One for Damo... Jordan Tansey.

McDonald and Feather worse than Jamie Mathiou!?! You have got to be kidding. Both of those played quite big roles in the 2004 title winning season, each scoring some vital tries. They were in the team that handed Saints their ar$es 70-0, and both got a bad press because they did not run their weight. They certainly did not run in with all their weight, but were both fairly effective (if never to be great) forwards. Mathiou on the other hand, bar 1 break at homme to Wigan in which he put Frannie Cummins under the sticks, and one try away at Warrington? (Help tvoc!) was poor, in a poor Leeds team. I don't want to bag ex players too hard, but he was certainly worse than the two you mentioned!

Like G1 says, since Hay etc left in 2002 you'd struggle to name a really poor player that has consistently played. Even the likes of Anselme and Worrall have looked alright, even though they were fill ins, the quality of the side probably dragging their performances up.
Again do not wish to bag ex players, but how Tom Bush ever got a game for Leeds RL first team I will never know. He was to small, didn't have enough pace (see getting run down by James Graham at Knowsley Road one season) and had an awful habit of getting taken into touch.

3 from top of my head
jamie mathou
mark ONeil
Chris feather (just seemed a shame that someone with all the physical size seemed to have the heart the size of a pea!)

Most signings from 86 through to 92 were absolute pants.

Disagree with anyone for including Slammin' Sampson Neale Backo though.

His try at the death in the YCC SF at HQ against the Book burning Cod Smelling 'Tards from Umbersard in 1988 gets him Legend status in my book!!!

The frustrating thing with Feather was that there were a couple of games, or possibly parts of games, where he seemed to come out fired up and angry (PMT possibly?) and chuck his weight around a bit. His defence was still runnish, but at least he was an effective ball carrier then. Sadly for every 15-20 minutes of that there were about 7000 minutes of failure to live up to potential. I often wondered what would happen if you could have cloned Darren Fleary's brain and transplanted it into Chris Feather.

Wasn't it QF? I remember the game, I remember the try and being stood on the Eastern Terrace as was, but think it was the QF? I also remember a QF(?) of the CC where Cummins went the full length from the Eastern Terrace end against Bradford when Newlove played for them and he was getting teased about the planes going overhead being his Taxi's as he had a fear of flying.

In terms of the worst:

Warren Wilson - If he was a rugby player so am I....
Pat Mitchell - Fast, but you got the impression he was running away more than anything else. Paul Gleadhill was a close thing here.
Rob Ackerman - Shocking, truly shocking. Had the biggest shoulders I had ever seen at the time.
Simon Irving - Other than goalkicking he was terrible. We went to sign Neil Summers and came away with him...
Norman Francis - Controversial, 'A team' legend, but terrible when he made the step up.
Chris Vasey - Came from Dewsbury and frankly should have stayed there.
David Cruickshank - Little Aussie, got sent off against Saints, never heard of again, Says it all.
Lee Crooks - Cried all the way from Hull when he came to sign. Big rep and never put it in for us once.
Richard Gunn - Was said to be as good as Shaun Edwards when we signed him, sadly we never found out what he was as good at.
Neil James - Came from Halifax and looked like an animal. Played like one too, but sadly it was a pussy.
Mark Brooke-Cowden - I'm still not sure why we signed him, he was truly hopeless, no lack of effort, just crap.
Richie Eyers - I think I put in more effort watching him than he did playing.
Nathan Picci - Maybe he would have made it if he'd have played more than the half match he did. Maybe I will win the lottery this weekend. I doubt if either would be true.

Backo's claim to fame came in a Yorkshire Cup Semi-Final for sure.



There probably should be. I don't recall Warren Jowett having ever played a game for Leeds but he's had a nomination.



Wilkes surely. Terp was a full-back who got one game (from coach Dewhurst) because he looked good in training.



The Mathiou try everyone usually remembers (well almost everyone) was when he dummied over outrageously V Wigan at Central Park.

As average as Mathiou undoubtedly was he had a good cup run in '98 I thought.

I think even Mathiou bought that particular dummy...

Did you see Paul Gill play? The grass actually did grow under his feet, even when he was flat out.

Who has nominated Warren Jowett? I can see a Warren Wilson, but not a Warren Jowett?

Hey, 'A' team legend was Gilly, not that you are wrong though. I thought he had promise until he broke his leg. Might not have had too much pace, but had the heart of a lion.

One day a Leeds no.6 called Ben Walker will erase the memory of that individual, and when the name Ben Walker is heard at HQ, there will only be fond memories of a rugby legend. I reckon 2021 season should just about be the time to watch out for.

Ben Walker should be remembered for the left footed goal he kicked from the Southstand side rather than the poor management which ruined his career. Confidence players playing with no confidence are not great.

Great tackler, which is why he wasn't in my list. I was at the game (Saints I think) when he broke his femur.

Page two of the thread



I thought it's not something I'd have made up.

Never thought he was that bad to be honest. I think Leeds fans have always had high expectations for the 6 shirt, a bit like a Welsh RU 10. Rickie Lulham made him look like Brett Kenney.

Damn you DHM, I have had years of costly therapy to remove Ricky Lulham from my memory, and you had to go and bring him back..... grrrrr

Not having that. Stormin Norman's one fingered ankle taps were great. I swear I once saw him smoking a spliff during a game, so laid back was he.

How many times did Pat Mitchell play 1st team btw?

I think Pat only played one or two games, certainly not more than half a dozen, but I'm pretty sure he did play. If he didn't then Gleadhill or "Leakin" Leigh Deakin get's my nod.

Norman Francis: 44 + 4, 11 Tries, 44 Points

Pat Mitchell: 18 + 1, 6 Tries, 1 Goal, 25 Points

Paul Gleadhill: 4 + 0

Leigh Deakin: 3 + 1, 1 Try, 4 Points

In mitigation, with Hugh Wadell, we got him off the back of a decent GB series. His big problem was that IIRC 'Fred Flinstone' was tea-total and thus, not a member of the THT Drinking Club that was prevalent at Headingley at the time.

Peter Smith alledged of the parish of Illawarra, is the worst Leeds player I (or anyone) has ever seen ....

No mention of Saketi Tuipilotu in this thread ?

Mentioned on pge 1 Admiral but spelt wrong!

I wouldn't worry too much as although you've spelt it wrong (and didn't even attempt a christain name) the Admiral's attempt is even wider of the mark.

Sateki Tuipulotu - for anyone who gives a damn.