Melling is one of our best backs, he will probably be given the full back role to begin with. But Ben Jones Bishop will easily secure a wing spot, with the other place probably going to Will Sharp.

Our backs are fairly (actually very!) weak. Jon Wells for example made 18 appearances last year (or 1440 minutes of rugby) and didn't score a single try. O'Callaghan and May are both promising, but also inexperienced. Jamie O'Callaghan only really started playing the game in his late teens. Clubb gets shifted around between the back row, centre and wing, the only real dependable player is David Howell.

[uFullback (2)[/u
=darkblueJones-Bishop, Ben; =red2010 Loan ([url=http://www.league.quins.co.uk/news/10542.phploan from Leeds Rhinos[/url)
Melling, Chris; =red2011

[uWing (3)[/u
O'Callaghan, Jamie
Sharp, Will; =red2010
Wells, Jon; =red2010

[uCentre (3)[/u
Clubb, Tony; =red2010 + 2011 option
Howell, David; =red2011 (=greenoverseas quota)
May, Luke; =red2010

We recall him.

just checked the club site beside BJB dane manering is on loan to feathersone for the year and Simon Worrall has signed a 1 year extension but going to spend in the south of france with Toulose

Out of contract November 2010:

Brian McClennan

Carl Ablett
Ryan Bailey
Danny Buderus
Matt Diskin
Scott Donald
Ali Lauitiiti
Keith Senior
Simon Worrall? (If he's extended his 2009 expiring deal)

Keep Carl Ablett, Ryan Bailey, Matt Diskin, and fingers crossed Ali Lauitiiti for one more season.

Keith Senior, Danny Buderus to retire.
Scott Donald to return to Aus.

thats a bit of a step down for the lad.

GF 18th man to Championship player in one short step.

its the format of the reserves academy next year, under 20, if they don't get play first 13 they don't play at all?

no room for sentiment and all that. don't agree with extending his deal 1 more year tbh, does little good for all parties.

I reckon Ali's got more than one season left in him.

If we can get Senior to stay on the cheap I'd keep him for another year. His age and retiring from internationals will weaken his negotiating position.

If Donald goes who do we replace him with?

Unconvinced by putting a novice like Broughton in as our first choice SL winger.

broughton got loads of experience last year, and will no doubt get plenty more this coming year. by the time that renewals are being offered, the club should have seen enough of him to make a decision

Who is Leeds' current left winger, where did he come from and is he up to the job?

Broughton would've been my choice to replace Donald in 2010 but Leeds decided to retain Donald for a further year and (for the first time that I can recall) exceed the limit on overseas trained players.

If Broughton does end up elsewhere as a consequence that will be a pity, IMO.

They also need to start giving Watkins gametime next year if he is expected to be the replacement for Senior.

Kallum Watkins & Paul McShane must be in for a bit of game time this season if Brian McClennan has chose not to loan those two out...

I'd hope so but Watkins (and McShane I think) will both bew elligible for the revamped academy team which the others are not as far as I understand it.

It's a fair point, but the odd time Hall stepped in to the first team in 08 he looked fairly decent I thought.

Admittedly I've not seen as much of Broughton but from what I have seen he doesn't seem all that great.

I haven't seen that much either but when I have I've been impressed by his speed and footwork. The rest like all young players probably needs work but no surprises there and the same can very much be said of his centre partner.

He should already have an understanding with Watkins though from their Academy days together which could prove useful to both stepping up.

Wouldn't the player that this thread started about be the obvious candidate?

I wasn't impressed with his speed when that young whippersnapper Sinfield rounded him at Hull.

The correct career progression for Broughton would be to do what Ryan Hall did in 2007/2008. Expect better players ahead of you to be selected but take your opportunities when given them with a view to establishing yourself as first choice in 2011.

Needs to be played at FB in my opinion.

In place of Webb?

I'm hoping BJB will have a good year darn sarf and then come back to be our first choice wing/backup FB in 2011...IIRC correctly Webb's contract may then be up and BJB (if he's proved upto it) should be in with a a shout for first choice FB in 2012

I do enjoy all this speculation about who will be where and doing what in 2012.



Who is to say that Jones-Bishop won't find playing in SL under Brian McDermott so much fun that he wants to do it full time rather than return to Leeds after his loan spell?

Or that by the time Brent Webb's contract is up there won't be some whippersnapper out of the next generation of scholarship kids ready to step up to first team level?

I can see him going out on loan the season after next too, giving him two years SL experience to come back in and replace an off contract Webb.

Very true - I got somewhat sidetracked but my underlying point was that we don't really need to worry about who replaces Donald in 2010

He'll be 22 next year - if he's not good enough for Leeds at that point I suspect it'll be time to move on and make room for the next "next big thing"

I think backs and forwards differ in this respect. With a back IMO it's easier to tell at an early age whether they are going to have what it takes to cut the mustard at a top club. If they aren't kicking down the door demanding selection with their ability by the time they get to 22-23 then it's not going to happen.

Forwards however need time to mature physically. You need only look at Jamie Peacock for evidence that a forward who isn't playing regularly at 21-22 can still go on and have a successful career in the game.