i suppose having a crap visa and told never to set foot in the uk again is another way to ruin your career

Played a team today and the Farnley Falcons team were on the touchline giving us some stick (we play them next week!)

The team confirmed Mark Calderwood is on their books, scored 12 tries in 3 games for them this year. Also confirmed he will play in our game next week.

I got injured today, which is a shame as, due to being a bulls fan, would love the chance to play against Mr Calderwood!!

A few other players come to mind that were hyped up a lot as juniors.

I remember a young Nathan McAvoy at Salford was talked about as a potential Paul Newlove class centre, he was a fantastic athlete for a teenager. Then a few years later a 17 year old Chev Walker got an England call up and I remember Ray French saying he was reminiscent of a young Mal Meninga.

A couple of other young Leeds players as well - Dean Lawford, what a superb kicking game he had. If Lawford had been in shape and fit enough to be an SL player he could have been a Lee Briers type player but he faded quickly. Graham Holroyd lasted longer than Lawford but he never delivered on the early promise he showed, he was talked of as a potential GB halfback.

In the early days of SL Karle Hammond seemed highly thought of and when he left Saints and played for London Broncos he carried their team, but then went to Widnes and Halifax and just disappeared.

And another, not exactly a total flop but one that peaked early, Daryl Cardiss, a young Cardiss was a great sight in full flight as a kick returner, but too many injuries meant that even at about 25 when he signed for Warrington he was on the way down.

Kevin started playing the game too late, by the time he joined our academy he was 17/18 so although he had the pace he lacked in many other areas. I just wonder how he could have been if he had started so much earlier.

All went downhill that 2nd season (2008) and he couldn't get his partnership with King going. Then once Tony came in (2009) he didn't want him.

This is the key point when people say all Penny needed was a good coach. Tony Smith is a good coach and he didn't rate him. Why did Wigan, Leeds or Saints not pick him up - with pace like that surely they could have turned him into a world beater?

Turned out for Keighley in a few games this season.

In one game at Workington, highlights of which are on that site that shall not be named, he managed to drop the ball whilst running with it with nobody anywhere near him.

The contrasting fortunes of Kevin Penny and Martin Offiah show how much the game has changed. All Offiah could do was run fast which led to him scoring loads of tries, people weren't bothered about the fact he couldn't defend for toffee and he didn't have to cope with being targetted with kicks cos teams didn't do that then.

If Offiah had come along now he wouldn't have got a look in at the top level...

But 7s has interest for a day, or a weekend perhaps twice a year in each country. 7s is rugby league for people who don't want to watch rugby league.

He has copped some flak has Penney but i can remember him scoring one of the best tries i have seen for a long time at Knowsley Road a couple of years ago in the Challenge Cup..Picked the ball up in his own 10 and run and body swerved in and out and beat all and sundry with sheer pace...Cracking Try