I would say his defence was his main issue but he also needs to get himself more involved in attack.He often last season looked off the pace that could be be down to playing one week then missing five.As i said earlier playing each week should improve his all round game.

It really is one of the most interesting seasons in prospect next year.

Myler. Dwyer, Martin, Gale, Mellor, Sutcliffe, Austin, Briscoe all with a point to prove.

Johnson, Broadbent, Gannon, Holroyd I’m confident will be better next season.

O’Connor, Muizz, Walters, Edwards, Tindall all pushing for a place around first grade.

Bentley will want to have a big year and hopefully so will Fusitu’a.

Competition for places hasn’t been this hot for a very long time. With a new voice around the place for pre-season it’ll be interesting to see how the players dig in.

Totally agree. Just got round to renewing my season ticket and can honestly say I haven't looked forward to season so much for at least a dozen years.

I'm still not sure whether we'll be "summit" material next year, but we're certainly climbing up the mountain at the moment.

The thing for me is to see a (young) Leeds side who plays with some confidence and flair again. We shouldn't be over-confident that just getting some key players back from injury will make all the difference, clearly we were significantly behind Saints in those benchmark games. We'll need a few stars to line up in our favour, but at least we can see the potential now if it clicks.

Not so bothered about winning it, just think we are going to take a leap forward next year. Should see some great rugby, which is the main thing.

Everything seems to be pointing towards it. At Fev, for instance, having run with a squad of around 30 last year, we have let four or five fringe youngsters who got the odd game for us last year leave and look set to run with a much smaller squad as things stand, which probably tells a tale.

On his podcast last night with Mick Gledhill, agent Craig Harrison seemed to be suggesting that as well as maybe three Leeds players heading to Fev there might be some going to Bradford and York too, it sounded like he meant from Leeds for all three unless I misheard. York certainly seem to be running with a smaller squad this year too.

Whether these will be DR or loan remains to be seen. My guess is that looking at Fev's current squad, which is a bit short of middles, Mustapha and O'Connor could be two of the ones earmarked for Fev, maybe Broadbent on occasions if not making the Leeds 17 as we only have 2 centres signed currently, presumably Johnson for York.

Walters would be another possibility at Fev in theory but with Ferres and Hellewell already signed and rumours linking us with Jesse Sene-Lefao opportunities might be limited, perhaps Brafiord is more likely.

Cheers. Have to say Fev wouldnt be my preferred option for our youngsters to Dual Reg with this season now.

Can't see Broadbent going anywhere on DR, established first team player now.

O'connor would probably come back as a burnt out prop

Jack Broadbent probably would too lol.

You're probably right, but I saw a few people on the other thread suggesting Sutcliffe might start alongside Newman at centre which is why I mentioned him, and if that turns out to be correct then he presumably won't be on the bench and Leeds would rather he played Championship RL rather than reserves, no?

But...but...we've got a 4-time SL grand-final winning coach now!

Anyway, he can't be any more ruthless than Webster, remember the "In The Sheds" footage of him immediately taking off Tom Holroyd after he missed a tackle against Swinton?

Trust me hes more ruthless than Webster. "Fractured skull? Get back out there"

Would be surprised if Broadbent went on DR.

Tindall, Walters, O’Connor, Edwards maybe. Also perhaps Johnson.

Is there any rush to organise the DRs?

DR is week to week so could be anyone from the club that goes, if someone isn’t in the 17, given how it sounds the reserve grade is going to be, I’d prefer them going to Featherstone.

I would of loved a normal reserve competition and it be competitive.

Walker, Tindall, Edwards, Hall, Briscoe, Sinfield, Austin, Mustapha, Johnson, Thompson, Walters, Gannon, O’Connor.

There wouldn’t be many better than that, but as you say, likelihood is Tindall, Johnson, Mustapha, Walters, O’Connor go to Featherstone on DR.

L Sutcliffe not due to return straight away due to injury so may not be available, but with 30+ being available on day one, it’s great going.

My guess is that Sutcliffe, Sezer, Prior, Martin, Fusitua, Tetevano, Thompson will not be there on day one.

When does pre season start?

Ideally I'd like to see our players kept in the system, under the same coaches etc. - unless the player would benefit from a new environment. I could imagine Sam Walters benefitting from some some under Brian Mac in all honesty, as one example.

Even if we put a strong reserves side out and say they won their competition (not that it means much) - who cares? They're still in the systems and structures, building confidence and combinations. They just need regular games.

I think the issue is complicated due to SL clubs trying to offset salaries - listening to the Craig Harrison podcast this week. DR can work in some instances (didn't do Carl Ablett any harm) but on the whole it's messy. It also devalues the Championship a little bit if certain clubs get access to really talented SL players on short-term basis, it's not exactly sustainable club-building for them.

Issue is the standard of the reserve league makes it too easy for the likes of some, for eg Walters, O'Connor, Muizz. They will be throwing kids around to point where nobody benefits.

Corey did well in Championship with York last year, we cant expect him to develop at a lower standard


Dual Reg/loan has to be only option for some.

This is where maybe a combined governing body could put a structure in place which worked. Again with some attendance gates and streaming options the reserves league could at least subsidies the player’s wages so that DR might be less necessary.

Our first choice reserves side next year would be worth watching.

A reserve league has never made sense to me. IMO it just dilutes a shrinking player pool even further.
To me, the way forward is for SL clubs to manage their duel reg players better. According to Craig Harrison, a lot of coaches at SL clubs don't even watch their players who are on DR, or give them feedback on their performances. Which seems very counter productive to me.

First 13 could be :
Walker
Fusitu`a, Newman, Sutcliffe, Handley
Sezer, Gale
Oledzki, Leeming, Prior
Bentley, Martin
Smith
Subs Austin, Tetavano, Holroyd, Mellor

I`ve put Austin in there as cover for hooker and utility.

Reserve 13:
Myler
Briscoe, Broadbent, Edwards, Tindall
Sinfield, Johnson
Mustapha, Dwyer, Anderson
Gannon, Walters
?

Not sure who the other half would be so I put Johnson in there unless Myler played there and we add a FB.
Same goes for LF and subs as not too familiar with the Academy players.

There is no chance Leeds would play Myler, Dwyer or Briscoe in the reserves. If they doesnt play 1st grade they wont play.

Gatus will play in the reserves, AJ Wallace, Kai Morgan ahead of Sinfield as hes a year older and Jack will play 18s next year. Ive gone blank to who Anderson is?

Why wouldn't they? Wouldn't it be the right platform for easing players back from injury, giving players longer game time etc?

It wouldn't surprise me if Walker starts the season at full back for the reserves then wins back his 1st team full back position a few games in.

Because they didnt last time did they? It will be kids, Fev players and trialists. Possibility of Walker playing a game or 2 to ease back in but no way will Myler and co turn up at Stanningley to play against a kids team.


?

Classic case of self-fulfilling prophecy this isn't it? Clubs know or suspect other clubs won't populate their reserves side with quality, therefore they don't, and other clubs see that and so they don't - result: race to the bottom.

Our first choice reserves side would be at least Championship standard.

It sounds to me like these decisions are based more on cost-cutting than absolute player development. Then again, when you have a bolter like Holroyd or Gannon they come pretty much straight through to first grade. I guess we simply can't justify the cost of supporting all the players we would like to.

I do think this needs to be under constant review, it's hard enough identifying and developing new talent and we need to do everything we can to encourage it. Maybe less money spent on over-their-prime NRL players and more invested in grass roots - paying Academy lads a decent wage would be a start. Pie in the sky maybe.