I'm pretty certain Kirke will be here next year also.

Not too sure to be honest, didn't he stay partly because of being local for his degree, I think that finishes this year, and he could very well move to pastures new

Vickery could become the new 'Kirke' for the backs......nobody can quite understand what the club/coach sees in him



I have admiration and respect for you and W5 who see the 'kids' regularly and are always seen to be promoting them. As many have noted I am great believer in giving youth a chance and promoting from within if the talent is good enough.....so I am inclined to agree with you that the likes of Handley and Duckworth (and I respect your opinion as an undoubtedly avid knowledgeable unofficial talent scout) should be given every opportunity first and foremost.

BJB being injured would have been the ideal chance to see one or both of these lads in action with the first team: Watkins should never have been moved to FB (with Watson available) nor now should he be shifted out onto the wing when apparently good enough options are readily available to step out there.

Watkins is in danger of being turned into a rich man's Lee Smith like utility player rather than left to settle into the RC position.

Don't bet on it

Think Leeds will want to keep him though. Whatever some fans think of him, McDermott has quite a bit of faith in him and gives him good minutes compared to say Moore or Griffin who I'd expect to be out of the door before Kirke.

I am pretty sure from memory that kirke was offered more elsewhere but opted for Leeds with uni. With uni finished he may be more tempted to move IF anyone else tables an offer

Squad list updated.

Totes amazeballs.

Which bit?

I think you're supposed to guess.

Rumour on twitter that Tom Briscoe has rejected a move to Wigan Warriors and will join Leeds Rhinos next season.

Not true according to @PeteSmithYEP - unfortunately.

Aye, winger.

That's where all of Leeds issues are, not having enough good English outside backs.

Of course if the rumour were true it wouldn't apply to the 2013 squad thread would it?

before we got BJB & Moon I'd have loved to see Briscoe come to Leeds. If there's any truth to it I'd guess BJB has another problem which looks like keeping him out for the serious long term.

Whether the case or not, the club [uDID[/u know BJB would be out for a considerable time for the 1st half of the season.
The contingency plan seems to be one of 'taken by surprise' ....playing Keinhorst (a centre) for one match; then Vickery (god knows) for a stubborn [iexcessively[/i long time; then....."I give up" ! .. and will continue to waste Watkins on the wing and Ablett (a LF) at centre.

I pity Chisholm/Duckworth/Handley (one of these could have been an established first teamer by now).....move on lads: this coach is short of any foresight for the future.

well no, the expectation was that BJB would be back halfway through the season. So either you shell out big money to sign a new winger for half a season, or you find someone solid enough to do a job out there.

Given the apparent problem with Chisholm is his defence, and Brian Mac seems determined to have us much tighter in defence this year, picking Vickery makes sense.

Or they could have had nightmare debuts when they're weren't ready, ruining their confidence, thus ensuring they never recover and see first team rugby league again.

See George Elliott!

He'll look good lining up in the same team as Gareth Ellis... oh, wait.

Be serious......are you telling me that it is likely that Chisholm AND Duckworth AND Handley (AND even Watson at a push) would [uALL[/u [ithree/four[/i have had nightmare debuts?? Like to see the odds on that.

There has been more than ample time to have seen all of them given equal chance in BJB's absence.

Instead we have had poor old (sorry, 'young') Keinhorst - played out of position mind - banished for one poor game despite the whole goddamn team been hopeless in the same match......and then the sorry sight of Vickery ironically given too many chances before mercifully been put out of his misery.

Being.

They wouldn't be as long as you'd think!

We see it all the time, particularly with wingers.

Mitch Vincent has left Leeds and joined Wakefield.

Is that due to lack of opportunities in the u20's?

I was interested to see how he developed too. 3rd club in 9 months though. That's not a good record.