What's the deal with him now?


I know he's injured atm, but it doesn't look likely that he'll get another contract / chance so where will he end up? Somewhere in SL or in championship?

He should be given the chance to establish himself as a first teamer. He was good when he burst onto the scene, and has been limited in chances since. Another one who's face doesn't fit in my books.

Him and Crossley should have been given plenty of chances along with Kopzcak, I'm not saying Kopzcak isn't doing good enough, but James has been treated a little unfairly in my books.

I'd disagree. I've never seen enough from James to suggest he was going to be good enough to be a first team regular. Always had plenty of potential, never seen a sign he was gonna realise it.

I wouldn't be too gutted to see him go, but the potential means I wouldn't be gutted for him to stay either.

He's never had a really good game in the first team though and I'd say anyone who thinks he has, had the rose tints on at the time. We all like to think a young player has played better than he has because of a natural bias towards wanting our own academy products to do well. It's hardcoded into fans of all sports. I think if people look at James' perfomances in a Bulls shirt objectively, he hasn't really shown enough to warrant a regular place.

The two places i've heard suggested are Hull KR and Wigan

I've heard another SL club, not as high up as those two, and already signed. But how accurate it is, I couldn't say for sure. Usually a good source though.

Giz a clue then ?

Yorkshire?

Lancs ?

No to either

But then again, as I outlined in another thread, there ARE no Lancashire clubs in Super League officially.

I wouldn't want to say unless it's wrong as I don't like starting rumours etc. I will say the club I heard though probably has the best head coach for him.

Salford or Hull FC.

Saints ?

Wire ?

Hudds ?

Did here Quins but i thought he ddin't want to move that far.

Ahhh. Brian Mac would be a good coach for a young prop with potential, look at LMS.

Perhaps that was aimed at me? I dunno, anyhow, lol



I agree and disagree, I agree that we all want to see our own products do well yes, but I disagree that 'we/me' have a natural bias towards them causing ourselves to believe that they played better than they actually did.

I personally don't expect a lot from rookies, but I believe others expect them to beat the world in their first few games or so.

I thought Matt played really well for a rookie prop when he was first blooded towards the back end of 2007, he played 6 or 7 games I believe and he showed some real promise, never took a backwards step and muscled up with anybody.

Then he was played hit and miss throughout last year with some good games early on, but was then dropped in favour of a winger and now this year found himself shipped out to a NL1 outfit, despite us only having 4 props with super league experience.

As Ive said, I think Matts face doesn't fit in with Macca, as we havent seen him for 1 and half seasons despite their being plent of oppurtunity for a him.

If James is going without any more real chances, I hope we get to see what Crossley is capable of next season.

Brian Mac coached him at Eastmoor I believe, he also reccomended him to the Bulls, so he's deffo got connections with Macca though.

I heard he was going to Celtic.

Read somewhere his Facebook said 'moving to London for at least 2 years in October!'

Make of that what you will...

Matt James has been good for Halifax and he looks a really good young talent, i'd give him another and good luck to him wherever he goes.

good luck to matt where ever he ends up

feel bulls are right to let him go as never shown up his early promise and think he needs a change of scene to kick on

You are spot on when you say some expect them to beat the world. What I failed to mention in my post was that it does work at the other extreme too, and I completely agree with that.

What I was referring to with people thinking they've played better because of the natural bias though, is probably part and parcel of what you have mentioned there about not expecting as much out of them. Therefore the standards people hold to what they consider "having a good game" are lower for academy products than they are for, say, Australian signings.

And I wasn't aiming it directly at you, it was a general feel I've got over the years. I very much consider myself in there too, as I have come away from games thinking a young player did really well. Then thinking back on it, they weren't actually that good, they just did well for an inexperienced player.

All about different standards you expect from a player really, so you hit the nail on the head there.



Oh and I agree. I think Brian Mac would be the perfect coach for him

london scholars then