i thought he was much better last year before his season ending injury. I think he's definitely worth a new contract although we have quite a few bodies competing for jerseys in the back line now.

I think he's gonna have to really step it up to get in the side next year. With Walker, Platt, Sykes, Ah Van, Raynor, Ainscough & Halley all competing for three quarter places, I think he's gonna really have to go for it to force his way into the side.

Crookes is one of those who has shown glimpses of quality, but not in quite the same amount that other of our youngsters have, which may be why he's not rated as much. If he could turn those glimpses into it more though, he could do it. (Things like the offload in that Wakefield game that set up the break)

I'm still on the fence with Crookes. OK he will add some competition to a degree. We've also signed players who have had injury problems or who haven't played much for other "ahem" reasons. 2 years seemed a bit OTT, but he could have jumped ship if we'd only offered one.

Crossley being a prop will need a little time to develop. I think a lot of us have it in the back of our minds that these lads can do a "Fielden or Burgess" and boss a game at the age of 18, and in some ways unintentionally always compare our young forwards impact to those two freaks.

Addy showed some really good glimpses of what he can do. I imagine he could be pushing for the loose forward spot next season with Langers to the back row where I've always felt he plays much better.

We also may see a few of our youngsters on Dual registration and actually playing for Championship clubs. Personally I feel the Burgess boys for example may get more experience playing for a "Halifax" for a season, rather than against other 18-20 year olds. Koppy came on leaps and bounds with the exposure he received there.

I agree, I hope 2011 sees us using the duel contract agreement we've got with, i think dewsbury?, is utilised more as we've more competition for places so i feel loaning out a couple of the young lads on the fringe will improve both them and their chances for breaking into the 1st team

More good news. I think everyone wanted to see Addy rewarded with a longer deal and I reckon he'll improve once again next year under Potter.

Crookes and Crossley are a bit off being ready for 1st team SL but it was important to retain them to keep a strong squad and fulfil the homegrown players quota. I would also like to see Crossley given some time in the NL to improve his confidence and improve his game as has been suggested on here already.

Especially gald to see Addy sign a contract extension, he's a cracking prospect. I just hope we get to see him in his natural position rather than trying to operate as a halfback.

Crookes and Crossley are going to have a bit to do to get much first team action with the names in front of them, especially Crookes. However with the home-grown rule what it is re-signing them is a no-brainer.

Astonished Crookes has been given a new one tbh. But whatever, best of luck to the lad.

Addy is a talented kid. Think he's a far better prospect than Donaldson for me. Im not sure where Donaldson fits in tbqh.

think we can do dual registration deals with any NL club. Last year the only one we did was addy with dewsbury. I think you may be thinking of the partner club thing we setup last year with rochdale? I think. Although we then did nothing with it which was strange.

Is it just me that thought crookes had another year left on his contract anyway? don't think he'd have got a new deal if Wardle had agreed to stay. Think crookes really has to have a good couple of injury free years now if he's to stand any chance of progressing. Likewise for crossley as I wouldnt have been surprised if we'd released him.

Anyone heard anything about tate brothers? rumours on wakey board in particular that we've released them both.

All three are worth keeping. Great news.

Not from this end, but I too have heard Wakey have signed them both. Wether its true or not, I dont know. Think they were signed at the same time as Donno and the Burgess twins. Andy should probs have been sniffing around the 1st team by now. Who else was signed at the same time?

Adrian Raw, Liam Kay, James Donaldson, Michael Tate, Andy Tate, Tom Burgess,George Burgess, Matt Bailey and Ben Hellewell were junior signings year we signed Tates.

With Lillycrop and Wardle promoted from scholarship at same time.

Only Donaldson and Wardle broken through so far, though from academy/u20s highlights dont think george burgess or ben hellewell will be too far away with Raw and Kay maybe a year or so behind.

Most of the players mentioned above are still only 18, fans need to back off and let them develop.

Questioning where Donaldson sits for example is a joke, he may be world class one day, but it may not be until he is 25 so who knows.

Why is it a joke? He may not be world class aswell, in fact I dont think he will, where as others do.

At the level he's at now, hes not going to force none of Whitehead, Langley or Elima out of the backrow, and I personally think Addy has a lot more potential aswell, and the talent to edge his nose in front of Donaldson in the pecking order.

Donno was Macca's babe. Ive never seen the big deal and Ive said all along that he was never the best backrow prospect at the club.

It's not just McNamara who rates him though.

Off the top of my head, figures in the game who have tipped him to go far : Paul Medley, Barrie McDermott, Brian Carney, John Kear and i'm sure there are more.

Donaldson has bags of potential, lets just hope he can fulfil it.

