I suspect Ward will have known for some weeks that he wasn't going to be offered a new deal. Whether his attitude/motivation dropped off after that I don't know, but he certainly disappeared off McDermott's radar and down below Lilley in the pecking order pretty quickly.

I don't see Lilley as a hooker really, though maybe see him fulfilling the burrow utility role - not that he would want to get lumbered with that tag I suspect.

Hopefully the long term hooker role is high on the list.

Didn't someone mention something about Hunslet players being quite critical of the effort Robbie Ward put in whilst there? If that's true and considering the close connection between the clubs with Eaton's roles at both clubs then Ward really only has himself to blame. Compare it to Keinhorst for example who put the effort in, played a new position whilst there and then was rewarded.

Last time I saw Robbie Ward up close, he appeared to have put on a little podge - was certainly looking a little plump in the face - might have a touch of the Mcshanes....

Why wouldn't he be aware of it?

Ward must be kicking himself. I'm not saying we wouldn't still be chasing a new hooker but with aiton leaving then getting injured he had a great shout at playing in a GF and pushing himself forward for a regular place in the 17. What a missed opportunity... Unlike Jimmy as has been said.

I do believe that was I Mr printer sir who posted that. Was along the lines of ward basically being too 'soft', the same conversation also brought up how lilley having only played 1 game for the rhinos and a couple for hunslet seemed to have no fear in everything he went into and gave his all, which is why I see his was chosen over ward.

How imminent is imminent ?

Even if we sign a hooker, Lilley (or somebody else) needs to be ready to play there if required. If anything it gives him more chance of getting a game in the short-term. It doesn't mean he must become a hooker, but getting game time and impressing is the way to get a new contract. Fairly obviously Ward didn't and so is on his way.

Thought farah was available?

IMO Ward never looked like he possessed the attributes to be a decent SL hooker. I've seen less of Lilley but he looks superior. Hope to see more of Lilley in 2016 alongside our new first choice hooker and Burrow.

Agree with this, thought Lilley looked good in what was our lowest/hardest point of the season, would like to see him get plenty of game time next year.

Lilley looked good. Was always underwhelmed by Ward. The coaching team get nearly 100% of these types of call right.

Lilley needs to bulk up but he does look like he has some potential

He's the same height as Aiton, aiton weighs roughly 88kg and Lilley around 71kg!

He's only 19, he should gradually gain in stature over the next 2/3 years. Remember Ryan hall when he first made his debut?

It's important he doesn't try to gain weight too fast, players who do always gain excess weight and it badly effect's their performance in the short term.

Its also way too early for him to decide if he wants to be a hooker. All we need is for him to be able to step in for the odd game, not play a whole season there. He should focus on being a halfback first - I just see being able to fill in as hooker as a way for him to get more games.

That's the way I see it too. In much the same way as Watkins started with games on the wing and Sutcliffe in the backrow.

Exactly. Being able to handle the step up to add super league is stage one of development.

Stage 2 is letting his talent dictate where he plays.

My interpretation of the way we introduced Sutcliffe was that by playing him back row he firstly gets more opportunities to play due to the nature of the position and the squad. Secondly it allows him to get used to the physical side of top level rugby. His body gets used to being battered by large blokes without having the pressure of having to run a game on top, so when he gets the chance to play at halfback he's not afraid of getting belted whilst trying to put prime through gaps etc

It might be just me, but although I thought Lilly did very well for us, he looked s little chubby to me and a bit slow. Hopefully an off season to get a bit fitter and step up to the first will do him good. Look forward to seeing him next season in what opportunities he gets. Wasn't he the academy goal kicker as well ?

Exactly. He should be allowed to develop as a half back first and I would say he should work on his speed and not bulk up.

He's listed on the website as 5 foot 9 and 11 stone, which makes him shorter but slightly heavier than Robbie Ward.

IMO he doesn't need to be adding too much more bulk unless he genuinely sees his future at 9, which would be a dangerous move given he's got the highly regarded Harvey Whiteley coming up behind him at the club.

His game really isn't based around pure pace or elusiveness anyway, he's very much more an old fashioned half-back with an eye for a pass and good game management skills.

That's just his cheeks mate not an ounce of "chub" on him he's also not as slow as you think and certainly quick with his RL brain during matches.
Yes he is the GK as well a very good one at that but so was Sutcliffe yet when he broke through and missed kicks he was "useless" to some experts who conviently forgot how Sinfield started with the kicking duties!

Yep, goal kicking for the academy and for the first team are 2 different things!

Fair enough! i might be getting mixed up, but I seem to remember lilly being the goal kicker over Sutcliffe in the academy.

Lilly clearly has a rugby brain and is a creative player, probably a 7 long term but as some have said, bursts jumping into dummy half is probably the best way to get his experience up.

I remember an interview with McDermott when he was talking about Sutcliffe establishing himself as a first team player and how he already had 50 SL appearances under his belt. A lot of those early ones were in the back row. The point he was making is Sutcliffe had built up confidence just being on the field and part of the team, even out of position, before giving him the responsibility of SO. Confidence is such a big thing in sport. A gifted player with no confidence is useless. I think the club will aim over the next few year to give Lilly as much of a chance as possible even if for short spells slightly out of position.

If a new hooker does come in, that probably limits Jordan's options to filling in when there are injuries to either the starting halves or dummy half.

I'd like to see us develop a dual-registration arrangement with a Championship side for 2016, as players at that stage of their development aren't going to learn anything at Hunslet in League One playing against semi-pros and kids. They need to be at clubs where they will be playing against teams with SL aspirations and experienced full-time professionals. Somewhere like Dewsbury or Batley would be ideal if they were interested.