other areas because they've been a massively successful club since SL came in. Wakefield which is miles smaller has 3 teams in it competing for youngsters, 2 being SL teams that split the best talent- that's if teams like Wigan, Wire Leeds etc don't get there signatures first.

Of course that's what I meant anyone with half a brain could see that - you decide where Sir Kevin is on the brain scale.

In what way? It's called a debate, what part of that don't you get?

All the big sides fish across the whole pond, and no doubt the "smaller" clubs suffer talent drain. Altough I'm not sure what you do about that practically. I guess the other point is that clubs like Leeds at least do develop talent once they've identified it, with good systems and staff. Not saying others don't but... it's difficult out there.

Well I'm glad we have cleared up that your not an angry little man. Was worried for a moment I may have misjudged you.

Shame Delaney can't play one last time but listening to his interview he is still suffering from double vision. Given he suffered the injury over 5 months ago, I'd hope he gets persuaded to hang up his boots now rather than play at Fev.

Yes it is. The bloke has run through walls for Leeds and its just a shame that he's not able to finish on a higher note after all the effort and pain hes gone through at Leeds.

Hopefully theres a suitable send off for him on Boxing day or a small event at the club to mark his departure, though if Leeds run into injury problems whats the odds of seeing him in blue and amber again on a loan later in the season?

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, finishing your career like sinny et al got with the treble or even a single trophy win is incredibly rare.

He had been a good servant, loved by fans, collected plenty of winners medals and memories and been well paid in the process. He is also not leaving as he has a role at the club. Not bad overall.

I'm sure he will be there in boxing day and I'm sure he will be warmly thanked.

At least 3 of the 7 are products of the Wakefield region.
I'm not making any suggestions as to how that comes about, everyone casts their net further than their back yard after all, but naturally Leeds will use all their advantages.
Only a troll would suggest its a level playing field, to do so would negate the opportunity to be a pr1ck about it, and that's the bottom line for some people.

Sometimes successful clubs like Leeds,and with a squad full of international players often lose out on promising youngsters that they were intent on signing

I was told that Tom Johnstone was massively on the Rhinos radar as a junior but that he simply chose Wakey because he knew that he wasn't going to get a look in for a number of years at the club at first team level due to us having Ryan Hall and Tom Briscoe as the current incumbents and that he had a far better chance at first team footy if he signed for Wakey

We lost out on a fantastic player there and Wakey gained as a result,so it often works both ways.
IMO Tom took the correct option by signing for Wakey by backing his ability and good on him