Steady on. Know lots of old farts who have run their blood to water & several young 'uns who have so much to learn & have no influence on a game. It is not quite as clear cut as it seems. Picking out the good youngsters is the key ... not just picking youngsters.

Well Mr Burgess is a big fan of Crowther so you can see that out and out effort is going to be rewarded.

“Well Mr Burgess is a big fan of Crowther so you can see that out and out effort is going to be rewarded.”

And that’s why he was so keen to sign Powell apparently.

I don’t like squad numbers as it displays seniority with the first 13, giving them a sense untouchability, like Drinkwater 7.
I can see with the post on here that you think that too.

Go back to earn the shirt, or if squad numbers are mandatory, then award alphabetically.

Change my name to Josh Aardvark then

Or it’s a target on your back for up and coming players to aim for. The problem for young players is often that they don’t get a natural run of games so when they get an opportunity they have to really seize it.

Yes it's not easy to force yourself in when you haven't trained so much in that position & and the standard of defences is so different at Super League level than at Academy
or Reserve level.

The NRL never used to use squad numbers (not sure if thats still the case)
I remember watching games and the 1-17 was accurate to whoever was picked in those position. If Brad Fittler was playing 13 that day he wore 13 not 6. I like to know what positions theyre playing based on the number. However i understand having squad numbers is money driven and is extra revenue for the club.
As for the drinkwater example. i believe no player should be untouchable and a younger player should want to aim for the no 7 shirt regardless of whether another player has their name on the back.

Been a bit of talk of Hayes not being big enough. Not sure about this as Saints did there very best to trample all over him when they battered us for a full 40 minutes and I thought he stood up superbly in defence - won't get many bigger tests than that.

NRL still don't use squad numbers.