How so?

Hetherington has put the press release out to show fans it was Walkers decision when another club announces him. A master stroke. Let's just think about it for a minute. A 17 year old who has played 6 professional games wants guarantees that he will be the first choice full back for Leeds Rhinos. Who does he think he is? Get rid.

Comments of 'f#$k him', and that he'll be a hate figure, unless i missed the point that you opposed those sentiments.

Ive read this kind of position from the club before, I'm racking my brain to think who?

But this is very GH. Some of us support the guy so don't.

But your reaction seems like you expected something different? From the position you promote on the forum I would think you would expect it. I'm not shocked or surprised by GH's press release.

None more so than the poster above you. Like I said, if you are happy for a player to leave that is opinion, and opinion anyone is entitled to. But the clubs handling is so unprofessional, and that is not debatable. The offer made to Jack in last week is three times the original offer made. Yet again highlights how unprofessional we have been, why not make that at the start?

To answer printer on considering his options. I have said this for weeks, he can not have other clubs put offers to him personally until August. Leeds know that, the player knows that, his agent knows that. But clubs can put offers to his agent, just nothing can move until August, and hence Leeds trying to do a deal before.

Stupid thing is, if anybody on here and I mean anybody, was asked who do you think the best fullback at the club is right now, we all know the answer. So all the club had to do was simply say to the player the shirt is yours to lose, but if you don't perform you lose it. Simple and quite easy to handle, job done, and another signed up. Unless they have plans to bring in a new fullback.

The club needs to have a long hard look internally at itself. Jack Walker has not demanded he be starting full back and not demanded the number 1 shirt as is being said.

He is saying that he believes his best position is full back and is asking to be developed as a full back. Asking for individual full back skills training.

My God if i was a coach or CEO and a talented 17 yr old asked me that i would be thrilled at that prospect of challenging and helping the kid to become the best he can be. He is clearly ambititious, driven and focussed on his career

This lad is a Leeds lad, a super talented x factor type player and its a very sad day that he feels his development best served elsewhere.

Leeds need to be asking why he feels that way. Why other clubs have made him feel more welcome than we have.

I have nothing but respect for Walker, ive watched him come thru academy and ive seen the talent on show. Leeds announcement today was poor, callous and petulant as it was when Segeyaro wanted out and it shows the club in a bad light. Hope Leeds ask why this has happened. The answer doesnt lie at the players door.

We are coming into a time where the talented kids we have and theres a few will have to make decisions on there future and the club cant allow things like today and with Morgan Smith to keep on happening.

I thought he had much more about him than that, and have always held him much higher. An established player, yes I could understand, but bullying a young kid is not Hetheringtons normal tactic at all.

The bit about the family in the statement too, how low. They know the issue there, yet make it sound something different.

great post marty

spot on.

First point, I think if a 17 year old kid with 6 games under his belt doesn't want to be at the club then he shouldn't be given a start regardless of talent.

Second point, I'm not gonna hate on a young kid who is the same ages as my oldest child. He is a bloody child, with pi$$ poor and naive people around him, that is obvious. He will cop it from Leeds fans that is a given. The better he is the more $hit he will cop.

That's what I said.

What do you expect him to do? Would you rather the club said nothing until inevitably in a few months time he is announced as signing for Wire or Leigh?

No problem with the club being transparent, if they offered a contract and it was rejected for none monetary reasons then why shouldnt the club make a press release?
Im sure you and Sal would have been first to criticise the club if they said nothing and Walker left under a cloud of unanswered questions

As for skills development you have to say that the Leeds coaching staff has massively improved Hardaker and Goldings defensive fullback play in recent years and burrow is probably going to be a skills coach next year

I think the original point being made was that it was rather hypocritical of you to say Hardaker acts like a child shortly after posting:

[uBut Fu*k him. Should not be allowed to wear the shirt.[/u

which seems a rather childish reaction to a 17 year old boy who may have made a career decision with which you disagree.

but hardaker is twice the player in attack since leaving. works both ways

Massively disappointing news, irrespective of who is to blame.

I've never been of the opinion of rushing Walker into the team in fact I've been one of the people to say let's be patience with him.



Why is the offer higher now than previous? Because he's made appearances and played well. The same with any player, the play well for the first team and it'll be reflected in their wages.

As for considering his options, he's know Leeds', if he isn't going to accept it then tell them and let them move on. They've got a club to run and can't wait around for a 17 year old to twiddle his thumbs.

And no at this stage of his career 6 games in he shouldn't be getting told the shirt is his to lose. Should tell him to go out and fight for it. They won't have promised him the FB shirt but they won't have done the same for Golding either. He shouldn't be worrying about someone else's length of contract if he backs himself, let's not make out that Golding has an iron grip on the number 1 shirt.....he was the one that got shunted to the wing against Hull when Walker came in let's remember.

This is a guy we have dubbed Darth Hetherington.

Walker makes a point of stating that Golding is two years older than him and has recently signed a long term deal.
Two choices, Jack. 1) Compete with Ashton for the shirt. 2) Leave.
Well done Garry Hetherington

Precisely, and that's the thing that sports fans forget, it's a career for the player. Whether he's seen to have made the right or wrong choice, any vitriol is unnecessary. The circumstances are never quite as black and white as a press release either.

How many 17 year olds have made several first team appearances which have got the fans talking with a contract offer up in the air surrounding them with people constantly asking what's happening and if he's going to sign?

It's been one of the major talking points at the club for a few months now, which doesn't happen with other 17 year olds.

Well that's your opinion you are welcome to it.

Boy likes rugby, boy plays rugby, club see boy, club recruit boy, club develop boy, boy gets agent, agent touts boy, boy likes money, boy gets offered more money elsewhere, boy makes move based on money, boy is bad liar, boy sums up modern game.

correct.....
replace the word "Boy" with "Iestyn Harris" and you're bang on....

Hardaker is having another meltdown on twitter. When the going gets tough, jump ship. I'm so glad he's out of our club.

The chances are that if he'd stayed it would have been golding moved onto the wing and then possibly elsewhere and walker would have been number 1.

I trust the club, they've got more of these right than wrong over the years. Some people are so inclined to criticise the club at every opportunity.

He's a 17 year old pipsqueek with a handful of appearences, he gets guarantees over nothing. If our senior players can't talk him round then he's lost, nothing GH can do. He'll go to a club that give him a bigger contract and promise him the world.

Good luck to him.