Let's hope he isn't made to make room for Webb when he returns from injury.

Are you suggesting Webb should play in the forwards now.....packing down next to Hall perhaps?

Ward is the future of Leeds - he is Sinny's heir apparent and like rhinoms said, it's good to see him in the first team but I think he could have gained some valuable experience down under.

Let's hope the BMc utilises young Stevie properly and doesn't throw him in at the deep end but also doesn't neglect his undoubted talents.

Softly softly catchee monkey.

Yeah right

....His one on one tackling demands it



The scenario I was dreading was Webb replacing Ward on the bench....or worse, straight back to FB with all the other changes which will be necessary with that move.

Still....anything can happen in the meantime with other injuries.

I actually tend to agree with you.

I hope the lad's lost opportunity to experience the tour is not compounded by him being treated harshly in any future selections.

Also agree, it would be a hell of a experience going on tour down under but equally in the run up to and in a major final is also valuable experience

Didn't Dave Heron miss out on a cup final (1978?) due in part to some junior rep stuff? Personally, if I were Ward I'd definitely want to play at Wembley before a tour, as there is no gurantee Leeds/he will ever make it there again.

It would be immense for the lad if he were to score the winning try at Wembley.

Disappointing news, I never like to see a player put his club commitments before representative rugby.

Representing your country (at any age level) should be the ultimate ambition for a player.

I hope for his sake he makes the most of his potential and goes on to do so at senior level, otherwise he may rue missing out on this opportunity.

Just been on YR Stevie Ward agrees new 5yr deal!!
Great news and another great signing from the Sleeve!!

What the hell. Are people seriously trying to say that Ward would be better playing in a kids tour match than playing super league each week and a possible cup final?

All we hear on here is about dual registrering players and getting them playing with so called "men" in the championship. Surely an academy tour is just playing with the elite of the under 18's, and in no way compares to the development he will get by playing first team each week.

I for one am really pleased that the coaching team are finally having the confidence in the player and the balls to play him each week, to demonstrate what he has.

From a totally selfish point of view I absolutely agree...I wish the club would show as much faith in some of the others.

My point was that for the lad to give up a fantastic opportunity of touring down under I hope he is guaranteed more first team opportunities than others have been.....even when the likes of Webb return from injury. The new 5 year deal looks like that might be the case

Worryingly I keep agreeing with Gotcha!. Great news of his deal. He is the sort of player who learns on the job and will gain every time he plays with the experience around him. The tour would offer him different learning experiences but hardly better ones at this stage. OT - what about the end to the Rabbitoh's game? Well done Julie B's big lads!

Agreed. I'm sure if asked at the start of the season would you rather be playing SL games and in a Challenge Cup final or go on tour with the u18's, he'd have snapped your hands off at the thought of a CC Final. Yes he might have a nice time in Australia and be able to say he played for England 18's but he will gain more experience playing in SL.

The correct decision by the club and young Stevie, every players dream I'm sure to play in the challenge cup final at wembley, touring aus comes second. He had a cracker of a game when allowed on and was introduced at exactly the right time for him and the team. Excellent defensively and movement goes to show we are still producing the goods

All of this.

I'm all for rep rugby, but junior levels are for junior players, which is about more than age. It would be a development opportunity for Stevie Ward if he was still regarding himself as an academy player. I think he has now passed that stage in his development and he needs to stick with the first team and focus on being a senior player.

I would be amazed if he never goes on an antipodean trip with the senior England side with the ability he has. On the other foot, I'd be surprised if Leeds didn't reach more finals in the time he will play for, but you never know. The final will be a massive occasion, far bigger than anything on a junior rep tour and it will be the biggest test of his career so far and a great opportunity for him to be part of it.

I think Ward is a fine prospect and has been well handled by the coaches and not over played. He has proven now that he has made the jump to first team squad standard and as such will learn more in the business end of our season than on some junior tour. I am sure he will have plenty more international opportunities to come.

Two words - Richard Gunn.

Similar things were said at a similar age.

There's a long way to go in Ward's career and no guarantees of putting on a senior international jersey.

marcus v another richard gunn ?

Agree 100% with Gotcha.

I'm sure a few years down the line he won't particularly regret not going on a tour with a bunch of young lads, many of whom will have dropped completely off the radar by then, just like they always do.

An academy tour will not be the making of this lad, the academy international side is in no way a pathway to senior rep honours. If he's good enough he'll make it for himself, and performing on a big stage like the Challenge Cup final is the perfect way to test himself. He'll gain more out of that than the lads going to Australia.