For all Bradford Bull's failings they have managed to unearth some real talent. Shame for them that other clubs are reaping the rewards.

I wondered when some one would mention that - players at all clubs these days even those who graduate through the Academies are rarely local.

Cas have done well to get this lad and so long as they don’t claim to have created him from the cradle then best of luck I say.

He would play for me too.
I just don't understand sticking the knife into players as many do on here.
To say that MJ is not SL standard is ridiculous - he-s not the finished product yet so how can that be assumed?

It doesn’t matter if he’s the finished product yet, at this moment in time he either is or isn’t and as far as standards go he is miles behind every fullback in the play offs based on abilities and if we are to push on and contend for the top 4 he either needs to improve or be replaced, it’s as simple as.

Way too many people on here get there backs up about players being criticised because they’re our “young lads”, it doesn’t matter to me if he’s 16 or 35; if he’s making errors consistently I.e. Castleford; then he is not good enough based on that.

If anyone thinks I have a problem only with the young lads then I’ll elaborate further and also state that Keegan Hirst isn’t SL quality either, id also look to be replacing him with someone who can catch the ball upon his carry.

Great that he has that ability at 19, however as someone else said earlier, he is still not the finished article. Or, do you expect that he will not improve further with more game time under his belt??
Players develop at different rates, but as long as they continue to improve all the time then I don't see what the issue is. Max's game has improved over time, and given more time he will no doubt improve even further IMO
We, as a club do not have the finances to have ready made players in every position, and to be honest, nor should we be looking to do that anyway. In a sport where there is a salary cap and a finite amount of money that you can spend on players even if you have it, then some players in your team/squad need to be developing juniors, which is exactly what Max is at this moment in time.

A bit of an overstatement to say he's miles behind! Who you going to replace him with?
It's not a question about getting backs up, I certainly don't - we're all entitled to our opinion and it's clear your and mine are miles apart.
As far as Hirst goes, he's borderline to me. He wouldn't be first choice but he's a good squad player to have as back up.

I'll tell you what it's as simple as, he's not the first choice full back at the club that distinction belongs to Grix atm, whether that changes next season will be up to the coach, but until then he remains behind Grixy so why are you comparing him with all the 1st choice FB's at other clubs, I would prefer to think that we have the edge over most other clubs when it comes to our reserve full back.

Spot on.

Because what happens in a year when Grix retires probably due to injury, when we’re left with the lad who is clearly being left behind by Johnstone, Batchelor and hell even Crowther is making some sort of improvement?

He’s 40 games into his career and the only thing I’ve ever clapped at is a pass he through down at Belle Vue, once. People on here are building him up to be something he’s not and it’ll soon show.

Jowitt and Hirst out then spend that money on a decent Fullback, Shaul and Mamo as you’ve all said our out of the picture at their current clubs; get an offer in is what say Mr Carter!

What do you mean "Hell even Crowther is making some sort of improvement"? You have 0 class in putting your opinion across my friend, We get it Jowitt is rubbish and he will never make a SL fullback so we should just get rid of him and throw a load of money that we dont have at one of these names your picking out of a hat!

It`s quite simple for me; Grix is currently seen as first choice by Chester, he has a year left on his contract - Chester seems happy to run with Jowitt when Grix is not available or has a dip in form. Should 2020 come around and Jowitt or Hooley not be deemed good enough for the shirt then maybe we will look at the possibility of bringing in another fullback? Really do not see your issue.

How dare you, I am probably the classiest person on this forum.

I just don’t see why we should wait, he’s clearly not good enough. Make way make way, Jowitt, Hirst and Kirmond (surely not worth being on the books anymore) surely leaves a fairly large sum to sign an established Fullback with more than a few year left AND put a little bit of $$$ back in the bank.

Business isn’t difficult.

"Business isn’t difficult"





Do you think they would all just walk out of there contracts with nothing? You are ridiculous.

No, I don’t think. I know they would.

Troll.

Listen it’s clear that I’ve looked further into this than you have so enough of the name calling or I’ll tell your teacher than you’re using school property to post on here.

