NEW DEAL | Josh Walters - Expires: 2019 : Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:28 am  

In yesterday’s YEP Josh Walters says he signed a new contract last season. Was he given the deal when we were still under McDermott or was this when Sir Kevin Sinfield had taken over? Granted Walters played quite a few games in our injury crisis last year. However considering he is IMO behind Ward, Ablett, Ferres, Merrin, JJB, Smith, Sutcliffe and now new signing Donaldson, not to mention the promising England academy forwards we have coming through, his new contract seems a strange/wrong decision. I can only see him playing on DR for Featherstone this year, do Featherstone pay to use our players under this deal? https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.york ... 533170/amp

In yesterday’s YEP Josh Walters says he signed a new contract last season. Was he given the deal when we were still under McDermott or was this when Sir Kevin Sinfield had taken over? Granted Walters played quite a few games in our injury crisis last year. However considering he is IMO behind Ward, Ablett, Ferres, Merrin, JJB, Smith, Sutcliffe and now new signing Donaldson, not to mention the promising England academy forwards we have coming through, his new contract seems a strange/wrong decision. I can only see him playing on DR for Featherstone this year, do Featherstone pay to use our players under this deal? https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.york ... 533170/amp

Re: Josh Walters : Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:46 am  

Walters is a strange one.

When he first played for Leeds IIRC he actually looked quite promising, not just as a defensive workhorse, and who will forget the GF winning try he scored against Wigan? Now I wonder how much that early form had to do with the superior quality of players Leeds had at their disposal back then.

That GF try was a long time ago. Since then he seemed to bulk up too fast, which really seemed to affect his agility and ability to position himself correctly in the defensive line. Last season he seemed badly exposed in a number of games, running around like a headless chicken, and seemingly struggling for fitness. I don't think *anyone* on southstander advocated him winning a new contract (unlike, say Mullally, who has split opinion as to his merits). I doubt Walters will come near the first team this season unless there's a deep injury crisis.

For right or wrong, Walters has become emblematic of the failure of McDermott's tenure IMO, not just awarding him a new contract, but also the club's role in his disastrous development; after all, if his attitude is good (unlike say, as reputed by some on here, Garbutt's), it is a poor indictment of the club's player development structures that several years in the squad have taken him so far backwards.

Re: Josh Walters : Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:59 am  

under macdermott.
strange decision given his lack of games and so much young talent coming through

Re: Josh Walters : Sun Jan 13, 2019 9:05 am  

The fact he says he is willing to bide his time to me suggests he knows he is not getting a sniff, and he knows it, and he knows he will not get another full time deal anywhere. He we see out his contract sat in the stands or on dual reg.

Re: Josh Walters : Sun Jan 13, 2019 1:34 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

Walters is a strange one.

When he first played for Leeds IIRC he actually looked quite promising, not just as a defensive workhorse, and who will forget the GF winning try he scored against Wigan? Now I wonder how much that early form had to do with the superior quality of players Leeds had at their disposal back then.

That GF try was a long time ago. Since then he seemed to bulk up too fast, which really seemed to affect his agility and ability to position himself correctly in the defensive line. Last season he seemed badly exposed in a number of games, running around like a headless chicken, and seemingly struggling for fitness. I don't think *anyone* on southstander advocated him winning a new contract (unlike, say Mullally, who has split opinion as to his merits). I doubt Walters will come near the first team this season unless there's a deep injury crisis.

For right or wrong, Walters has become emblematic of the failure of McDermott's tenure IMO, not just awarding him a new contract, but also the club's role in his disastrous development; after all, if his attitude is good (unlike say, as reputed by some on here, Garbutt's), it is a poor indictment of the club's player development structures that several years in the squad have taken him so far backwards.

Really good and unbiased view on Walters - and I'm not just saying that because I agree.

I remember the off-season he bulked up (I assume under club direction) and it looked way over the top.

I do have some sympathy for the guy. He has been out of his depth for a couple of years now but periodically thrown into the firing line by MCD. What's he to do? Refuse to play?

The contract was a bad call we all need to live with unfortunately.

Re: NEW DEAL | Josh Walters - Expires: 2019 : Sun Jan 13, 2019 2:26 pm  

Meh, he'll be gone by the end of the season at the latest.

Re: NEW DEAL | Josh Walters - Expires: 2019 : Mon Jan 28, 2019 3:53 pm  

I've just looked at League Express and it has a preview of the 2019 season unless I've read it wrong it has Walter's listed on players released and also listed on the squad for 2019

Re: NEW DEAL | Josh Walters - Expires: 2019 : Tue Jan 29, 2019 9:16 am  

lionarmour87 wrote:

I've just looked at League Express and it has a preview of the 2019 season unless I've read it wrong it has Walter's listed on players released and also listed on the squad for 2019

Those League Express previews are riddled with errors unfortunately. For instance, none of the players in Featherstone's 1 to 3 are current Featherstone players.

Must say that as Fev fan I've been half-expecting Walters (and/or Ormondroyd) to be announced as season-long loans for 2019 but it hasn't happened yet. Still might, neither are going to get a look-in at Leeds barring an epic injury crisis even by your recent standards.

Re: NEW DEAL | Josh Walters - Expires: 2019 : Tue Jan 29, 2019 10:46 am  

The Phantom Horseman wrote:

Those League Express previews are riddled with errors unfortunately. For instance, none of the players in Featherstone's 1 to 3 are current Featherstone players.

Must say that as Fev fan I've been half-expecting Walters (and/or Ormondroyd) to be announced as season-long loans for 2019 but it hasn't happened yet. Still might, neither are going to get a look-in at Leeds barring an epic injury crisis even by your recent standards.

It would gave to be trully epic, as Trout, Holroyd, Mustapha, at the least are all now above them in the pecking order.