Credit to this young lad. He's come into this squad and always put as shift in. Doesn't seem the biggest and will definitely fill out with age but he's got alot of heart and aggression. He's very deceptive i attack and isn't scared of the dorty work.

Going under the radar a little which I think is helping him but he's certainly in with a shout of young player of the year from what I've seen.

Anyone watch him in the academy? Was he a massive stand out or more of a coaches dream with his attitude, engine and work rate?

I think we got him from the Widnes Academy in 2021. He has always played BR, represented Yorkshire Academy in all three games in 2022 and captained our Academy side in 2023 if I remember correctly. Played 16 games, scored 8 tries. He is a hard worker, does a lot of tackling and like Nicholson he backs up play and kicks, so he is always sniffing for a try. But yes, he is not very big is he ? I will be interested to see what the conditioning / coaches do with him in the pre season. I will be amazed if he isn't a regular in 2025.

Interesting time now. The club have said they want to back youth - will they have the confidence to back Hayes & Holroyd as first choice starters or will they revert to type and spend to bring people in?

Or is it better for their development to have another couple of years as understudy before taking on the reigns?

Like the look of Holroyd though, hits hard and defends well, has a few penalties in him but that’s not always a bad thing if it can be controlled.

I would have zero problem as is with him getting nicholsons spot next year
Just to say as well, it's kinda night and day compared to longstaffs rep 3 years ago

With the story of a new half back coming in to replace Drinkwater it looks like Hayes may not yet be 1st choice, but I would say in his case that’s not such a bad thing right now.

Yeah i agree with Hayes, being an understudy to another experienced half at such a young age can only be a positive, he's got another 12+ years of playing ahead of him
Holroyd i think is a great kid with tons of heart and a big engine on him. Hits at 100mph, tackles any player of any size as hard as he can, i would have no issue with him slotting in to second row once Nicholson leaves.
He will 100% fill out over time, look at Danny Walker, skinny when we signed him but he's packed some size on and gets better every year

Together with Ben Currie, Holroyd put in the most tackles against Saints on Friday night.

Holroyd never fails to impress me. We have some very good prospects at the club & i love to see the enthusiasm among them.

He does give away some costly penalties though.

No he is not first choice, he wasn't really this year. I wish him well but I think he still has a lot to prove when he returns from injury.