Not sure what those other 3 players have to do in comparison with Jowitt as there not full backs, but as second choice full back Max will have to as William Shakespeare once said suck it up till he gets the chance to shine and show what he's been taught by the coaching staff, and I'm sure that Chester will give him more and more opportunities as the season progresses if as you say Grix retires.

As for your knee jerk reaction, both players are under contract and would cost money to release them, so your spending money on nothing just to release 2 players who you don't fancy to be replaced by who exactly? won't be an import because we've no room or money for one, all the other home grown decent full backs will be tied down, so if your plan comes to fruition we'll be getting a reserve full back from another club who may or may not be as good as the one you want rid of, lets not even think about replacing the prop as the first part of your plan is too silly to laugh about, that's only my opinion like.

There used to be a poster on here called trinity18, now he did ooze class on this forum.

Hahahahaha class banter as per

And look what happened to him last time he and Homme Vaste decided to have a bit of banter.
Stick to PM if you want to chat after school.

Agree. The fact the dude thinks Jowitt and Hirst's would walk away from new contracts is frankly crazy and then to add he thinks their wages together would pay for say Mamo is highly debatable. Also if we got 'rid' of Hirst we'd need another Prop because have we've seen, they get regularly injured and you don't just get rid without bringing another in. Especially not when we've got 3 FB's at the club already.

It's a good job the bosses at the club pay no attention to people on the forum who don't seem to know the slightest about contracts and developing players, isn't it?

I'll tell you what jowitt is a bone of contention. As I've said before you either see something in him or you don't. people who don't have already wrote pages & pages about the way he plays. People who like him just say he's learning his craft give him some time. Just suppose he's the same in three years time what do we do then try & sell him or do we try to give him away having wasted three years of paying him wages & trying to teach him how to be a good FB. FACT some players just don't make the grade. To a hell of a lot of people he's not going to. but youv'e got to come up with a better excuse than "He's only young"

From what I've read, they're about 2 or 3 people on here that feel that way. Where you get a hell of a lot from, especially compared to the fan base I don't know, even if you add all those that are critical at games and on Facebook. Pure hyperbole.

Over the years we've had the lines of 'we never play the youngsters and give them a few years to learn their game like other sides like Wigan and Leeds' or we have those that want them out after a few poor games if they're lucky, sometimes even less.

IF after 3 years your opinion comes true, he doesn't get a new co0ntract and we move on, simples. By then we'll have no doubt gone about giving Hooley plenty of games or another Academy product or brought a new player in.

FACT is I never said he's young and just learning his game, which tbf is a fair assessment at 21, in what is one of the hardest positions to master. You only have to look at Grix, when he was with us first time he was older than Max and was a utility player, he didn't become a decent FB till he got game time at Hudds over a few years and he improved as he got older.

I brought up the FACT that you think you can just basically sack whoever you want when they have a contract, like it's that easy, or the Club even wants to when they've only been signed this year. As I've said I'll leave the signings etc to those that see them each day and know how much they're worth etc, it's working out pretty well so far the past couple of years, seen as we have the least amount of money of any Club.

Is there not also the chance he could become a great full back in 3 years and does make the grade? It works both ways does it not.

As for the discussion. A resounding no on Hooley. He is far from ready yet imo.

Max had a string of games where he put in some good performances at full back. Linked up decent, his one on one def for which I was critical previous years seems to have improved a fair bit to be of the required standard and he is safe as houses under the high ball. Excusing the bit of a clanger or two he made vs cas but he’s put in some good performances this year and earned himself a deal and rightly so too. He’s a good young prospect. Do I think he’ll be a star? Prob not no. But I can see him being a good standard fullback and he’s halfway there already imo.

People getting on his back need to get a grip. Maybe watch a few of the games he’s played this year again.

i think it's more than 2 or 3 people Shifty Cat there's pages & pages about this subject on here I'm all for letting the young ones play but there has to come a time when you just can' risk it Super League is getting harder by the year & if they are just not quite there all the time the team suffers. I never said that you Fact He is young & learning the game, A lot have said it on here. But whatever happens it's no good arguing over this just to try & outdo each other we have him for 3 years like it or not

No he's right it is just a couple of pieces, I'm afraid the prevailing opinion is very much NOT with you on this one.