Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Fri Nov 21, 2014 8:16 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

I do wonder about the ability of coaches in such a specialist role. I generally don't think that good coaches have to be good players, but in the case of halfbacks I do wonder about someone who never played the game to any level coaching them, or a former prop. It'd be very interesting to see what Joey Johns does in his one-on-ones with halfbacks here in Aus, and almost definitely worth getting him over to spend time with junior halfbacks in England via a coaching clinic.

One other thing that strikes me is that whilst we talk about halfbacks being 'small' that's not necessarily the case - many are around or about average height. Aren't the best athletes of that kind of build (and sporting brain) far more likely to end up playing football? If you're 6 foot 3 and big built you'll end up in RU/RL, but isn't the competition for average sized/build kids a lot stronger?

I agree - not sure what McDermott or Anderson can offer a young half back - all the more reason why Leeds need an assistant or a specialist coach. It perhaps explains why Leeds lack any attacking creativity and focus is almost solely on defence - its what McDermott understands It does beg the question why has Singleton taken so long to develop?

Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:43 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

It does beg the question why has Singleton taken so long to develop?

opportunities or lack of them. Even when in the 17 he may not get off the bench for more than 10 mins if at all. Still, now some of the deadwood in the pack has been cut adrift that may help him and the other young forwards like Mulhern.

Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Fri Nov 21, 2014 1:06 pm  

G1 wrote:

opportunities or lack of them. Even when in the 17 he may not get off the bench for more than 10 mins if at all. Still, now some of the deadwood in the pack has been cut adrift that may help him and the other young forwards like Mulhern.

Hopefully that will be the case

Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Fri Nov 21, 2014 7:27 pm  

G1 wrote:

opportunities or lack of them. Even when in the 17 he may not get off the bench for more than 10 mins if at all. Still, now some of the deadwood in the pack has been cut adrift that may help him and the other young forwards like Mulhern.

I hope so too. As an aside, does anybody think that heatherington forced mcdermotts hand as the juniors were not getting the chances they needed in the first team?

Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Fri Nov 21, 2014 7:42 pm  

The Eagle wrote:

I hope so too. As an aside, does anybody think that heatherington forced mcdermotts hand as the juniors were not getting the chances they needed in the first team?

I don't actually think so, I think Baldwinson coming back and Walters emergence last year and the signing of Cuthbertson did for Kirke & Bailey.

As for the Singleton and other youngsters not getting a lot of game time, whilst there may be other factors at play I know the coaching staff, not just McDermott, are very concerned about the physical rigours of the game and the effect of that on young lads in the forwards. Members of the conditioning team regularly study the kind of effects RL has on the body. For instance things such as muscle mass and bone density. They both decrease significantly over a season and is something that is obviously of a concern to lads who are still growing. Not to mention that, obviously, not every lad is the same.

Personally I thought Singleton got about the right amount of game time last year, especially as a prop.

Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Sat Nov 22, 2014 12:48 pm  

Didn't Singleton play a part in 24 games last year, and has over 60 career appearances?

Not sure how long "lack of game time" can be used as an excuse for his stagnant development. Maybe he's just peaked?

Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Sun Nov 23, 2014 9:13 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Didn't Singleton play a part in 24 games last year, and has over 60 career appearances?

Not sure how long "lack of game time" can be used as an excuse for his stagnant development. Maybe he's just peaked?

Being in the 17 and having a minimal amount or no game time is something that happens very regularly for Leeds forwards not named Jamie Peacock.

Re: McNamara - Is it time for him to go? : Sun Nov 23, 2014 9:57 pm  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Didn't Singleton play a part in 24 games last year, and has over 60 career appearances?

Not sure how long "lack of game time" can be used as an excuse for his stagnant development. Maybe he's just peaked?

Personally think he can kick on, for me he needs to bulk up a bit and have a good off season in the gym.