If moving Ward to 6 is the answer, I'm not sure what the question is. He is more of a defensive rock for mine, with some punch in attack and good hands. Backrower all day long IMO.

That's not to say he wouldn't do a job there but moving him is creating other problems to try to solve another (and I don't think it would solve it anyway)…

I hope Ward can come back strong and fit for the second half of the season and have a good run-in.

There's a difference between Ward getting different bad injuries than say a Creasser who kept popping his shoulder time and again.

Ward's been with the club through thick and thin and will rightly see out his current contract. When it comes up for renewal is when this will all be discussed. Anything earlier is ridiculous unless he decides to pull the pin.

It's not a matter of moving him to 6, that ship has sailed. He should have been brought through as a 6, where he was outstanding as a youth. Instead the coaching staff tried to turn him into Brett Delaney, and if you play like Brett Delaney your body will get bashed up, even if you're Brett Delaney.

I guess at the time you've got Sinfield and/or Danny Mags at 6, so that spot was filled. I still don't think Ward is dynamic enough going forward for 6, and I've not really seen his kicking game.

There is no guarantee that playing at 6 would have protected Ward; Danny Mags had quite a few injuries during his time. Plenty of backs get knee injuries. Shoulder injuries maybe tend to happen more in the middle.

Blaming the coaches for Stevie's injuries isn't on the right track IMO. Leeds won titles with Stevie at second row, under McDermott, and had international caps there. Was it the wrong call?

Apart from looking prettier now, there is zero evidence that Leeds post-McDermott has improved one bit in terms of results, I think some need to SUMO. You need a Brett Delaney, JJB, Marc Glanville or two in your side to do the hard work and that's the role Stevie plays very well. Injuries are either a conditioning issue or a luck issue, who knows which - but there's no safe place out on the field either way.

Or you might compare him with John Bateman who's of similar size and plays just as hard and who's got away with it comparatively unscathed.

One thing that is a factor for Ward now is the accumulation of injuries - you get to the point where you're always compensating for an injury, meaning you can be more likely to damage something else, and you end up in a vicious circle. I just don't buy the argument that if only McDermott hadn't played Stevie in such a direct role, he wouldn't be injured now. It is what it is - our issue is more the thin depth of quality we have right now, so that we miss Stevie quite a bit when he is out.

some players are just soft as in brittle not in heart or bravery but just their bodies are not up to it, its just the way it is sometimes, i don't think it is anything to do with were he plays or what role he has, i reckon he would be just as injury prone still. Ii have compared Stevie ward in the past to Nigel wright the worlds most expensive teenager , fantastic talent but like ward used to break down every 4-5 games. he had to retire early, i just cant see ward or the club keep going like this, played 3 1/2 games then out for 14, its just not good, the club may stick by him but clubs will have it in contracts that they can terminate contracts after so long out of the game, just the same as any employer can terminate an employee who is off sick more than they are fit. I just think this may be the last straw.

I do wonder whether it will have crossed Ward’s mind this time. Must be soul destroying for him. At the moment he is due to come back and take part in the second half of the season, if he gets badly injured again before year end maybe that will be the time to consider things.

He is only 25 and could have 5 of his best years ahead of him yet.

Stevie played as a dynamic back rower in his junior amateur career and was signed on that basis. He was played at 6 in the academy "to develop his handling skills" same as Jack Walker and Cameron Smith were subsequently. I recall an interview where he said that he saw himself as a back rower first and foremost.

Did Stevie Ward not play some of his earlier games at hooker, or is my memory playing tricks.
Good luck to the kid with this latest injury, he’s young enough to recover, stand by the lad Leeds he’s a class act.

Stevie Ward has a set-back and needs a further op, says Agar in today's YEP!

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... -1-9851659 Another op, another few weeks out.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... -1-9851659 Another op, another few weeks out.

Sad very sad . I feel for the lad

Well, at least while his knee’s knackered it gives more time for the rest of him to heal up.
Always a silver lining.

So much potential but I fear it will just never be realised. He isn't that young anymore and these injuries will take their toll. Another year like this and I do wonder, if for the good of his long term physical and mental health, he should call it a day.

I really hope he can get and stay fit. Our back row next year could be very strong with him, Merrin, Martin,
Mellor and then Trout and Walters with the odd cameo.

Might be worth retaining Donaldson too I think he’s been a good squad player this year.

If amenable I would give Donaldson another year. He has been solid but not spectacular which is what he is and I suspect he is realtively cheap.

He could be good to have around for the young lads coming through. He works his socks off and doesn’t just rely on natural size/talent as such.

Fully expect Trout and Walters to be our staring second row in another couple of years, both really talented lads who will be extremely hard to handle when they’ve filled out a bit.

Sadly for him it appears his body is not up to the job , it seems unlikely he will ever give real value for money .

Leeds Rhinos very own Jack Wilshire .

I’d give him a deal too as long as it’s affordable, he’s earned it IMO, his tackling technique is probably the best in the squad and always gives 100% a good squad player and in a salary capped sport that’s needed.

As for Ward, I feel really sorry for the guy, he is absolute class both on and off the field but his body has let him down, I think we need to see how he goes after this last injury and see if he can get a decent run of games going.

Such a shame with Ward. Honestly feel he has the potential to be Super Leagues best player but it's not going to happen.

His body cant do it and hes just going to keep breaking down. We all hope hes going to get fit and stay fit but it will never happen.

Great kid too. Tragic really.

You’ve got to feel for the bloke sometimes, he seems to have a vicious injury cycle of knee, shoulder, knee, shoulder.

I’ll give him one thing, he must have the mental stamina of an ox, setback after setback and he just keeps coming. Hopefully see him back in the blue and amber soon enough.

Always thought Ward would be good at SO in his early days and maybe had he gone down that line his body might have stood up more than a battering ram back rower.
Whilst I`m sure the club are taking care of his physical injuries I do hope they keep an eye on his mental fitness too considering his past.

He always struck me as a very skilful player who for some reason was turned into a "biff and barge" type player when although he "could" do that was probably wasting his latent talents doing so and then the injuries started to accumulate.

Was really looking forward to seeing him, Bateman and Currie build into Englands back row. Hope the lad recovers and can recover his form too. Class act