Macca is not happy about being sent to Hunslet but was told he just hasnt been good enough all season so had to go to the Hawks where he will play as a stand off from what I have been told, Although how thats going to improve his form as a Hooker I dont know

I have also been told that there is a feeling the coach wants a Lunt/Roby type of number 9 and as was said on another thread thats just not Maccas game theres also a feeling that both Macca and Hood are being forced into leaving so the club dont have to pay up their full contracts and could use the £££ to sign Lunt

Some of the stuff I have heard regarding how they have both been treated by the coach leaves me to believe this maybe the case expect both to leave by the end of the year

Well he does seem to lack the stamina of some of his elderly teammates. We know Burrow and Lunt can go for 80 and I am sure Roby, Mcllorum, Houghton and Henderson all can as well

Not convinced about the forced into leaving so don't have to pay contracts up. I think we as a club have really been at fault with Hood's development, but I would still predict that both him and McShane could probably have better careers elsewhere than Leeds and earn more money, so don't see the point with the pay up contracts.

If McShane was to move to another SL club who do you think would sign him?

IMO some of our rivals have 2 better hookers than our No9

It's less challenging to go 80 minutes when you're only making 3 or 4 tackles a game.

While a 80-minute, Cameron Smith type may be the ideal for position, his ability is pretty rare and of the names you mention. McIlorum, Henderson and Lunt all play spells as hooker for their current clubs and Roby is only an 80-minute hooker when he's not injured, from having been flogged as an 80-minute hooker.

Ok I will leave the benchman out of it. The point is BB that McShane really has had ample chances to prove himself and although he has done some good things, including improving his defensive work, he has also taken as many wrong options and never shown he can dominated a game as a key playmaker.

IMO he plays for himself too much and while sometimes his signature dummy and dive for the line comes off there are more times when it doesn't and moving the ball out to use an overlap or a kick would have been the better option.

Leeds need better and until we can recruit a class 9, I think our attack would be better with Burrow and Sinfield interchanging between hooker and halfback which would allow us to also play Sutcliffe and Ward (when fit) at the same time.

I didn't actually mean better career as in trophies, I did mean game time more than that. I think both would be more successfull elsewhere in that regard.

I am sure he will be averaging around 8 tackles per game actually (many of which are crucial one on one tackles) but he makes up for this with extra carries and metres which in turn helps to wear down defences. Burrow makes a much higher number on non dummy runner carries than most hookers.




I don't go along with this flogged business. Because players are given a short rest or if there are equal quality players to interchange is ok but the point is a professional player should be able to play for 80 if required even if it is the exception.

Benchman?? Who you on about now?



You won't find me waxing lyrical over McShane but I appreciate the technically demanding position being hooker commands. At the moment we are playing without out one.....so we are into new ground into how effective we will be.

Burrow has looked stronger this season when reverting back to his natural position of scrum half (with him always being on hand to scoot from dummy half anyway which is a massive asset).

As for Sinfield, he's a skilled pro. I'm sure he would dig in there. But we may miss his signature passes and places in the hot-bed of the attacking line.

The jury is out.

I have been browsing on here for a while now and decided to register re this paul mcshane thread..my son plays for rhinos U16S and we have heard the club are trying to sign a young 16 year old hooker from hull fc who was selected for England called Bradley parker.i saw this lad play for England v france and what a talent..fast.strong and clever and scored 2..

Welcome to the show

That would be strange. I posted on the other thread the other day, that I was told by a top yorkshire scout on Monday that Leeds already have a young player for hooker Morgan Smith, who this scout said would be amazed if he wasn't a full international by 19. Said he already plays above his age groups.

Welcome by the way.

All I know is this kid played 9 for England at morgans age and he couldn't get the starting 9 place..

I am led to believe Morgan actually plays a few positions, but this scout says hooker will be the one he cements. I believe he might be only 15 now though.

With him been 15 he cant sign a deal till he leaves school in a years time.this parker kid I believe is hull fc captain and top scored for England over 3 international games.my son says he is an outstanding player

Welcome Rhinos71!
Will be interesting to see if young Smith does break through or if we do actually sign Parker.
JC-Re Mcshane i think he's a decent 9 and has abetter distribution than RB and adds a very good option for as a kicker.
Now i agree last week he was awful and this call by Mc on its merits is the right one but when we see your hero Lummox getting into the 17 week in week out irrespective of performance that's where it gets questioned even more so when we don't have a recognised 9 in the squad.
JP ,Sinfield ,Hall ,Delaney ,Jjb ,Burrow( starting at 7 or bench at 9) are the only ones i think who are undroppable with Possibly Hardaker and Watkins the rest imo are fair game and should know their spot is under threat and on this seasons form i include Mags.

So regards to both these prospects we would be looking at 3+ years before we see them play SL on a regulat / semni regular basis IF they both continue in the fashion they are going at present. Funny thing is at that age the body matures differently and players can appear to be a big step above the other players, but given a couple of years are caught up and become much the same. Would be great to see them come through further but although you can say, this kid has great potential, unlike football, rugby requires some size that may come or go depending on their own body growth.

Lets bring Lunt back on a 3 yr deal and then se where these lads are?

So you have your favourites too



[uNobody[/u should be exempt

You may face off against your hooker for next year tonight .....

paul aiton? always liked him. quick, tough. niot sure about his passing off the ground mind

He's a cracking player.

And just a whisper I'm hearing.

always did like him. always looks good whenever I see wakey playing.
a 'proper' no 9 too

Thought we agreed not to talk about Bailey?




I fully agree that Burrow is better at 7 but I think he is much maligned at 9. Of course he isn't the identikit of a typical 9 but rather like Sinfield is not the typical 6 the coaches have found ways to keep their best players on the field for the maximum time with so far good results. Most of the other sides and coaches really fear Burrow at 9 or 7 because he is a match winner and even when not making clean breaks he takes out so many defenders and wears them out.

Like it or not we miss Paul tonight but we still got the win better team would of kill us

Aiton was pretty good last night but come on he is no where near what we need , in general he runs up more blind alleys than most and his passing is awfull . On the Mcshane issue why Leeds have kept him is beyond me , our coach has never rated him , he is not good enough in defence whatever he brings to the attack and Widnes wanted him. The ideal way forward was Mcshane to Widnes and Lunt to stay at Leeds if someone can give me the real reason this did not happen i would be gratefull to hear it .