Robbie Ward surely isn't 5'10 he isn't much taller than Burrow & I too thought Lilley looked to be on the chubby side at the back end of the season but did show much more promise than Ward ever did. It's a shame we didn't still have Morgan Smith on the books because I always felt he'd make a good 9.

Lilley is definitely on the chubby side, but that's to be expected at this stage as I don't think he'll have done much strength and conditioning training. I don't think Leeds academy players do until they're 19.

Thought Robbie Ward looked good against nz. Not sure what has gone on but as third choice hooker behind falloon and burrow I think he still has a place in the squad.

Not physical enough to defend in the middle I'm afraid. Lost so many collisions and got sat on his backside so many times last night by the big Kiwi forwards.

Might make it at SL level if he bulks up and becomes more physical, but not as he is.

Even Mac & Moz were making excuses for how poor NZ were in the first half so it's hard to Judge the lad but I agree with Gilder, he sometimes looks like a little boy trying to tackle a pro. I hope the lad gets a SL team but I think his level is Hunslet

Lilley has now taken that spot & fully justified in my opinion. Jordan can cover 7 & 9 next season.

Lilley is a 7 all night long. Don't disagree he can cover at 9 but he is not a hooker.

I fully agree, what I'm saying is in a salary cap sport, why pay Ward a 20k salary to be 3rd choice hooker when Lilley can provide the cover at hooker.

R.Ward is no longer a Rhinos player

Agree with your point. I'm thinking more of succession planning given falloon only has a year contract. Obviously a mute point of ward has left. I don't know enough about the academy to know if there is a decent up and coming prospect. Either way I assume Gary has a plan.

I don't think Lilley has the pace or creativity to be anything other than an average half back. Hooker might be his best option long term.

In that case then you've not seen nearly enough of him the kid has plenty of creativity and is faster than you suggest plus he certainly has the RL brain to potentially be a very good 7 not only in SL but in a Rhinos shirt.

I've seen most or all of his handful of SL games, so am qualified to form an opinion. I sincerely hope I am wrong, we are desperately short of quality HBs, but see him developing more as a Jimmy Lowes than a Jonathan Thurston. It will be fascinating watching him develop.

Lilley really impressed on Friday as he did against Cas(iirc) when he had a dig at hooker.

I'm not sure whether Sutcliffe will be back for the start of the season so Lilley could well have a shot at starting next season alongside McGuire.

Lilley and Sutcliffe definitely have the potential to be Leeds 6 and 7 for years to come. They certainly deserve a shot at it before we bring someone else in.

Four days is the answer to that.
Sets the benchmark a bit like the light meter in cricket.

IMO he looks a very good half back prospect with an eagerness to get his hands on the ball which shows his confidence

I read that and put Sinfield's name in place of Lilley's.

Lilley doesn't look slow to me. He's no Ryan Hampshire in terms of pacexecuted, but he's got enough to cause defenses problems, similar to Luke Gale.

Is Lilley any better than for example Scott Murrell when he came through at leeds?

At the time Murrell had mcguire burrow and sinfield all in their prime ahead of him so enevr had a future.

Yes. Next.

That Murrell couldn't make it work at any of his other SL clubs, ending up as a backup hooker at Hull KR, is a pretty damning assessment of his ability.

Is that the same Scott Murrell who made the England squad during his time with the Robins and made one appearance for his country in 2010 (albeit in a friendly)?

Yep, pretty damning assessment of his ability....

Oh yeah, I forgot he played against Cumbria Regional Academy U20s in what was basically an England Knights side. I take it all back.

Still, never looked like getting another gig at a big club after he left Leeds.

Like a number on here I have seen numerous HBs coming through, only to fade into obscurity. Same with hookers. It is normally because they had blistering pace from dummy half which shone at U19s level. Then there are those who are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time - Deacon at the Bulls, Smith at Wigan - which masks their shortcomings but it is enough to see them get international honours. Brough is a strange one, he didn't explode onto the scene, it took a number of years for him to get noticed. Williams is the first HB, probably since Goulding, to start realising his potential.

Isn't McGuire just as much a halfback? 250+ tries and buckets of winners medals would suggest he's achieved his potential, at club level at least.