To write Ward off as a championship player is a massive over reaction. He is a young lad, half dozen games back from almost a season out injured, playing out of position.
He would admit he is way off his best yet, but give him a chance.

Agreed. I thought he went well tonight. Also think he would have done a much better Job than JJB and Delaney, had he played there.

Absolute bollox and you know it ,it was always about rotating players clearly carrying injuries or way off form.
Also Ward wasn't the reason we lost tonight either.

I thought he had a shocking game against London. I still don't know what his best position is.

I think Ward will be a good SL player but at this moment he is being exposed being asked to play in an unfamiliar position while nursing his shoulder - which he clearly struggled with V London at times. If only Leeds had another quality back.

18/19 year olds looked great against other 18/19 year olds ......just some of us didn't get carried away and wanted the first team dropped for them.......some on here did.

How does Ward get pillared for that Makinson try? Abletts effort was really weak.

What was the fitness and form of those "1st team players"?
When the youngsters got picked because of a mounting injury list was it their fault entirely if we lost games?

Steve Ward has been unlucky with injuries. Aslong as he can avoid injuries he will be a very good Super League player. He could do with beefing up a touch though and he is not a centre.

Very harsh on Ward. After just coming back from a big injury, which came after a similar injury to the other shoulder he's being played out of position. He'll probably end up as one of McDermott's scape goats. It's hard to recall our back line being given the space to play last night.

I agree that once again we've seen signs that McDermott isn't good enough for this team. A good coach will get the best out of his players (Murray, Smith, even Powell). I personally don't think we've seen this bar Hardaker.

There's been more times wgere I've been bored watching us under McDermott than anything other coach (not saying I was bored as much as frustrated last night)

Not entirely sure we are gonna see ward realise his full potential. In the London game he appeared to jar his shoulder again and it looked very much like a partial dislocation. I know people come back from serious injury but I fear for ward and his shoulders. Having suffered 5 dislocations myself and being forced to give the game up because of it know how bad it is. Might be fine it just seems a real problem for ward

Liam Sutcliffe had some real game breaking moments running wide channels last season. I opined in the off season he should be ahead of Ward in the pecking order.

I'm still hopeful Ward will realise his potential but it;s a struggle watching his struggles at 1st team level and I'm not sure his game as a 6 or ball playing 13 (which is what I think he is) is coming on in the roles he's being asked to play, and playing poorly or averagely.

I'm with gotcha on this one, some of the criticism of ward is over the top IMO. He was excellent against wire, and Catalans and very good against Huddersfield.

Admittedly he was very poor against London playing out of position, but I don't think he had a bad game against saints. I have no doubts what so ever if he can stay fit he will become an excellent player. He works hard in defence and punches above his weight, has good hands and is relatively quick for a forward. He already offers more than kirke and clarkson both I whom I believe may be moved on come the end of the season if they don't step up considerably

The lad reminds me of Sean O'Loughlin when he came through at Wigan. A kid that can play 6 or 13 but physically isn't the biggest, isn't overly pacey and seems to just be a steady type of player even though they've been hyped us as one of the very best players around at junior levels.

Like Lockers I guess it'll take patience with this lad. I've watched O'Loughlin grow in confidence and physically year in year out to the point now where I wouldn't say I'd be exaggerating to suggest he's one of the best backrowers in world rugby league. To look at him now compared to the skinny kid that broke in to our side in 2003 is unbelievable.

I'd back Ward to do similar in time.

Probably a decent comparison.I do think once he fills out he will turn into a top class back rower.

Did you ever have a reconstruction? Nearly every rugby player that dislocates a shoulder seems to have a recon nowadays whereas in the past they'd just shove it back in and carry on until it dislocated again. I once read Benji Marshall had 3 shoulder reconstructions but it didn't stop him becoming one of the best players in the world. Everyone is physically different and Wardy may ultimately be Ok, but he seems to get rag dolled in tackles and lands heavier than most players. I fear for his longevity in the game TBH. The worst pain I've felt is a shoulder dislocation, particularly because it must have been student training day at Jimmys where several people tried unsuccessfully to get mine back in over a 6hour period.

I wouldn't worry about ward's longevity. He plays under a coach renowned for resting and rotating players and not playing them unless 100% fit.

He should be just fine.

What you on about, Delaney's only aged twenty years in the last three years.

I like Ward and think he has a truck load of potential and, as others have stated, he was playing at centre for only the second time at SL level. He is not a centre, well not at his current size at least. Asking him to play at centre would be like asking McGuire or Burrow, they simply don't have the physical presence. This does not mean that Ward isn't a SL level player simply not a SL level centre.

I'm sure the young lad will be with Leeds for a long time to come but I see his future at Loose or maybe a 6.

I think it's harsh to criticize him,as many have said he's playing out of position.Although it was strange Brian Mac didn't move him upto the pack when JJB got injured and bring BJB on

What position do people think is Wards best position

I realise RL players tend to exaggerate their size, but Ward looks nowhere near 6'2" (2" taller than Sinfield). Unless he is/becomes that height he is going to struggle as a backrower or centre. He would have to develop the overall game of Sinfield, otherwise a 6 or 9. But he doesn't strike me as a classic 6.

After the 5th yes, but TBH you sum it up pretty nicely was just shoved back in and you crack on. The 5th time was the most painful done in Barbados surfing took hrs and several different people to get it back in when I got home it just kept slipping out of joint doing things like sleeping, just walking round the house etc so had to have a reconstruction as there wasn't a lot left holding it in position.

Hopefully ward will be fine I know others have had serious injury young and gone on to be good players for Leeds, just seems an area of concern for ward

Knee rather than shoulder (as I recall) but early in his career it looked very unlikely to me that JJB would ever overcome his injury problems and become a first team regular at Leeds.

I think Ward will end up at 13 as he develops physically. 6 seems a better position for now.

Ward will be a future England back rower and for many years too as he is a class player

Hope I'm wrong but can't see it myself, more a joe westerman than a Kevin Sinfield, not quite a jay Pitts but as previously stated more a vassilacoupoulous