Hope his first names Gareth



Anyway we signed him from Batley but came from your Academy originally.

From what I have seen so far he reminds me of where Brough was at this stage and plays a similar game. Please don't think I'm comparing him to the Brough of today, it's the Brough of 10 years ago. Not saying he will end up like him just has a similar style and temperament.

For those who are Academy watchers what's your opinion, how did he play when he was with you.

PS: I know he has a reputation as a big head but that doesn't make him a bad player, just someone you don't want to go drinking with and I don't drink

He was rated highly at Acadamy level mate and i thought he was a decent prospect but of course the rumours about attitude started and then afaik the club didn't actually offer him terms to stay on.
He's got potential imo but needs bulking up and could be as good as Gale at Quinns if not better.

They did offer him terms to stay on. They just would not give him the opportunity to challenge Burrow in the first team. He was then offered a loan to push himself which he ended up making a balls of.

At the same time all academy players of that age were on part time deals, rather than the full time they were before, and the kid needed first team or move. He was big headed enough to think (I don't blame the lad) that he was good enough for the top, so like a lot of other players he went down a level in order to push himself back up again.

Wakey have signed a good player if his head is right.

I would hardly say he made a balls of it....Leeds removed him from his season long loan deal with Halifax after the player discussed inadequate training, drinking, smoking and a drug culture that was at that club at that time. He was subsequently removed from that enviroment and returned to the reserves.
His made the decision to leave later that year and terminating his contract after realising that Mclennan was going to play webb or sinfield or other established players out of position rather than give him a chance.
I think it was based on the fact that it is a key pivotal position and at that time Leeds were expected to win everything and were under pressure to do so, which i guess limited his opportunities.
I think if he had actually stayed a season longer he would have got his opportunity as many youngsters did.

Gareth was unlucky at Leeds to be behind Burrow and McGuire at that time who were probably the best half-back pairing in super league, Gareth has the talent to go all the way at this level which was proved by his man of the match performance on Sunday against Huddersfield Giants which he kicked them to death in open play and with the tee. I think the big headedness comes with him knowing he as the talent to become a top scrum half, He is now training full time with a lot of experience at Wakey and looks like Kear's gamble might just pay off. Danny Brough is now 29 Gareth is 21 and i can see a lot of similarities in these two, Hope people give him time to adapt to super league and prove all the doubters wrong... Good luck to the lad i say !

I was always impressed with Gaz when i went to watch the Rhinos academy, He always had the talent and the potential to make it in SL IMO, but he was sadly in a queue behind Burrow,McGuire and Sinny for a shot in the 1st team.

Karl Harrison did a fantastic job in getting Gaz's career back on track at Batley though and he would have loved to have kept him at the club without doubt, but obviously Karl didn't want to hold him back when such an opportunity of playing in SL arose

Good look to him at Wakey i say

Agree when I used to watch more academy games I really liked the look of him. Hope he does well at wakey, when he dropped down was worried he might not make it in SL but credit to him and the coaches who have helped him get back into SL hope he makes the most of it.

batley all but showed him the door

If you knew the facts you would know that he walked away and by doing so created the opening for a mid season switch. Unfortunately batley and some of their fans were told otherwise to save blushes of the fact that a clause in his contract allowed him to move immediately without there being a sniff of an illegal approach or any form of transfer fee.
If you really believe batley were looking to show him the door after leading them to their first trophy in nearly 100 years, him winning young player of year with hardaker as well as breaking a mass of batleys points scoring records in his first season then you must believe anything you are told !