What a load if patronising guff.
Not one poster has suggested anything like what you've posted.
Better SC management & we wouldnt be scraping around for HKR rejects that's not a computer game either that's pre planning & having the foresight to look ahead when rebuilding a squad top heavy with has beens & never will bes.

It's the same rubbish from you.

Get over decisions that have gone and look at what a great off season we have had recruitment wise. All you do is whinge about stuff nobody can change. It's boring.

Think we all understand in the salary cap era but for me personally I would just rather see the young lads given a go instead of some no use 9th choice back rower. We've some excellent kids let's use them rather than players like Donaldson.

Come on he's just not good enough for Leeds. I would much rather see lads like Trout, Martin, McConnell, Muizz etc given a go if we go so low on the depth chart.

Yes Donaldson is a worker, yes he will tackle but he will also offer nothing in attack.

Give the kids a go!

spot on Marty

I can get what you are saying but clearly Sinfield sees the likes of Thompson and now Donaldson as players who can do a job a certain way that fits us under the cap and gives some cover when required.
Thompson didn`t make it but Donaldson did.

On the note of giving the kids a chance.
Yes I agree but not sure they can do it for a full season or that they are ready just yet to even try and do it for a full season.

Who knows Donaldson might not get much game time anyway but he must have something the kids don`t have otherwise Sinfield would not have recruited him.
Then again who is to say Sinfield knows what he`s on about

Don't get me wrong, I'm not pro Donaldson, I wouldn't have signed him. But then I have no coaching credentials or experience so I have no idea what I'm talking about.

If the coaching staff think he is worth a year then I'm ok with that. The only youth player he will really impact is Cam Smith who is is coming through in his position. But then it's only a year contract and if Smith is half decent he will get picked ahead of him anyway.

I just don't see how we lose on this one.

I don’t think Donaldson will have an impact on Smith. Just because you are labelled backrow, doesn’t mean you all play the same, or the same role. Both players are completely different, and certain parts of game one or the other don’t have in them. I think Donaldson will be more of a back up for Ferres, and in the main will be competing with JJB for a squad spot. I said after Boxing Day I don’t think you would have a seventeen with both in. The JJB role will be Donaldson, depending on injuries and form. And I don’t think Trout who is the other youngster, can play that role.

Fair point.

Just brings me back round to not seeing the issue with the signing.

Trout who did the full 80 when England beat the Aussie Schoolboys?

Spot on.

Its exactly the same as others like Marty are saying & backed up by the quality of the player in question.
Of course you'll call it whinging because it doesnt fall in line with the happy clappers & shoots down that BS computer game reference you used.

So are you expecting Donaldson to be used for the full season?
This is the perfect time to utilise those younger lads on a rotation basis also Cam Smith should play more games so where does JD fit in other than been "another body"?
Looking at the BR's Ward Merrin Smith would be my 1st choice 3. Then we have Ferres Ablett Jjb Sutcliffe in any order even Cuthbertson does spells at 13. Then the rest should come from Trout Mconnel Mustapha etc . I can see LSutcliffe going on loan/dual reg we are still looking at 6/7 options before even lookig at Donaldson.

I'm not sure how Donaldson will be used and no I don't see him playing all season.
But he has been brought in for a reason and if we do get injuries and suspensions I'm sure he will get his chance.
Let's face it Walters got plenty of chances and ended up scoring the winning try in a GF.
I certainly would put Donaldson ahead of him when it comes to choice.
Yes we could have saved some money on the cap by not signing him but maybe he has the desire and drive to help the other lads and puts pressure on them to perform.

Time will tell obviously mate i just dont see how he fits in or why he was signed.

On the face of it, there is little to lose, with it likely being a cheap deal, and short term. It would seem that we may have learned some lessons on handing out long contracts to projects.

However, I think that signing him, will limit our ability to bring someone of more ability in later in the season if they were to become available.

I personally feel Donaldson is a better player than many on here are giving him credit for and will bolster our weak pack.

I think you have read that wrong.

I read it as you pointing to JD taking/rotating Jjb's role which is high work rate & doing big minutes.
Trout does that week in week out , im not not saying he can do it for a full seasson yet or even half but he's capable as a rotation option which is why Burrow was pushing for him to play under Mc.D.
The only other role Jjb does is a leadership role & we now have Merrin to take that role.

And like I said, you read it wrong. JJB and Trout are completely different players.

Explain how Donaldson & Jjb are anywhere similar then rather than dismissing a valid option?

people keep going on about his size, and yes by modern standards is not a big player in terms of height and weight, but there are plenty players around similar size, Furner was an international back row and is smaller and he was a superb player, Donaldson similar size build to JJb Ward.

No way is Donaldson bigger than Furner. All those will have 2 or 3 stone on Donaldson.

I was actually clear, the role they would play in the tactics, in the squad, both players could do the same job. Trout is not the same type who could do that job.

Like I said, not all players are the same just because they play the same position. The coach will work his game plan and tactics around those strengths. If you went the Trout route, and I am not saying that would be wrong, then the game plan and usage of players would have to be completely different to that of using JJB or Donaldson.

Furner 5' 10" not sure about weight but probably 14st -14 1/2 st ish JJb 5'11" 15st ish, Ward 6' 1" 14st ish maybe 15st. donalson 5' 11" 14st

After watching him for the last few years, here's my take.

I was disappointed we let him go, but we had a number of players in the similar mould in a similar team and we have recruited size to replace which makes sense. He can slot in a couple of positions even did a stint at hooker for us.

Play him off the bench, especially down to 8 subs. His energy levels and work rate can really lift a team. Need somebody to take drive 1 off your own line against a rushing D, hes your man. Quick play the ball and plenty of mongrel.

He will win you at least 2/3 penalites a game, and he will be up there with most penalties for in the full league. His footwork near the line is good and rarely loses the collision even for someone his size. Defence is decent more technique then smashing somebody. Over your back rows I would have him above ferres, JJB, and potentially todays Ablett ( previous years abletts much better)

He will get a great reception at craven park if he makes the squad as he really is a player you'd want to go to war with. I reckon if he gets a run of games this thread will look completely different in a years time. For what your paying I think it's a bit of a steel, we just had too many of his ilk at rovers and needed to change strategy.