There are 10 pages on the Leeds forum regarding his prospective move to Wire.

I am aware that he has been mentioned in the rumours thread, but given the vitriol of some Leeds posters I think the subject warrants its own thread.

I don`t remember any complaints from Leeds` fans when a young Iestyn Harris was signed by them under very similar conditions, to Walker`s dispute with the Leeds hierarchy.

I have not seen Walker play. Is he so much better than Will Dagger, that would possibly warrant a move to another club for him to make way for Walker?

Will Dagger needs to add some bulk but looks good enough the times he has played. Stef is a our full back and unless he is to be moved to the halves which i doubt as it's been openly talked about us looking for one for 2018 then no room for Walker.

He has looked very impressive in the couple of games he's featured in shown on Sky.

However, Warrington have in recent times picked up not only Will Dagger from Wakefield but also Joe Edge from Widnes.
If Walker does end up here, acquiring three full backs in quick succession in this manner would again bring into question some of the policies and decision-making around recruitment.

In an attempt to be balanced about this, I suppose it does illustrate that the club are at least attempting to recruit the best young talent.

Rumour Dagger to Hull KR for next season (loan?).
Which might suggest a Walker as 2nd in line for Fullback for next year if he comes over to Warrington. Or, Ratchford takes Gidley's place in the halves.

TBH if the lad hasn't got the balls to stay on and fight for the No1 shirt at Leeds against a very average FB in Ash Golding then you would question his attitude any way

well i've thought that, ive seen goulding have more bad games on sky than good, and after he got that contract sky was waxing lyrical over him (putting him over like a pro wrestling commentary does, funny that)

He has a touch of scott grix about him, you can imagine him having disasterous games quite easy.

When we recruited Dagger from Wakey he started playing for our U19's at SO, not FB. So another interpretation (if Walker really has signed) could be that half back is where the club view his future.

Whatever happened to players saying "i'll play anywhere the coach asks me to, except prop!"

"I have always wanted to play for Doncaster, ever since I was a 9 yr old growing up in Sydney. Even when I started to play NRL and State of Origin I still longed to come over to Dorset and see those cobbled streets and supporters trooping into the Doncaster ground. At last I have fulfilled my life ambition, although I would have preferred to stay at HB rather than prop, but that's a small price to pay"

Pretty sure Doncaster isn't in Dorset Winslade!

It will be interesting to see the depth of McDermott's succession planning following the loss of the rest of his Holy Trinity. I hope he makes a better job of it than happened at the Wire.

This is in Dorset

I am afraid that was my quirky sense of humour. The Hovis bread advert with a sort of Yarkshire accent and brass band playing in the background was as pointed out, shot in Shaftesbury, Dorset and is probably the typical image an Aussie might have of Northern Rugby League.

To be fair money, as always, will be playing a big part im sure. It was a tactic that worked in getting Morgan Smith over here, and we are there again with Walker possibly.

Perhaps we're offering him more money and an assurance that we see him as a full back long term. Leeds are coming in with a low ball offer and not giving him the same resssurance we are with his future.

He says he doesn't want to play any other position except FB.

Walker Full Back, ratch to centre, Hiku to wing , Roberts or Hodkinson in the halves with Brown/Patten ??

Jack Walker is a classy fullback, hes picked up man of the match on 2 of the last 3 Leeds televised games, he is determined to be a fullback and doesn't see that opportunity at Leeds due to Ash Goulding signing a new 4 year deal.
If Warrington sign him it would be a fantastic for the team, in my opinion.

Why would his attitude be questioned for having his head turned by a club offering twice as much money, a longer contract, and reassurances about playing time.

If another company doubled your wages for doing the same job would you not take it?

Fair play to the lad.

In his statement the main reason for not committing his future was because of Ash Golding signing a long term contract & he hadn't been given reassurances of playing at FB

If he thinks he is that good and loves the club as he also puts in his statement then he should back himself to learn his trade and displace as i put a very average FB and earn the No 1 shirt

think this kid is being ill advised, so what if he thinks his best position is fullback. no way is Gary Hetherington and Brian Mac going to be dictated to by a 17 year old.
and lets face it he does go to you lot, does anyone think Tony Smith is going to bow down to him either, its highly likely if he does go to you he will have to bide is time and will have to play in other positions and be expected to earn the full back shirt. he's a good player and cracking prospect but clearly thinks he is the main man already, i suspect that this will tarnish him a bit were ever he ends up. if he does end up at warrington or wherever i suspect he will be easily swayed by union dollar very soon.

Genuine question as I am wondering if I am missing something here- How do you guys rate your academy system in terms of recruitment of local talent and bringing them through? Obviously I don't follow Wire as close to see your academy products on a regular basis, but there seems to be a lot of touting of academy players from other clubs - Morgan Smith, Dagger, Currie and a few attempts knocked back to sign our other young FB in Max Jowitt and heard from a lad you was trying to take from Hudds academy not so long back. Do you think this is a case of the club been smart and picking from the best talent pool or do you think this highlights a lack of success in your own academy?

It's funny you should mention Scott Grix because apart from a couple of indifferent games he's been wakey's best player this season, I mention this because apart from our game at your place where he did not a play his place was taken by Max Jowitt who tbf did not play too well.
Grix has kept Jowitt out of the side all season, thing is your club has tried all season to sign young Max without success and it now could be that they're after Walker instead.

I'd spend the money we'd lavish on young walker on a few barrels of Guinness and a couple of hundred steaks for Dagger. Once he's bulked up he'll be fine.

I can think of lots of positions (about 12 in fact) we need to strengthen before full-back, starting with two fit for purpose half-backs, money no object.

For me, there's no difference between picking up my eggs direct from the farmer, vs buying them from a shop. Neither are usable in their current state. I've still got to cook and eat them in either case.

What's the (hypothetical) difference between spotting and signing up a 15yr old from a local amateur side vs signing a 16yr old from another club's academy?

The scouts have identified someone of potential, and we still coach and mould their talents, then manage their transition into the first team.

Couldn't care less whether we get our kids from a WA, LS, HD or Mongolian postcode.

So to answer your question, I wouldn't say where we source the talent from has any baring on the success (or lack of) of the academy.

The output rather than the input is what I'd measure success on.

Our success at bringing them through though is another matter...

I should hope the club are looking to target the best young players from around the country irrespective of what club they are at or how old they are, that should just be a given regardless of the success of your own academy.

Warrington are hamstrung somewhat in the fact that the amateur game in Warrington historically isn't particularly strong - it's a football town, so we have always looked at surrounding town teams to attract young players (especially Wigan). That said there are FAR more amateur clubs playing the game in Warrington now than when I was playing amateur RL 20 years ago. When I was growing up there was one team (Woolston Rovers) who had a team at every age group, now there are 5 or 6. So things are improving and there are far more Warringtonians in this squad than I have seen in my lifetime.

So IMO things are improving but still aren't good enough, but even if we had the best youth set up in the country, I'd still be wanting us to target the likes of Walker, if we saw him as a standout player for the future.