Similar personality to JJB

I wouldn’t be suprised if Jack Walker was the England full back by the next World Cup.

We'll see, there isn't exactly much competition at the moment.

Tomkins, Ratchford, Lomax, Hardaker, i’d say thats a bit of competition and some challenge to overtake them all.

past it, maybe, injured, brain farts.

Only ratchford seems a serious contender from that lot, and that depends on whether he stays in that position or not. He's played everywhere over the years

You'd think 3 of those will be past their best by the time the next world cup comes around.

Two of them already are

Id be amazed if walker isnt considerably better than 3 of that list when the world cup comes around, and Hardakers proved you cant trust him to be available for selection from one day to the next. Think theres every chance walker could be englands world cup fullback

Not sure where the comments about him needing to prove himself in superleague come from, he hasnt just played well against a 12 man Leigh team or against Barrow in the cup, he has played brilliantly in superleague, rightly winning m.o.m's against some of the best teams in the comp. In the grand final, the biggest game of our season, he was flawless, in bad conditions, he cought absolutely everything, looked dangerous, and made a lovely break leading to one of our trys.

The point about hype is clearly missed when a good display against a 12-man mid-table championship team starts this thread.....

So you cant see the lads class most weeks???

I see glimpses of real promise. I've no doubt he has potential, but he's a mile off the finished product yet. More than anything I hope Walker himself realises that he has a lot of improving to do, otherwise when he's 22 or 23 we'll be talking about him the same way as Sutcliffe, or Williams at Wigan seems to be heading.

My other concern is that he needs to bulk up, whatever position he ends up in, and hopefully he can do that without losing his edge.

If you read what I put in the OP I started this thread to have a bit of positivity on the board, his MOM performance may have prompted the thread but is a genera thread not just a thread about the game against Leigh.

Walker was a joy to watch. It was against a mediocre Leigh side, but there were things which said class all over – pace, balance, timing, awareness. And he does it without seeming to bust a gut.
You are still a HB short though, Lilley was anonymous. If he can’t stand out at that level he is going to struggle.

Why can't people just see walker for what he is, a talented young lad with a lot of potential and time to prove it.

Just be happy, support him and not get too carried away.

Walker just looks like a class act. Obviously lots to work on but he has all the raw materials.

His performance in the grand final just shows what he has in his locker as does his brief performance in Australia.

Hopefully he can now put some games together without injury.

Golding on the bench is good option as he covers pretty much all the backs and hooker where he looks a useful option.

I can’t see anything wrong or that needs too much improvement as it stands. He has a very good reading of the game already. He looks more accomplished than quite a few other FB’s running around in SL already.

However, he has the potential to make quite a name for himself. If we (the next manager) can work towards utilising his potential offensive threat, he could turn out to be a very, very good player.

Jack got found out last night. It’s all well and good playing against 12 men and looking good when the team gives you the space. But Huddersfield completely took him out the game last night, had 2/3 people tackling him when he attempted to return kicks and he was awful in defence. Golding is far better right now defensively.

Jack is still a teenager and as such will have inconsistency in his game as people like Sinfield, Maggsy and Burrow had when they first came into the team. Walker is outstanding and nobody will convince me otherwise.

You agree with me, then close your eyes and put your fingers in your ear screaming “lalalalalala not listening”. Right.

What we need right now is stability and strong defensive performances. Not inconsistency. I’m not doubting Jack’s potential, just saying it as I saw it last night. Jack was subbed after a poor defensive performance and wouldn’t have returned had it not been for the injury to Myler.

The lad has to develop and only way that happens is by playing. Overall his defence is good , i agree Golding is a better defender at this time but Walker is overall the better full back and is the best option to play there but as he is still so young he will inevitably need to drop out for a week or 2 every now again. He is still learning his trade.

Hes had some tremendous games in SL so to say its ok doing it against 12 men Championship teams isnt a fair comment.

Lets all remember how young the lad is. Ive seen him cone thru from 16s and hes an outstanding prospect.

Yeah lets get rid, hes a kid for god sake he will have off games.

You say he was woeful, but then say Hudds had 2 or 3 men on him when they kicked it. Show me any full back who consistently beats 2 or 3 men on kick returns. I for one am happy to see the youngsters given game time at the cost of consistency. The argument you make is what has us in this situation. Maybe a bit more faith in the younger players would have given is a stronger squad. The need for players with strong defence has left us flogging the same knackered horses over and over. I know players and coaches asre open to criticism but yours is embarrassing!! Maybe message him your thoughts so he can make a point of mentioning it when he's claiming another man of the match award

Hmmm, did you read my post? I said he got found out. Huddersfield came up with a solution to take him out of the game. I suspect McD thought the same when he took him off. He only came back due to Myler’s injury. I said his defence was awful. He missed two tackles that lead to soft tries in key moments of the game. If all it takes for his game to be affected is to do what Huddersfield did, do you honestly believe no other coach in the league would analyse that game and spot the same thing?

Golding IS a youngster also. He is better defensively and I believe with him at fullback for the full game last night he stops at least one of those tries, if not both.

Everyone else in the team gets criticised. But if I dare do this to Walker, I’m embarrassing? Get a grip. He had a poor game that’s all I’m saying and that his defence wasn’t good.

Fullbacks that beat 2 or 3 players on kick returns - Barba, Shaul, Ratchford.

The argument I make is that poor defence costs us games? Yes, that is precisely the argument I’m making and was evident last night. Thanks for agreeing with me.

I believe Walker at 18 is an amazing prospect. But in recent weeks he’s been getting a lot of knocks in games and that could have also caught up with him last night. He fell over 2 or 3 times attempting to return the ball. I’m all for bringing in the youngsters to gain experience. But not at the expense of longer term injuries that hasten their development.

I think we’re now seeing what a reserve team could offer and how not having one is impacting sides. If you don’t play week on week at some level, when you’re put into the squad you get injured easily, a reserve squad allows our youngsters and returning players time to get match fit. Yes we can send out a few on loan or in duel reg but that’s nothing compared to playing every week either with the 1st team or reserves. All of our golden generation had the benefits of a reserve team.

I don’t even know how you got that from what I said?

I completely agree with what you're saying about the reserve grade. It puts players in difficult positions to come into teams cold and have to impress. We've seen it yourself where they've had a couple of games, not got up to speed quick enough and then not be given another go.

I also agree that Golding is better when it comes to tackling and he's doing a top job covering at hooker. Hats off to McDermott, he's seen something there that no one thought of before.

Whilst Walker may not be as strong in the tackle I think he's got a better reading of the game and positionally than Golding, so he's always a yard in front of where Golding would be.

The problems in the team certainly don't amp but to those two. Your original post came across has being a dig at Walker which is why it got my back up. Your second post makes a hell of a lot more sense