How is young Ryan going for you guys?
Donlan isn't happy with the game time he is gettin,
can't develop with a ten minute stint every week
Heard a whisper he may be playing for Cas on bank holiday Monday
V Sts.

He should be starting every game.

He's coming on after an hour and tearing teams to bits.

I think he is on a season long loan at Leigh and I hope it is true.

Pretty sure it's a DR deal, not a loan as first reported.

That's how/why he played for Cas' U20s a couple of weeks ago rather than turning out for Leigh's first team.

Ryan is a very exciting talent. He has already brought the crowd to its feet here at Leigh on more than one occasion, with his ability to do what not many backs in this league are capable of. He undoubtedly has a lot more learning and improving to do in his game. His defence is not his strongest suit, but he has not done badly in that area and will continue to improve. At times, due to often only getting 10 mins here and 20 there, I feel he has felt a little rushed and pressured to play well in that short burst and has sometimes lacked accuracy with kicks etc. He has demonstrated an ability and pace here at Leigh, which we rarely see. He is not as structured a player as Ellis. We can see that already. It is very hard for him to develop in a TOUGH league, when he is getting very limited game time. Ellis played week in week out last year and that helped him immensely. The arrangement we have with Cas seems to have been ever changing. One week we are told it is a DC deal, the next a loan. Who knows?
I also feel that Ryan may have suffered a little due to the ever changing line up Leigh have fielded this year. One week Riddy would be on the bench, then Ryan would start with Duffy. Then Ryan would play alongside Beswick, then Ryan would be on the bench. I am not blaming anyone for this, but it cannot be easy for a young inexperienced half back. Maybe we are a bit anxious to play him because of his defence or his lack of experience. Who knows? However, if Ryan cannot get a start before Duffy and Beswick in that position, one could not blame Cas for taking him back. As I understand it with these arrangements, Cas are entering into this deal with Leigh, primarily to aid Ryan's development. Hopefully, he can get more game time soon and start to improve in what is a very difficult league for a young inexperienced player.

He's going okay and I like him coming on and making a difference. This suits the team.

ATEOTD, Ryan is Castleford's player. They will do what suits them and what they think suits Ryan. Que sera sera!

Also the lad looks very happy after he has been on the field. Certainly doesn't look fedup with coming off the bench. Personally I couldn't give two hooks what Donlan has to say.

It was originally a season long loan - then it was a DC.

At the last LISA meeting Trevor Barton confirmed that is is now a season long loan.

well imo, i think if he does not start a game, he should come on earlier than he is at the moment, and as has been said above, i dont give a stuff what stu donlan thinks.

I agree with you Tony , im not bothered what Donlon thinks , but i do think Ryan should be given more game time , as the team seem to lift when he comes on to the field ,Swinton have possibly the slowest half-back pairing in our Division , young Ryan would have run em ragged , as her did when he came on scoring a try and making another .

But it is all down to PAUL ,in choosing what game time the players have , im willing to respect his knowledge at this time , as we do seem to be improving , but please Paul ,more Ryan Brierley .

think if rowley dosent play him more often cas will take him back and who can blame them beggers beleif that we keep playin duffy or bob at 7 when we got this lad sittin there should sort it before we lose him

Thats what im trying to say Phil , for me Paul should experiment a little and maybe give Brierley and McNally a go at 6+7 this week against the Hairnets , to see how it goes , if it doesnt work , then change it ,at least Paul will have give it a go .

agree charlie imo duffs hasnt been a scrum half for the last 7 yrs sorry to slow now play him at hooker put bob loose forward his best posistion again imo and give ryan a run never saw jamie on bench last season

Jamie Ellis was the first Scrum - half in a few years we have had who ran at the defence , supported the runners and scored tries , you never know McNally may do the same if he supports Brierley .

Where would you play Riddy Charlie ?

He will soon be back to his best imo. I would play Ryan scrum half.

Beswick 9/13 prob 13 usually start with Nico at 9 and have Duffs coming off the bench.

We don't really know the reasons for Ryan's short spells in the games so far. For instance, a few weeks ago, he was carrying an injury, culminating in his withdrawal at half time at Featherstone. Have Cas' asked us to use him in short bursts? John Duffy gave an interesting interview in Friday's programme, where he spoke of the necessity of nurturing the younger players - i.e. not playing them for 80 minutes, week in, week out. (perhaps he was talking about himself?

)

It would certanlinly be interesting to hear Paul's take on Ryan, because things certainly seem to happen, when he gets on the pitch. You would think he would need time to get used to the pace of the game, when he comes on, but it seems like the others have to get used to his pace, instead!

I think that Riddy would be good at scrum half and Ryan at standoff. I wouldnt want to loose Greg from the fullback role, he is the best we have at that position. Martin Ridyard is going through some sort of confidense proplem at the moment. He used to have great fast hands and a blistering turn of pace from a side step. Where he is getting the ball the defenders are on top of him and he has no where to go, doesnt release the ball and just gets tackled. I know there are times he could or should have passed and thats when his confidense comes into question. In the scrum half role he would get more chances to run directly at the retreating defence and cause some trouble.

Frank to answer your question , and i know a few will not agree with me , my first choice 17 if everyone was fit and available for the Rochdale game would be .

1.Matty Russell .
2.Ste Maden .
3.Stu Littler .
4. Matt Gardner .
5.Jonny Pownall .
6.Ryan Brierley .
7.Greg McNally .
8.Rickey Bibey .
9.John Duffy .
10.Rob Parker .
11.Tommy Goulden .
12.Jimmy Taylor .
13 .Bob Beswick .

14.Ridyard .
15 , Nico .
16.Hopkins .
17. Tommy Gallagher .

I know this may not please everyone , but id give it a try and if it didnt work , there is room for a change , i hope you agree Frank?

I would guess Russell will not play so as he is not cup tied for Wigan. I would also guess that we don't get Laithwaite next week either, other than that, Bibey and Duffs back in contention hopefully...

IMO we should continue as we are with Ryan, he's a young lad and still needs some developing in terms of build etc, I think if he started 'big' forwards would target him, and although he isn't afraid to do the tackling it would tire him, where as now he's coming on and it's him who's running at tired defences.

Look at Richie Myler when he first started for the first team he was smaller than Ryan. It is a fine balance between getting them experience without killing them or giving them too little and them becoming bored and frustrated. Only the people who see what we don't can make those decisions.

I think he is better coming from the bench, I wouldnt start him however needs to be put on earlier. Against York and Swinton the game had already been won and he got 2 stints at the end of each game. If we play a team and losing and he comes on for that stint he would probably not be able to make any sort of difference as the game may already be lost. I'd bring him on later on in the second half for maybe a 15 minute spell. Then maybe Duffy at 7 from the second half to control the game then Ryan on for the last 20. We are not getting the best from him he was our stand out player in pre season! Sort it out Rowley!!!!

15 minute spell in the first half should I say*

FWIW, IMHO;

1 McNally
6 Ridy
7 Brierley
9 Nico/Duffy
13 Beswick