well no, the expectation was that BJB would be back halfway through the season. So either you shell out big money to sign a new winger for half a season, or you find someone solid enough to do a job out there.

Given the apparent problem with Chisholm is his defence, and Brian Mac seems determined to have us much tighter in defence this year, picking Vickery makes sense.

Or they could have had nightmare debuts when they're weren't ready, ruining their confidence, thus ensuring they never recover and see first team rugby league again.

See George Elliott!

He'll look good lining up in the same team as Gareth Ellis... oh, wait.

Be serious......are you telling me that it is likely that Chisholm AND Duckworth AND Handley (AND even Watson at a push) would [uALL[/u [ithree/four[/i have had nightmare debuts?? Like to see the odds on that.

There has been more than ample time to have seen all of them given equal chance in BJB's absence.

Instead we have had poor old (sorry, 'young') Keinhorst - played out of position mind - banished for one poor game despite the whole goddamn team been hopeless in the same match......and then the sorry sight of Vickery ironically given too many chances before mercifully been put out of his misery.

Being.

They wouldn't be as long as you'd think!

We see it all the time, particularly with wingers.

Mitch Vincent has left Leeds and joined Wakefield.

Is that due to lack of opportunities in the u20's?

I was interested to see how he developed too. 3rd club in 9 months though. That's not a good record.

Don't think he ever played H.

He came off the bench in the preseason game against Wigan. Never found out exactly how old he was. He should get a go somewhere. He has an antipodean accent

updated with injuries..

Jamal Chisholm has said that he can't wait to get away from Leeds, so I'm guessing he's not going to be signing a new deal at the end of this season.

From what I hear he is not the only one Think there may be a bit of an exodus at the end of this season people will say that they were never good enough anyway but it makes me think theres more to it than meets the eye.
Some one mentioned the other day that Minns only got his debut to try and entice him to sign a new deal that he has already turned down

I've heard that Jamel Chisholm and Jimmy Watson are two that will be released. Also heard that Sutcliffe has been offered a five year deal, and Jordan Baldwinson offered contracts from Leeds, Warrington and West Tigers.

Chisholm has been on loan at Hunslet for most of the year and has had to watch on whilst an unproven overseas player was given a couple of bites of the cherry in the first team.The message to him must be loud and clear.

That said,from what i have heard (maybe a hunslet follower can clarify this) he is hardly tearing it up in the championship so maybe he isnt good enough,its now up to him to go prove that he is.

Its good to hear Sutcliffe has signed a long deal and hopefully Singleton and Baldwinson who is showing potential follow suit.I think with the likes of Watson he is just unfortunate that he is probably never going to get much of a look in due to Hardaker looking like he has a mortgage on the full back jersey.

You say there will be an exodus but what do you expect? all the championship winning squad to be moved aside for the under 20's?! The very best will be retained as is being proved, the rest will move on to pastures new its happened for years.

Chisolm played a few games for Hunslet but hasn't been selected for a while. Obviously Hunslet thought their wingers were either better than him, or they didn't need him; hence his twitter message - he isn't playing anywhere at the moment. It is a shame because he didn't get a shot and are you telling me he is not good enough for a Championship side?
Watson has been unfortunate with timing, playing Watkins at FB then putting Minns in last week was the nail in the coffin. I know for a fact Watson was selected to play on the wing but as mentioned in a previous post Minns was enticed to sign his new contract, that’s why an out of position player played on the wing.
I am a big fan of Watson as you can tell and if he goes, which it sounds as though he will, then he will benefit from that. He wouldn’t want to be behind Zak for the next 10 years would he. I do think Leeds have been a little hasty if he is released though. I watch Hunslet each week as well as Leeds and Watson has been ripping it up. He has been either MOTM or close every week. On TV against Batley Brian Noble said he was in contention for MOTM but it went to Batley for winning. Against Workington the other week he got it and in League Express this week he got MOTM again against Halifax.
But Leeds cannot keep everyone and it is an ongoing conveyor belt. Sounds as though the new generation of U19s are a little greedy though. I hear Baldwinson wants more money, Minns has been holding off and Sunley has turned his offer down.

This. It's not really the way we operate as a club to give in to demands of, especially with respect unproven young lads, players wanting more money. Some of these guys may be the next big thing but if they don't want to play for us for the offer that's on the table and would rather go elsewhere for more money now then we simply won't retain them.

Whether Leeds should seek to retain players they have already identified at a young age and nurtured for years to the point they could begin to fulfil their potential depends on many things - almost all of which I'd imagine to be unknown on here. I don't agree though that player's should be under-valued (if that is a part of what is happening here) as in life you tend to get what you pay for and often I find it proves to be a false economy and more expensive in the long run if you're too keen to drive the price down and miss out.

I'm sure Leeds don't regret passing over Brian Bevan, Garry Schofield (at the first opportunity) and Jason Robinson either.

I'm certain they don't as that had absolutely nothing to do with anybody running the club at the present moment in time. The incumbents have rarely had any cause for embarrassment with players they passed up or released.

I wouldn`t be a bit suprised to see Noble take a punt on Watson as you are right he was bigging him up in that game. I for one would like us to keep Watson but where and when would he play?
As for Baldwinson I can see him going to Warrington. They seem to like our best youngsters. Equally both Minns and Sunley are good prospects that we might have to let go too.
What is happening with Luke Briscoe?
I thought he was going to be the next best thing but rarely gets a mention for the step up to the first team?

I think we should be tying the likes of Baldwinson ,Minchella ,Sunley ,Foster,Minns AND Mulhern/Tonks down for at least the next 2yrs.
Now i know Wire pay well and i'm not saying we should be spending big but for me i'd rather tie up some of these younger lads than see kirke get 2yrs ,Kylie get another yr and Vickery stay beyond this month tbh.
It looks like Bailey is on his way both Kylie and JP are 35+ and for me as good as kirke was against cas i wouldn't retain him.
Singleton should get a 1st 17 berth every week now and theres room to get a couple of younger forwards into the 17/19 squads on a regular basis.
Moore is obviously out of favour abnd i doubt he'll stay beyong this year so i think the transition should begin here and now within the pack.
Whatever past achievements and efforts keeping Kirke(2yrs) Kylie(1yr) and Moore isn't worth it to see the likes of the aforementioned walk away not least because we'd ahve to go heavy on recruitment aswell.

I think Leeds are playing Covert Black Ops here. When Tom Briscoe signs (if not already) they will play him on the wing. But what they will do is swap Tom and Luke around each week on the wing but say it is Tom. Because they look alike you wont be able to tell which is which. That way Tom plays on the wing each week even though he might be out injured - eh!

That's what is happening at Hull. Notice a drop in Tom's form? Thats because its Luke who is playing and you think its Tom - Tom is on holiday in Sydney!!

But do you think Leeds (by all published accounts - a profitable well run sports club) should be spending up to the permitted salary cap?

I don't pretend to know how the cap works or even if it applies to all players outside the named 25 man squads but I do know that Warrington and Leeds have to operate within it's limits as do all the clubs in SL - or incur penalties for breaches. I don't recall either Leeds or Warrington failing to stay withing the limits in this respect.

I find it rather strange that Warrington can value and acquire Leeds juniors from out of the Leeds Academy and the parent club be unable to at least come close enough in terms of salary to persuade these Leeds 'family' members to stay - if they wanted. Perhaps this isn't simply a money issue but a more general comment on the way their careers are being progressed under the current management/coaching structures?

Maybe it's more to do with the fact that a lot of 19 year old lads are complete bellends? I know I was!



Management at Leeds can only work with the facts as they see them. And regarding their own U19s they can definitely see more of them than Warrington.