I completely agree on Cook and have said the same. The fact he's being left out does suggest he might be leaving.

Although he's putting the youngsters in a little, 4 minutes at the end of the game isn't going to help anyone. Don't get me wrong, I understand why he didn't want to throw on a debut 17 year old when the game was so close today. However there are clear underperformers in that team that need to be shown they're not auto choices.

Use what's left of this season to hammer that in to those players and give the kids a chance. If one of them performs well, we have essentially a new player.

As well as Donaldson, Olbison, Whitehead, I'd like to see them try out Keiran Hyde at 6 with Jeffries at 7. Even if it's only for one or two games just to give him some experience and let Deacon know that his performances are not good enough to stay in the team.


Oh and before someone says "Hyde isn't good enough" or something to that effect, can he really be any worse than how players like Deacon and Sykes have been "performing"?

So would you prefer to see him thrown into the action against much bigger opposition whilst we're chasing the game? Whitehead got a much longer run out at Wire after his short debut and I'm sure Donaldson will get some more game time. But I've had this debate before..

Donaldson could have come on at stand off in place of Deacon who was doing nothing again.

It would have been interesting to see what minutes he would have got if we hadn't thrown away our lead at the start of the 2nd half. The coach has to strike a balance between making sure we get the result and giving the guy his chance. In both games where Whitehead and Donaldson made their debut the result was still in the balance. I'd like to have seen him on longer but I think the coach has to make a call on whether it is the right time during the game.

Ive seen this in the bulls and been called a troll for it when I've mentioned it and I can understand some of your reactions when it comes from a Leeds fan!! The term I used was "garbage" which would put a few noses out of joint and again it's my bad and can see why it didn't go down well!! When I see the bulls or listen to them on the radio!! I see a team that has massive issues all over the park and off it!! This is as weaker bulls team as I've ever seen.

Yes it didn't do Cas any harm with 18 year old Richard Owen in the side along with with 17 year old Jordan Thompson.

So shouldn't the fuhrer consider these things when selecting a team. Such as a) I'll only give him 4 mins so the other 16 can run their blood to water in hot conditions. or b) because we are such a good side we will have the match sewn up with 25 mins left and then I can put the youngster on.
If he's on the bench then he must contribute. If we want to give youngsters practice of sitting on a bench then send them to Wibsey park.

Shame about Cook, I really like the kid, he tries his heart out everytime he plays and often does some good stuff. It seems to me like Macca is wanting rid of everything that Nobby had a hand in, and Cookie was a Nobby signing.

Agree, 4 minutes isn't good enough for our young players to show what they can do, they can barley get into their stride in that time. Young James should have been brought on after Deacs got hit hard. It doesn't matter that they are rookies, the crowd doesn't expect miracles from them, so they showed be allowed to just go on and play. The experienced pro's are not coming up with the goods, so why not let a fearless youngster go on, and take his chance?

Yep, I'd love to see Hyde get a go aswell, we're clearly lacking something in the HB's positions, he might be able to provide that something we are short of.

Time to give the kids more gametime without question. Fans won't fancy paying to watch the same old stuff for the remainder of this season.

Has any other club had such a fall from grace as we have this season?

And if it was every week then I would agree. But it was a 17 year old against fully grown adults. He was never going to be utilised in the first half when the opposition are still fresh. He certainly won't learn anything from being knocked senseless.

I think it was a positive move giving the lad a taster of what it is all about in the first place.

And at what age do we let them get knocked senseless. How old was Sam? How old was Pryce? How old was Fielden?

Apparently not, it's good practice for them warm up in their kit, soak up the atmosphere, sit on the bench for 75 mins and then come on for a little run and a tackle.

It screams 'I haven't got the confidence in you and if I put you on it might cost us the game' to me.

But that's just my thoughts.

I don't think there is a set age, each player is different. But Donaldson is still a bit on the small side to be playing long stints of top flight RL in the pack.

Exactly. So why have him in the 17 and limit ourselves to 16 players on such a hot day.

17, 16, 18.

Getting knocked senseless is part and parcel of a junior player getting intergrated into the first team. God knows why people think getting roughed up and a few big hits is going to ruin a young mans career. All youngsters are targetted, and if they are good enough and tough enough they dust themselves off and go again.

The fans don't expect juniors to set the world alight, and if they make mistakes then so be it, they are learning and they will be better for it next time.

Youngsters in England are all to often wrapped up in cotton wool way to much instead of just letting them go on the field and play their game. A bit of exposure to to what is needed will do them no harm whatsoever.

Then play him at 6.

Although I do agree with what you're saying and I don't necessarily disagree with Donaldson not getting much game time today, there's nothing to lose now. If they don't play so well, oh well nevermind, we're not any worse off than we are now. If they do play well, we've got essentially a new player. We may be able to mathematically make the playoffs, but realistically, it ain't gonna happen. So let's salvage something else out of this season.

I expect McNamara was hoping we would dominate Cas more than we did do. If we had taken the effort and performance of the last 2 games into today then it would have been a much better environment to blood him into.

He obviously been playing well for the academy and the coach felt he should be rewarded. The other option would have been to pick Cook, but is there other reasons for him not doing this?

Well I'd play Sam at 6 if that meant BJ to 7 and Deacon out the team!

I made a much similar comment when Scruton was about to come back onto the field in the second half today. Something along the lines of "can he play in the halves?"

I'm not a fan of ball handling 13's but I realise that you have to have some skill in playing that position. Sam Burgess can't even handle the ball well enough at 13, god help us playing him at 6. It would be a disaster of epic proportions.

James Donaldson is supoosedly a ball handler, it should have been a chance to see him in one of his two best positions in 13 & 6.

I don't think he was suggesting Burgess would be a good 6. Just can we please god get Deacon off the pitch.

OK then.

Yeah, Deacs time is long gone.

Indeed!