agreed 100% schunter. Even the most ardent kear out fans must surely find that hard to disagree with.

Totally agree - I'll join in you that applause, without question.

You are wrong on the money front mostly. We are not talking about who picks the team either, I am talking about the conjecture as to reasons as to why or why not he may be leaving. Some clubs are run very professionally and some are not. I do not question your opinion on potential, ability or much else simply with your reasoning which I think is way off the mark and insulting. Apathy and professionalism are dissapointing to say the least.

John Kear is definitely having no input into recruitment or retention of players that is true however that doesn't exonerate him from being partially to blame for Ben Gledhills lack of development and rumoured departure.

I'll state right now that I don't know why Bens leaving, I merely want to point out that there are many ways in which different people could have contributed to his departure and thus could be to blame.

Since his promising debut against HKR it's been evident that there was great potential in Ben, what he needed was a development programme that included a greater game based knowledge, specificity coaching as a front rower, nutritional advice and most importantly a conditioning programme that would add 18 to 20 pounds of lean muscle to his frame.

The first thing we do not know is whether JK identified what was required, secondly did JK instruct his back room team of Paul Broadbent & Colin Sanctuary to formulate and deliver the relevant programme and if so did Ben Gledhill commit to and follow it.

If JK failed to do his part of this then yes he is at fault for Bens lack of progress and departure.

If he did identify the above and order the required development programme and Paul Broadbent alongside Colin Sanctuary failed to make it happen then the fault still lies with JK for not intervening, finding out why and ensuring it was done.

If the back room team are incapable of devising and delivering such an individualised programme (highly unlikely) then the fault still lies with JK because he assembled his team and is ultimately responsible for their failings.

If the development programme was put in place and Ben failed to physiologically respond to the programme (unlikely) this would be identified very early and the programme should be reassessed and adjusted accordingly. If this didn't happen then the fault lies with PB & CS and therefore ultimately with JK.

The only scenario where JK bares no responsibility is if Ben Gledhill refused to undertake such a development programme or wouldn't sufficiently commit to it. If that were the case then Why would JK continue to pick him for 1st team duties.

JK cannot be exonerated just because he offered Ben Gledhill more opportunities at 1st team level. There is a responsibility with the coaching team to do what's best for the individuals under their guidance, a duty of care. Young men, athletes place their trust in the coaching team and will for the most part follow their instruction with blind faith.

With hindsight players may reflect on their development and be unsatisfied with the advice they've been given and may choose to leave their club in search of something they feel would be more beneficial to them and their careers. That is their choice but on the path to that choice they are influenced by the advice and development they've received along the way.

For that reason the coaching staff may well bear some blame for the loss of that player!

you got a lot of that right mate for sure john has nothing to do with the players being brought in or retained. if jimmy even bothered to turn up for the meeting with ben gledhill, that might have been a good start. other young players , one of which you have mentioned may also be on their way. can't see the point in jimmy picking and choosing players when we will have a new coach next week. ( on the last 2 applicants i am reliably informed). jimmy is no where near coaching material, especially if he is thinking of bringing ewan dowes in when we let even better players than him go.at tha moment we have some fantastic youth players and some great squad players. we should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. as for john, best of luck with your new job, i am sure you will do better than whats being done now

I am sure the truth of the whole Gledhill saga will come out soon enough and people are probably keeping quiet until it is all sorted once and for all.

One thing I do know is in the past alot of the youth were restricted to 1st team games due to bonuses that were agreed in their contract for number of appearances etc. For example £5000 bonus for making 10 first team games and so on.

Nothing new in that, it's been happening since time immemorial and has always been wrong.

I know of good junior prospects who's registration has been cancelled and the player released effectively ending their chances of making the grade purely because they were close to a birthday that triggered a contract payment

Not so sure whether it still goes on as much nowadays though. I'd heard of Ted doing it in the past, but not so much the recent past

I have a much more simple view of the situation. And that is that Ben Gledhill is not good enough to be a Super League prop forward.

Yeah, well thanks for that....


At 22 he's too young to be written off, IMO.

Even this year Ben has the balls and is not frightened to take the ball up with gusto against anyone. The problem is he has not gained any more physical presence or strength on the field which he needed. Why havent the coaching team developed this?

Not saying I was a good junior prospect but that was exactly how I left Wakefield in 1982? when the then Chairman John Scaife called me into the treatment room at 9.30pm, 2 and half hours before my birthday to tell me that they were cancelling my contract as they could not afford to pay me!
Back to the subject!

My opinion is that at 22 he is still too far from the required standard. I'd like to see him have a go in the second row. But if he is to leave, I don't think he will be the major loss that others do.

He's actually very close to the required standard and could quickly be improved if he does the right things and gets the correct help.

He has three things in particular that can't be coached, pride in the shirt, natural enthusiasm and an abundance of courage, not bad building blocks for a player of his age and physical frame.

Maybe he'll kick on and realise his potential elsewhere maybe he won't but if he leaves he will certainly be a missed opportunity for Wakefield Trinity to have developed a local product into a solid Super League player.

It wasn't just that. Apparently you were way too fat and stumpy and had a poor attitude. Also you had butterfingers. Other than that you were OK but not quite up to standard, it was nothing to do with your contract that was just an excuse. Apparently...

Confirmed deal now on Reds' site.

www.reds.co.uk/rugby-news/reds-s ... t-gledhill

www.reds.co.uk/rugby-news/reds-s ... t-gledhill

One clubs nearly man is always another clubs hot prospect.

I can understand the comments about Gledhill and I'm not going to add my opinion because I bow to your better judgement actually watching him .
All I can say is we seem quite adept in picking up fringe ( ie cheap ) SL squad players and making something of them ,
Jodie Broughton let go by both Leeds & Hull , but has found his feet somewhat with the Reds
Danny Williams ,( ex Leeds) not wanted by Hull Kr on his return from RU , 5 tries in 4 games and looks a prospect.
Salford must see something in the lad they can exploit/ improve ,
Sometimes it just comes down to a fresh start / new club or new coach.

From what your manager has said mare he seems to know exactly what he needs to excell with u. Kear never seemed to want to play ben untill it was too late. Hope he goes well for you guys except against us of course!

Opinion is divided here about his potential - some feel he's already reached it and won't kick on, others feel that he's been badly used by Mr Kear and has more to give.

Either way, I don't think you'll find any proper WTW fans wishing Ben anything but the best of luck with this move; he's a decent, articulate and intelligent young man, with a great attitude to the game.