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.

Having players like Donaldson around is probably good for the big crop of young lads coming through at the moment - they need role models. That back row is going to have fierce competition for places this season, that's for sure.

Genuinely good to have the view of someone who has watched him more than most on here

The problem is, for all the positives you gave him you basically said you let him go as you had similar who are better.

This bit will sound arrogant but... I would like to see Leeds aiming higher than a KR reject.

I'm happy to reserv judgement and still think we have lost nothing but think you may have inadvertently agreed with some of the nay-sayers on here.

If he was so good irrespective of size surely you'd release someone else no?
Fwiw saying he's better than Ferres & Jjb is neither here nor there Jjb is at the end of a 15yr career & 3yrs min past his best & Ferres has been garbage ever since he arrived.
We have grafters we needed quality not stand ins.

Bottom line is we need a front row much more than a back row (and possibly a recognised left wing). I also think we lack outright pace, which again JD won’t address.

Too true mate but maybe with his drive and enthusiasm he can help some of the youngsters progress.
Like I mentioned before if he was already with us I would be reluctant to let him go and see him well above the likes of Walters, Ormandroyd, Mullalley, JJB, Sutcliffe if he is now a forward and on a par with Ferres unless he gets his finger out and Ablett who has been poor for the last 2 years.
Like you say time will tell.

What is Donaldson’s height and weight?
How does he compare to someone like John Bateman?

You can't compare someone like Donaldson with Bateman as Bateman is a one off. Probably the pound for pound strongest forward i have seen since Ellery Hanley. Yes they are probably similar size but one has freak strength the other doesn't.

I've seen Bateman and Donaldson in the same side and I agree with you. Donaldson has his strengths (defence and work ethic) but Bateman is a freak. He was at my amateur club the year above me and people were saying he'd play for England eventually when he was 14/15. I think our best youth product since Burgess and we have a few of them knocking around (Whitehead, Trueman, Burgess bros.) Unbelievable strength as you say.

Anyway I wish we could have kept Donaldson as I like his work ethic and defense. However I do hope he proves to be an asset to yourselves this season and earns a longer deal. Although I do think you have some very good young players ready for that spot such as Cameron Smith (again he was good for us the other year on loan).

Wiki said something like 5'11'' & 13.5 stone. So really 5'6'' & 8 stone.