Maybe a certain Gareth Carvell could do a job for us this year to take the load off JP and Kylie.

What I am suggesting is the club should be doing everything it can to enable the players to excel at what they are paid to do i.e. play rugby.

One of the major differences between SL and the NRL is the level of strength and fitness conditioning - perhaps more time here might help? I bet the youngsters at NRL clubs don't get away with 15 hours a week.

I agree re keeping kids away from the bookies etc but perhaps the club should work them harder than 15 hours a week. Maybe they should be educating them in specifics relating to their job i.e. media training, diet, dealing with sponsors, out in schools etc.

Finally regardless of how many hours a week it is the money is still 12k - and they will be doing more than 15 hours a week - most will be 6-8 on a match alone. Most will have to run a car, getting to a weights session at 5.30 on public transport could be a challenge, for an 18 year old sportsman the insurance will be sky high etc 12k is not a lot.

This is a rumor I heard at the weekend

Help the aging front row with an aging front rower. Classic.

I did wonder about Carvell given the situation at the Bulls, but as you point out, it hardly helps our long-term succession problem. Still, he's a quality prop with proven pedigree in SL, and should count as home-grown. Will be interesting to see if this materialises.

Last thing you should be doing with 16-18 year old kids is flog them in the gym or bulk them up too quickly. I'm happy to let the educated professionals in these matters set out fitness and strength programmes for the young players. Unless you know better, obviously?

I would take him for sure.JP aside,as it stands he is probably better than all our other options at prop and provides great impact from the bench.

Carvell would instantly be our second best prop, which says quite a lot about our current front-row options.

Serious question. Why is it that everyting that Leeds decides, and inparticular since McDermott came, it is accepted that this is the right way as the "professionals" have decided, even if it is different to other clubs? Are the other clubs not "professional"?

Not saying either is wrong, just asking why. As since McDermott came he does seem to do a lot of things different to other coaches.

Signing a older prop doesn't solve the problem it masks it and the issue will rear its head 12 months down the line.

Leeds need another prop. Moore's gone. Yates injured. Let's sign one who can bed in amongst the team.

Perhaps they could work on there ball skills, their speed etc or that also too much for 18 year old to take - as a competition we are well behind the skill levels and techniques used in the NRL. You maybe think McDermott knows it all - and you are entitled to that opinion - but don't feel at ease when criticising his substitution policy, his lack of creative attack etc. you cannot have it both ways.

Who brought McDermott into the discussion?

The strength and conditioning team - so highly regarded that one of them has just been poached to run his own department - will be involved in setting the gym programmes for young players. It's their judgement, backed up by professional expertise and qualifications that I trust.

There does seem to be a tendency on here for some posters to take any counterpoint to their own views that the club is doing everything wrong as somehow being based on blind faith and ignorance.

I disagree bloodbath. Carvell would do a job for this year as stated on the basis we only currently have one decent prop in the first team. That should give the likes of Yates time to recover and earn his place in the team. If you think what we have at front row will do anything this year then think again. Kylie and JP will be dead on their feet by June. We need some back up and IMO Carvell should be that man.

Practices that have changed since McDermotts arrival. I bet this highly regarded one does things differently at Salford.

Your last sentence is valid, but there is never acceptance of anything wrong. It's one camp or another is how it's portrayed.

Would carvell be happy with a 12 month deal at his age?

Leeds always like to hand out the 1 year extensions, so in reality I can't see the appointment of Carvell being a 12 month option.

Also why not bring Ali back, he could do a job for us.

Probably not but his options might be somewhat limited at such short notice, in so far as wealthier clubs may already be at the SC limit and others at the limit of what they can afford. No guarantees that the remaining few with cash (if any) would see an aging prop as a priority requirement either.

You might be right about Ali but I do think Carvell might go for a one year contract with a further one year option on both sides. All this depends if the Bulls need to offload of course. Again we do need someone and I would prefer someone younger but there's not much available out there. Maybe the guy México might be an option.

Apologies if I've missed the reasons but I'm surprised you guys didn't bring Amor back to the club given the way he appears to have developed.

Excited to see him at Saints next year. I reckon in Amor, Walmsley, LMS, Laffranchi, Masoe, Beaumont and Clough we have some really good talent and depth ino our props next year for once.

Most of us wanted Amor back at the start of last season FTV but the Coaching staff didn't seem to see it that way.

Seems a strange one, he would surely offer more than Kirke/Bailey (cue GF ring comments . . . . )

Did he have attitude/behavioural issues at your place perhaps?

Amor is a decent player, but he isn’t Shane Webcke. The difference between success and failure for Leeds next year wont be the difference between Kyle Amor and Bailey who will be the comparison. FWIW I think Amor might struggle to live up to expectations at Saints because he showed up well in a pretty poor Wakefield side, he is a decent player but his quality has been blown out of all proportion. It’s a bit like when we had the legions clamouring for Michael Korkidas on the back of some highlight reel displays for an atrocious Wakefield side, before stints at Salford, Cas and Hudds showed that being an average plodder would have been a huge improvement for him.

Im not saying Amor is that bad, he isn’t, he is a much better player than Korkidas, but being a much better player than Korkidas does not make you a success as a front line prop at a club like Saints.

With Amor he makes the dirty metres week in week out. Something lacking overall in our pack that we are in need of.
I fancy Amor to develop a bit further under Brown.

Don't think that was ever an issue. I never saw too much to be wildly excited about although equally I'd have been happy to see him retained. It's also worth bearing in mind that posters such as rhinoms will have seen far more of him than I have and rate him much more highly. I guess time will tell. One positive for you lot is that he did seem to hit the ground running when he landed at Wakey and perhaps he'll do the same again.

We'll sign Josh Perry and sit him in the stand. Worked for you guys.

Another player at Bradford who could be a candidate to be a decent prop forward in the future is Dale Ferguson. If we're going to pinch anyone he'd be my preference.