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

Thanks, glad I could explain myself better in the second post. What a lucky set of fans we are to have two of the best prospects fighting it out like they are and to both still be at the club. That’s got to be down to the club’s culture, management and a desire from both players to be coached by McD.

I think Jack is going to be a star and hope we can see him in a Rhinos jersey for years to come.

When walker is on form, he’s great to watch and he’s got more pace than Golding. He does offer more in attack and he’ll be better for last nights performance. He knows where he needs to improve now and when he’s played again at fb, the team need to offer better protection for him on high kicks. He also needs longer studs.

Thought he went too sideways on kick returns. Never got us any forward momentum but then again all the players did that. Can't be too critical of his attack as even the best need teammates playing OK but defensively very poor

Let's blame Walker for the loss. How ridiculous. Forwards were beaten for most of the game and Leeds were pretty much on the back foot. Hardly a fb in the league that wouldn't struggle under those conditions. Could he of done better, maybe but don't blame him for all the other failings on the pitch last Friday night

I seem to recall someone calling Schoey out as a flat track bully on another thread. Whilst it is hard for a full back to shine in that kind of game, Walker - and others - need to start showing more when we're struggling IMO.

No-one has done. Just an interesting discussion about how he played last time out.

At last, supporters are starting to ask question about our over hyped fullback. Don't get me wrong, I like Jack Walker and think he's talented and one for the future. I don't think he's as good as many, including the TV pundits, are giving him credit for.
I don't think he was MOM on Friday and think others, including Dwyer, had better games. I think he gets MOM on several occasions because of all the hype. I even think he's guilty of believing the hype himself.
I think Golding is the better fullback at this moment in time and has got the Rhinos ethos in his blood, whilst Walker seemed only interested in playing for Leeds if he could get his own way and play fullback. Golding seems happy to be the water carrier for us.

I'm not sure what people are expecting from an 18 year old kid in his first full year in the senior side. He's shown some flashes of brilliance (his try against Catalan in the first half) but also shown some weaknesses. Yes he is getting a bit overhyped but so what, isn't that a good thing why is the default position to be miserable and deride players?

FWIW he is getting a lot of plaudits from ex and current players on twitter, I'd say they know what they are talking about.

a few of us been saying this for a while, and its been taken as we are bagging him, but i for one am not, but he is not the super star messiah everyone thinks he is. long way from it. he was awful Friday nowhere to be seen when they scored the winner and seed to go out of is way to avoid tackling Tupou. dropped several balls. but he can do no wrong in some peoples eyes were as Golding can do no good. i do hope he kicks on but Golding should be first choice at moment.