Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 7:03 am  

McClelland has hardly been a stand out when he has played in the lower grades not sure why he is being considered in a game that Leeds really need to win

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 7:55 am  

McLelland has shown some nice touches actually. He uses the little drop off too much but he has a good all-round game for his age.

Would we rather play a more physical selection who isn’t a natural 7, or the other way round?

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 8:07 am  

Some players look amazing at junior level - particularly quick lads. Most of them never develop the rest of the skills they need. No idea if McClelland will make it, but Sutcliffe is a hopeless halfback.

I just think its worth a go playing McClelland alongside a proper halfback and see how he goes. If he's utter rubbish then swap in Sutcliffe.

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 8:24 am  

It would be a chance for McLelland to stake a claim. He’s probably another year or two off if he does make it.

This just highlights the need for a new specialist half back to partner Lui for me.

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 8:42 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

It would be a chance for McLelland to stake a claim. He’s probably another year or two off if he does make it.

This just highlights the need for a new specialist half back to partner Lui for me.

Does he have pace as I thought he looked a yard short against Bradford?.

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 8:54 am  

McClelland is a decent young half but needs to take the line on more. His defence is ok and hes a good footballer but it's a tough ask for a young half to step in and organise and be a playmaker but he was signed as a back up half back and he should be given the opportunity to play and gain experience when our regular 7 is out.

I think it took Callum time to get back into RL after a spell in Union but hes done a good job in 19s when hes played which actually hasn't been that much. Hes the best half in our academy set up by a mile.

Give him a go, accept he will make errors and let's not write him off or get on his back if a teenage half back doesn't perform like Thurston or Cronk.

Hes got the potential to be a Super League half back in my opinion but hes not that yet cos he lacks experience. He can only gain that by playing and given opportunities gradually. Something we should have been doing with a few others.

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 9:03 am  

How a coach manages giving a player like Mclelland an opportunity like this can be the making of them. Give him responsibility and license to show what he's capable of, if you are tentatively reluctant to put him in that's picked up by the player, fill him with confidence and let him get out there.

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 9:15 am  

Seth wrote:

How a coach manages giving a player like Mclelland an opportunity like this can be the making of them. Give him responsibility and license to show what he's capable of, if you are tentatively reluctant to put him in that's picked up by the player, fill him with confidence and let him get out there.

Absolutely Seth, agree 100%. Once you start thinking a young lad isn't ready because they lack experience they will never be ready.

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 9:28 am  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

McClelland is a decent young half but needs to take the line on more. His defence is ok and hes a good footballer but it's a tough ask for a young half to step in and organise and be a playmaker but he was signed as a back up half back and he should be given the opportunity to play and gain experience when our regular 7 is out.

I think it took Callum time to get back into RL after a spell in Union but hes done a good job in 19s when hes played which actually hasn't been that much. Hes the best half in our academy set up by a mile.

Give him a go, accept he will make errors and let's not write him off or get on his back if a teenage half back doesn't perform like Thurston or Cronk.

Hes got the potential to be a Super League half back in my opinion but hes not that yet cos he lacks experience. He can only gain that by playing and given opportunities gradually. Something we should have been doing with a few others.

Agree 100% with this. That is what he is there for, so when the opportunity comes up, it should be his to go for. We already know Sutcliffe can’t do it in the halfs, so why keep repeating that mistake instead. Plus to be fair to Sutcliffe, he has just moved back into the forwards, and tried hard to cement that, moving him again helps no one.

Re: SL RD 23 | Hull FC (H) : Sat Jul 20, 2019 11:00 am  

Gotcha wrote:

Agree 100% with this. That is what he is there for, so when the opportunity comes up, it should be his to go for. We already know Sutcliffe can’t do it in the halfs, so why keep repeating that mistake instead. Plus to be fair to Sutcliffe, he has just moved back into the forwards, and tried hard to cement that, moving him again helps no one.

Good point on Sutcliffe he's trying to make back row his position and then if he's asked to play 7 a position he's probably never played in life and if he then has a mare he's going to more stick from the fans.