Is rumoured to be a target of Leeds according to Dave Dosey Parker of the League Weekly.
He says Shenton is also a target but Atkins is the no1 target.

Hmm, Shenton has the potential to be a real quality player, while on his day as the phrase goes Atkins can be devestating. Personally id go with Shenton IF this rumour is true...... crap! its Dosey Parker rumour

Since he just makes his rumours up 5 minutes before his deadline, I won't read too much into it. I mean, he could be right, but only in the same way anyone might be if they made a blind guess at something.

Step forward emmers

Atkins has always been a left centre, Shenton is playing there this season and McClennan says Watkins is more suited to playing on the left. Senior (should this be his last season which is far from certain) will take some replacing.

Wheeler looked a quality youngster at St Helens again yesterday filling in at left centre for them. Quick, explosive, knows his way to the line, no mistakes or daft offloads that I can recall.

Super league winners is target for bradford, aint gonna happen tho.

What if Atkins wants to be a Super League winner?

Nosey Parker lifts most of his rumours from this forum (and by that I mean RLFANS as a whole) anyway.

Id love Shenton at Leeds, would involve a fee because FWIR hes signed up for next season isnt he.

It shouldn't be an issue for an ambitious club with a turnover of £6 million a season.

The problems for me would be: are Leeds willing to match his wages, does he want to be a smaller fish in a bigger pond, as the salary cap does it's job and Castleford become more competitive (with a potential new ground on the horizon) will he want to leave the club he has stayed loyal to through two relegation seasons?

Lets get that Lesley Vainikolo to Leeds one going again, that was ace.

He`d go to wigan, they have after all got the best team, the best youngsters, the best ground, chairman etc..superleague belongs to them..everything about sl was their idea to give us subnormal clubs a chance, in the contract it said bradford, saints, leeds can have a few yrs of silverware to lead them along before the mighty wigan revert to the top.

I think Wheeler is primerily a stand off. And he just might be the chaviest player in SL

He is. It didn't stop him looking very good at centre yesterday though. He looked comfortable on the wing V Leeds at Knowsley Road also earlier in the season.

Looks a quality youngster (and not prone to doing daft plays) each time I've seen him.

Ainscough of pies looks to have that trophy.

Richard Owen at Castleford is another serious contender.

Two words: Kevin Brown.

I rest on your face, err, I mean, I rest my case.

If Danny Brough had Gareth Hocks Tattoos this debate would be wrapped up.

excellent observation. Would be underwhelmed if we signed Atkins for the reasons you have stated and Shenton looks a better target for those same reasons. All this based upon the premise that this is a Parker rumour so therefore a pretty pointless discussion.

Saints throw a kid into the centres, out of position and you applaud them. Yet you crticise us for not going out and signing a right centre.


Maybe one of these error free quality youngster you admire at Saints can help them win a Grand Final and our calamity prone fill-ins this year eh?

agree, seen that lad play over the years from the age of 7 or 8 always looked class, although he bleeds Cas Blood Leeds should have snapped him up as a youngster.

If Leeds had a similarly developed youngster ready to make the step up I wouldn't be calling for the club to sign a replacement for Clinton Toopi. They haven't from what I've seen so far. I'm giving McClennan the benefit of the doubt re Lee Smith, although his four missed tackles and appalingly loose carry out of his own twenty shows he's not comfortable there yet.

Gary Wheeler will be twenty before the season is out. When I first saw him play wing V Leeds I had no idea his preferred position was stand off and that didn't stop him looking a quality youngster then or at centre yesterday. Comparing his performances to Ashley Gibson's this season is like comparing night and day.




Maybe, it's all about performance. When I've seen Watkins, Ablett and Gibson fill in this season I haven't seen a performance to suggest the search is over.

Callum Watkins in 12 to 18 months time needs to be where Wheeler was yesterday and I think he can be. Gibson no chance.

You've come to an interesting conclusion on Wheeler after 2 games. I am sure Saints fans will be hoping you're proven right.

If Watkins is being used in the same manner as the coach has done this year, 1 game in every 5 at right centre, then he will have gone even further backwards.

I think I've seen more than the two (although not many more) but his quality is there for all who care to see. Hold me to it, he looks a quality youngster ready to make the step up now.

Of course he may follow the Watkins blueprint and turn to mush but the fact he is 18 months older will make a sizeable difference in his preparedness for SL at this point.

I hope I can say the same for Watkins in 18 months time rather than be still talking about his potential.

I agree. So did Watkins last year.

A lot of youngsters suffer 2nd season syndrome and that may be the only issue with Watkins. I don't think ghis coach has helped him that much.

Wheeler might suffer 2nd season syndrome. He might fade sooner than that. He's only had a handful of games.

I hope you can.

Both are in their second seasons now.

Wheeler is 18 months older and appears the more solid both physically and mentally, just as you would expect.

I've consistently said that Watkins has potential but he's 18 months away from being ready for regular SL action. I've seen nothing this season to change that view.