Perhaps they shouldn't be playing him as a prop then...

I would put money on Donaldson featuring for England at some point in his career.

I admit best player in the league is a bit over the top, but do any of us pay that much attention to what Phil Clarke says anymore?

I just think if he was that good we'd have seen something to show this even at his young age. Though with forwards it's understandable most don't pick until mid-late 20's.

I think you are risking allowing your views of Macca to cloud your judgment about the results of the youth development, which are bursting out all over now. My opinion!

And tbf to him, he doesn't look as physically developed as Whitehead and Addy.

Form watching him in the u20s, he's got good ball handling skills and a great offload. His defence is top for a youngster & for his size too.

I think once he has a bit more size he'll go better at SL level. He hasn't looked particularly out of place, but his class hasn't shone through like it does in the u20s.

I imagine he reels himself in a bit too though, as he won't want to try as many risky offloads when trying to break into a team and in front of a bigger crowd in case of the error.

I've always maintained that Donaldson has the most potential out of him and Elliott, but atm Elliott is further ahead.

One thing is for certain, (Langley has a lot more years yet, Whitehead looks like he'll be a regular for years to come, Addy, Olbison, Donno & Tate look promising) we'll have a very strong back row in a few years time.

Whilst pretty obvious i've never really rated Macca, i'd like to think i know a good player when i see one.

I just don't think you can expect any youth system to produce that much first teamers to bring this team back to where it was.

Maybe that's the bigger issue though, and one i've found more difficult than any other.

Addy's performance on Sunday must have made you think about his potential?

I've never worried about our back row. It's our backs that worries me.

I just don't want Donaldson to be another that had a lot of potential but never delivered, though the lad has years left to prove himself.



I didn't go i'm afraid. Having to earn some money.

Was told he did well at 6. Seems a bit big for 6 to me like and seemed a nailed on forward from previous viewings.

I agree, not as good as his billed rep suggests. Have seen some strong defending, but nothing punishing and on attack James has been pretty much none existent IMO, I mean he hasn't even made a break. I can see James being a Rob Purdham type of player, decent but not outstanding. Kevin Sinfield wasn't a big lad though to be fair, but you could see he was a quality player and had something special about him even from his early days as a pro.

I think you mean Crookes and again I agree, nothing about him, maybe a little pace but no strength and little skill and his lack of size definatly will hiinder him. Can see him being offloaded in the near future.

Apologises to Crossley, i meant Crookes.



I remember when Sky used to show an academy game every week. Can't remember what day it was on, but you could see then the class sinfield had then. He sold Donaldson a huge dummy at Headingley too this year. I won't lie, i've not watched an academy game in years so maybe donaldson has done some great stuff there and deserves his billing, but i have seen nothing to say this lad is future international material. Massive ask of any youngster like.

Hugely-experienced international and captain of GF-winning team three times on the bounce, in "throws huge dummy to 18-year-old" shock.

suspect that neros a doubt,also assume halley is still injured. with wardle and crookes injured our next option in is sykes (assuming we keep menzies at loose). sykes hasnt had best of times in halves last couple of weeks so we may be looking at moving him to to cover for nero, with kearney moving into halves and reardon dropping to FB. finnigan in on wing which is probably easiest position for someone to debut in.

Sir, I give you Mal Meninga, Gene Miles, Eric Grothe, Mark McGaw, Peter Jackson, Wally Lewis, Michael Hancock, Wendell Sailor, Lesley Vainikolo, Lote Tuquiri, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Mark Gasnier, Keith Senior. Should they have been forwards?

Penguin played 6 a lot in 1997 and 1998...

TBF, most of those could/can run like the wind and that's what makes them a back, not sure Danny has that kind of pace. However, Shontayne Hape was 6,3 and no speedster but he still made a pretty decent centre IIRC.

The point being there is a swathing circle of opinion in this country at both junior and pro level that larger rugby players should be crow barred into being a forward; hence our perennial lack of quality backs.

Bit of a difference mate... I said too big for 6, not too big to be a back.



Just pointing out a situation involving the 2 players mentioned. Not having a go at Donaldson. Disappointing to see anyone fall for a dummy in that situation though.

He's no bigger the Lewis, Jackson, Gasnier, Inglis. All play(ed) 6.

I can give you the first two but not Gasnier or Inglis, just because both are clearly centres even if they played there on occasion. I'm not saying you can't play 6 if you are big, but you gotta be pretty special. You can't compare Addy to any of the players you mentioned before.

Inglis played 6 as early from 2007 for Melbourne, frequently. And still does.

Gasnier is an established 6 despite starting as a centre.

The caveat being, of all those originally named, the theme remains the same. The obsession with forcing big units to become forwards.

but you can't rule him out either without viewing a few times

probably why the club list him as a loose forward. whilst donaldson is currently a bit on the small side for halfback, addy is currently a little small for loose. as they both develop physically I'd expect them to move to their respective positions. The stage addy is at now he fits in quite nicely at half and as its a position we're needing at the moment dont see a problem using him there now. No doubt in my mind that long term he'll end up in the forwards.

Things is we need to be careful we don't expect too much to early. Not every player makes such a great impact at such an early age.

I know for a fact that Donaldson is aware that he needs to put on some size so he can break the line and be tougher in defence. He's still young and I believe he'll develop into a decent SL player. He's got good core skills so if you add a bit of beef I'm sure he'll come good. He's still very young and is still ahead of many others who at this stage were nowhere near his level, remember Jamie Peacock?

I think Addy too will develop into a decent loose forward. He's another with good core skills and is a natural rugby player, unlike some other backrowers we persist with!

Patience is the key here. When Leeds blooded players like Burrow, McGuire etc in 2001/2002 there were plenty saying they wouldn't make it and should be binned as they certainly didn't set the world alight at first. Thankfully for Leeds those voices were ignored and they were given time to come through. We need to exercise the same patience.

Dont get me wrong, I think huge 3/4's are the way to go, especially ones with the strength of backrowers and pace of olympic sprinters.

I can't tell who you could be referring to. Although you could just have been taking the Mick....