I suspect the club considered the position that the lad was about to ask for a release from his contract, and gave him the game time to appease. Your last sentence if correct, is what is wrong about team selection, and how this lad has been treated. How can a comment like that be made preseason without seeing the form of all players to consider who is competeing for what? All that does is highlight preconceived thoughts on the lad, to be frank no matter what he does, and shows there is favoured selections regardless. Dropping him after the last two games and with the make up of the squad announced, really does look incompetent. If he is injured, fair enough there is our answer, but I think we all know he will probably turn out for Featherstone this weekend in truth.

Isn't this the last year of his current contract? I doubt the threat of asking for a release would be taken seriously when as it stands he is leaving at the end of the year anyway. What's more likely is that he's struggling to do major minutes at super league level (which he's admitted in an interview) and McDermott does like his props to be able to do long spells. FWIW I think dropping him for Wigan is a big mistake as he's a better player than Delaney (who I expect to play prop) and he's more likely to be here long term.

Baldwinson dropped for reasons not yet made public and here he is, right on cue....



As LeedsDave said so well...

and its easter coming up, so sensible to rotate players and keep them fresh, no doubt somebody else will be rested next week and baldwinson will play s couple of times in next 3-4 games.

or he may just have a minor knock and just not worth risking when we have other fit options.

Probably correct - Wigan are probably a side where experience will count - a young prop could easily be wound up especially by a set of forwards very adept at doing exactly that

Well lets ignore the fact it is Baldwinson for a second, imo it is bad tactics to go up against the most aggresive pack in the league with only 3 props in the 17, one of which (mullaly) has mainly been an impact player

If we get bullied down the middle then you would imagine baldwinson will be asking some big questions...

especially if Delaney plays prop. that would be a kick in the teeth

Giving the lad a miss for a Wigan game and hopefully letting him play for Fev is sensible. Can people not remember how slowly Burrow and JJB were introduced into the team. He's got a bright future if handled sensibly now.

Most of us understand that, i'm sure the player does too. Just a shame we have a few Veruca Salt's following the club these days.

Its not just impatience, do you honestly think it is a good idea to play against Wigan with only 3 recognised props, and only one who regularly plays long minutes?

I have no idea if he'll be a top player, a squad player or a championship player. haven't seen enough of him.
but to be left out after a couple of good games, and to only have 3 props in the squad is, a bit demeaning.
and if he plays for fev he's hardly being rested for easter is he???

Not a high pressure game against a top team. Stevie Ward was introduced early, too early in my opinion and he's had a whole catalogue of injuries. The coaching/ medical teams of sports clubs are far more knowledgeable than you are I on the introduction and indeed the optimum time to give long spells of playing time to young athletes. I'm happy to leave it the experts......I'm sure others will promote their conspiracy theories.

No idea what the plan is, but we'll find out tomorrow night won't we?

I didnt ask you about the game play, I asked if you think it is a good idea to play against Wigan with only 3 props in the 17?

It will make McGuire and Moon's night a lot harder, thats for sure...

McDermott confirmed in his press conference that Baldwinson will probably play for Fev this weekend, but he's been impressed with him, and giving him game time was about proving to the coaches and to Baldwinson that he could handle it at this level, and he thinks he did that. Reading between the lines. It seems to me the concerns over Baldwinson seem to be around the physical part of the game, and not his ability.

3 recognised props, you mean. Which is why I mentioned a game plan.

But I'm not the coach and haven't seen how the players have trained this week. I'll put my trust in those that do, to make the right decisions. They don't always get it right but more often than not, they do.

Definately disagree Ward was bloodied too early but imo he's certainlt been mis-managed both in role & game minutes.

So they've proved he can handle it at this level, and therefore decided not to play him at this level.

It's the BMD way, flog your faves to death even if they are carrying knocks. leave rested players on the bench or in the stands until you have to use them...preferably for less than 6 minutes.

I do wish they wouldn't let Phil Clarke commentate on Wigan games.

Not there tonight and can't watch on TV, how is 3 props v 6 going? I'm classing club as a prop

So far ok...but you won't see the difference until 50+minutes IMO.

Thanks for the update, Wigan are the team to beat this season for mine.

Agreed, though I do think Cas will do well if they take down a few more big teams in the head up to the play offs.

We are starting to lose our energy up the middle but then Wigan are fantastic at wrestling and slowing everything down. we need to get back to getting it out wide. so far it's our silly errors that are as usual stopping us from getting any kind of momentum.

Well. that's the game. Stupid play.