They all rate him because of the hype Steve Mac has made about him.

McD, Carney and Kear will have barley seen him play. And Steve Mac, well we know what his judgement of players got him at the Bulls in the end.

Dont get me wrong, hes a solid little player. But bags of potential and potentially world class are total overstatements.

He'll be your typical Rob Purdham type. Solid, but never outstanding IMO.

I don't think bags of potential is an overstatement. Potentially world class could be.

He's shown up fairly well when he's played so far. Yes Whitehead has played alot better, but he's older than Donno and a fair bit bigger too. I think once Donno matures a bit more and has a bit more size to him we'll see more of the performances he is capable of. He's played some blinders in the u20s but his size has limited him in SL (as it does with alot of young forwards).

It wouldn't surprise me if he went on to do great things, because (Imo of course) he does have lots of potential. Obviously his injury will set him back, but i'm still looking forward to watching him develop at the Bulls.

Have the Bulls done much in the way of long-term loan deals with young players? I reckon its the way to go, and the fact that its being used successfully shows up the poor standard of the reserve grade (largely due to it being in effect a juniors competition).

not particulary this year. addy was due to go to dewsbury on dual registration but that lasted about one game. Most of young players who were in frame for loan deals were being used in 1st team due to injuries and small senior squad. Think you'll see a few going out on loan next year though with our increased squad depth. crookes & crossley seem the most likely candidates at the moment.

I think your missing the point that he's, I think, the youngest of all those mentioned, by quite a way in some cases, and has missed the best part of last season, in which when he played, he was above average (and yeah, I agree the average wasn't that high, but the kid was only 17). Fair enough if you don't rate him, but for me he's an outstanding prospect who's already shown he can cut it at SL level and all things being equal a bigger, stronger and faster Donaldson has every chance of being an international in a few years. We have some great talent, fairly raw admittedly, coming through the ranks just now, but it all bodes well for the future.

It is, hes got the potenital to be a a decent SL player.
Like I said, hes done OK, but nothing special. He hasnt made a break, and his attack is well below average. James wont get much bigger, you're kidding yourself if you think he will mate. He's just not a big lad, and that will hinder him in the pack. Because he's not big enough to really make an impact in the backrow and not fast/skillfull enough to play 6 either.

I hope he does, and I hope he proves you right and me wrong, from what Ive seen thus far I cant see it though and I cant understand the hype that surrounds him.

Bulliac, no Im not missing the point, my point is Im struggle to see where Donno fits, because at the moment he's not better than any of our first choice backrowers and a number of ayounger ones aswell. He certainley wasnt above average last season. The only way Donno will play internationally is if his buddy is still the coach, because there are a number of young backrowers a damn site a lot better IMHO.

Not sure why you're so down on the kid to be honest. I guess he will still be just about 18 by now, so of course he won't be in front of Elima, Langers or Whitehead, maybe others, no one seriously would expect someone of that age to be. He would hardly be playing full games too often anyway, because of his age, and the club wanting to bring youngsters into the side gradually. You're spot on with one thing though, no one knows for certain how he will finish up, but going on what I've seen so far - not many 17 year olds hack it in the pack - then it's looking good as far as I can see.

He wasn't going out with you sister and then dumped her was he.......

Half the players that are being discussed wouldn't have had experience and gametime that they've had in any other SL team.

That isn't because of of a lack of potential or quality - especially taking into account that most forwards improve with age. It's because most other teams had enough depth in their squad to avoid playing the youngsters unless there was a dire injury crisis.

Unless these players are exceptional that should be doing most of their playing and developing in the under 21's. That is what it's there for.

I can't remember whether it was on here or on Boots and All where there was a discussion about the fact that most of the players who come into SL and are classed as young players are actually 21+... It may even have been at the fans forum for that matter... These kids who are 17, 18 and 19 aren't the finished product. How many players have been judged and release but then gone on to great things once they'd had time to mature?

maybe michael was the fan donno mentioned, on the 'superleagues super men' thing with carney, who was talking to him on facebook and got upset when donno wouldnt pick him up and give him a lift to game?

I'm not down on him, dude. I just cant see what the fuss is about, like I couldnt with Joe Westerman either.
He's been in and around the first team for almost 2 years, he should be starting to have an influence on games in some way or another, which he wasnt before his injury. Oh please, not many 17 year olds can hack it in the pack, practically every player that comes into Super League is that age give and take a year each way, and yes, that does include forwards.

Anyway, we'll see. Cant see him playing much next season though TBQH.

Should I lie and pretend I think he's ace?

No mate, no need to pretend. We all have our opinions, and only time will tell.