Hey, it's only opinions. And mine is no more valid than anyone else's.
Vasty - you have a good analysis of how he's been in his game. Never quite SL class and too good for the league below! He had guile, creativity, pace etc.
He's turned 30 now and a lot of his youthfulness is now behind him. This is a competitive league and I think there are some clever half backs at this level. You may hhave seen 3 on telly last night! Whether JR is of the class of kainy, Finn (last years championship player of the year) Handforth (who can drop a 50m kick on a tanner) Ben Black, Grimmer at Hunslet (my fav no6 in the league) Thacks at Yorks and Leigh's No6 - well again, that's down to how you assess the game and your own personal favourite style from a half back.
I guess what I'm saying is, he's a very likeable soul, but in my opinion, can't match those I've listed above - tho he was once probably as good or better than all of them!

Whats happened to Ned??

Catic is a bit of a loose cannon

always has been!
Much has been said of Ben Cockayne. But I'd sooner 'manage' Ben's off field stuff as he's bustin on the pitch!
Catic is a liability on AND off the pitch!

Neds a decent player, can't comment about his off field though that dodgy pony tail did make him look like a Carny!

However no way is he as nasty a piece of work as Cockayne.

To be fair a lot of players are muppets off the pitch after a beer or 2, most young rugby players are, I actually think it is part of the character that makes them talented rugby players, they enjoy the limelight and are extrovert gregarious characters. Obviously this is a generalisation, but whilst some do sail pretty close to the line off the field time and time again, certain players like Ben seem to thrive long jumping over it.

Catic has served 2 bans this year I believe, the last being a 4 match stretch for chelping back at a drugs testing official!!
On the pitch he's a penalty machine and is one of the most carded and penalised players in the competition. An absolute liability ON the pitch, which is the point I was making! Whereas Ben, simply isn't!!

Off the field, Ned is no angel. I don't know his forensic history but I don't believe it's as severe as Ben's - that I acknowledge!

The thing with Cockayne is that on the field he does the business it is off the field where his problems begin whereas with Ned it is both on and off the field where he has problems.

I hate it when people post, i know a tale posts on here but dont say fully what it is but im gonna join them. Heard a tale just after Rooney left involving Kear and if true, lets just say im not suprised Rooney left and would not come back until Kear has gone.

The now much maligned John Kear once said that to a group of us. He said the best Rugby players are often not people yoo'd want as friends or to employ in any other capacity.

Dead centre owd cock!!

It's also a case of who you hear the story from and who you choose to believe. Kears version will be very different, I know who I'd believe on these ones and it's very rarely the player.

Totally agree vasty. The bloke who told me i wouldnt usually believe, but i know he is also related to Rooney in a round about way, so gave some credibillity to the tale.

Is this the swimming pool and the horse incident?

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that!

Though I don't know Ben, all the lads at Fev are cracking lads. Good lads you'd be happy to be mates with.

However, there are times we've missed a right nasty sod in our side when the opposition has tried to bully us!

No havent heard that one. Its a bit more personal involving the two. And thats as much as i dare say before the thought police come and get me.

I know enough to know that I wouldn't want to see him in my clubs colours, regardless of what he can produce on the field.

It's a certainty that many young rugby league players are big daft lads - they're mens men who like a beer and a laugh and a bit of boisterous tomfoolery; fair enough - with good advice and someone looking after their interests, that's usually ok and they'll eventually grow out of it.

Cockayne is a different animal altogether - sooner or later he'll let Fev down, guaranteed.

On semi final day no less...

did you know what do you know.

Can't say whether true or not on any of these stories but a bad story about your boss [uafter[/u you are sacked (or not offered new contract) doesn't have a lot of credibility.

Fair do's like, but as he's only here for a few weeks there's not going to be too many more opportunities for him to do so! I see it as a win/win. If he divvies up on the pitch - happy days!!
If he screws up of the pitch- he goes - immediately. I don't see an issue with that!

nuff said no doubt the moderators will be twitching now.

aye! We've done the JR thing enough I think now Wild one!!

It's called a 'parting shot' and seems to be the standard operating procedure thesedays when people leave a job; really gets my goat.

Despite my well documented connections with the old regime no one ever explained that one to me. You couldn't be a love and PM me what you know could you?