Both points spot on. It is a confusing management decision in my opinion.

That is not a slight on Delaney at all, just looking at the reality of the situation, from a salary cap point of view.

He's 28, been on the treatment table many times this year. Even when passed to play he has been putting his body on the line at not 100%. He already had another two years to run. Why the sudden rush to tie him up longer? Why not wait until next season and see if he is still struggling with injuries and this season is purely a one off? then you can offer him another deal.

Your other point on running grafters also correct. Where is our line breaking, offloading, pace to burn options?

Great news - a real 'blood and guts' performer. He's one of the few players in our team that turn up and play as thought their life depends on it, regardless of the opposition or the magnitude of the game. Although clearly he's not the most skilfull of players, he makes the absolute most of what talent/natural ability he does have and you can't ask for more from him.
He's run himself into the ground this season, has played injured and is paying the price for that now. He'll need a good off-season recovery.
I think the club have acted to tie him to a long term deal to stop the NRL clubs sniffing - he's exactly the sort of workhorse that would go wonders in the NRL. If he'd only had 2 years left, the NRL clubs would have been circling next year offering him big money - at least this way, it might put them off, and Delaney has now set his sights on being in England for another 5 years, if his contract was due up in 2 years, he'd be bound to consider returning home, particularly when he knows he could get a good deal back there. (I also think his little bromance with Bailey will have played a role in him staying)
On a seperate note, I believe he'd now qualify for England on residency - I wonder if Steve Mc will be enquiring about his availability?

His injuries this season have been unfortunate - unconnected injuries, one to each knee which have come in quick succession.

No reason to suspect he can't make a full recovery from both and offer more game time going forward.

Strong carry, strong defender - a good complement to the more skilfull back rowers like Ablett or Ward alongside the likes of JJB. Every team needs its workhorses.

Better news too on Keinhorst.

Shoulder does need an operation, but if rehab goes well he could be available during the playoffs.

zzzzzz



As already stated Delaney has proved to be a good signing with this work ethic and commitment, but this news hardly generates excitement.

I would still like to see Delaney as a starting front row prop; probably his next move after his last few appearances as "third prop". I predict he will also be a future captain, IF he manages to be around for longer than Sinfield and Peacock.

Delaney has possibly sacrificed some money for security. 2 more years at £100k, versus 5 more years at £75k.

Good news. Delaney has been a stand out performer since his move to the pack. His regular high tackle count, big metres and carries makes him the best bet to replace JP up front when the time comes.

Great player and fair play to him getting this deal.

He's a bit weird though.

Delaney is everything you want in a forward. Runs hard and often. He's the anti kirke.

As for backing off players because of injuries, I'm glad Gotcha wasn't negotaiting a deal with Watkins, what with his injury record.

Good player,someone we will need to carry us forward when jp and kylie move on.

Regards his injuries,i dont recall him having too many whilst at the club and its on recently he has started breaking down a bit.alot of that is due to him playing whilst not being fully fit of late.

Interesting. You go searching through 4 pages just to find a post of mine. Well it's not really.... predictable yes.

Why derail a thread about a 28 year old forward and try to compare to a 19 year old back? seems strange... although again predictable.

That actually made me lol.

So, responding to your comments is derailing the thread now is it? That's a new approach to fog knitting.

You made a point linking his injuries to his new contract. I countered the point. You have now derailed the thread by commenting not on the substance of my post but your strange ideas about why I posted it.

For the avoidance of doubt, it was a thread I posted on before you, a thread I was following, your comment was on the previous page and took no trawling to find and it was a comment I disagreed with and said so.

Don't flatter yourself, if I wanted to search out gibberish then, yes, I'd come looking for you, but I was just making a point relating to rugby.

You brought injuries in to it. G1 mentioned another player to suffer injuries. Seems legit to me.

Yes they say opposites attract,but his best mate is Bailey and he is not exactly a conformist either

Captain? He's turned into a cracking player, but captain???? The lad obviously has rocks in his head as well as on them and is very much infantry not general.

Interesting question who will be Leeds captain after Sinfield/Peacock/Burrow/McGuire/JJB gone. The only possible candidate of the Under-30s is Ablett, unless one of the old guard hangs on for long enough for Stevie Ward to be ready.

You countered no point. You don't even understand a point. You continued your childish petty gibberish.

For the avoidance of doubt, I commented that it was a strange decision to give a five year contract to a 28 year old forward, when he already had two years to run on his contract, and was spending a lot of time in the treatment room.

If you think countering that is trying to compare a 19 year old back then you need to get back to school.

Ward for me or even Sutcliffe could be a future captain.
To be fair IF we had retained Baldwinson and he'd lived up to his huge potential he'd have taken the reigns imo.
Interestingly IF its true about Sunley leaving i still think he'll make a decent Captain one day for whoever he ends up playing for.

Kylie and JP are proving that 35 is the new 30.I think Delaney's agent will have been weii involved in these negotiations here using the OZ interest to make Gary offer 5 years

Delaney certainly commands respect with his work ethic that all others should follow: I guess I prefer the kings of old who [i[uled[/u[/i their men into battle.

Ablett is not captain material IMO.

Great news that Delaney has agreed to a new and improved 5 year deal
I'd agree that he is the one most likely to step into JP's position in the front row long term when he eventually retires, He may even make the move to the front row before, I certainly believe that he could handle it just as well as when JP made the move from back rower to front rower

IMO Delaney is a workaholic who loves the hard tough stuff down the middle, but hasn't got the skill set required to keep him in our back row long term when we look at the younger players coming through

The club have ended up coming up trumps with Delaney big time with how he has progressed within our side, he certainly never looked like playing long term in the position that the club signed him initially to play

Not sure why people think Delaney doesn't have the skill set to be a fixture in the back row.

Assuming that Ward and Ablett are going to be the other two members of that back row going forward, then someone to do the grunt is exactly what the trio needs to give it some balance.

Ah it was about his age then rather than his injuries?



You see I understood that you were linking the decision to tie him up long term to whether or not he could get through a season without injuries. I thought it was salient to point out that Watkins has had many of his leeds seaons disrupted by injuries since breaking through and I think we will all be relieved that the club has tied him up.

By the way, Watkins is 22 and Delaney is 27. Watkins made his Leeds debut 2 years before Delaney.

HTH

Good to have him signed up. Monumental work rate and you need players with his kind of enthusiasm for the hard work.

Agree with those who think he may not be captain material. Just let him get on with doing what he does would be my take.

I also don't really see him as a prop. I think it's OK to have strong ball carriers in your 2nd row. It's a move a lot of back rowers make as they get a bit older, but I don't see it for Delaney. A lot of back-rowers stay as back-rowers too! Might be wrong.

People get caught up in defining players as a 'second rower' or 'prop'.

In what he does on the field, Delaney straddles both now anyway.