Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:45 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

The only NRL role he could play now is a mascot. He's way off being a good SL fullback. Hardaker was too soft when he came over. If he's willing to play juniors and reserves for a couple of years to learn the role and bulk up a lot he might have a chance.

Spot on.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:59 am  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

The only NRL role he could play now is a mascot. He's way off being a good SL fullback. Hardaker was too soft when he came over. If he's willing to play juniors and reserves for a couple of years to learn the role and bulk up a lot he might have a chance.

He’s 19 of course he’s still learning and going to bulk up.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:36 pm  

.....and soon he'll "only" be 20. Watch the kr game again. Apart from fluffed kicks he showed zero urgency when the ball went wide on their tries and whilst first contact by forwards was the main fault up the middle for others, he was simply outmuscled as well. Terrible from a wannabe NRL player. He may be a star of the future but right now he fits AP's flat track bully tag to a tee.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:26 pm  

Walker has all the potential in the world, its up to Leeds to maximize this with the correct coaching and create the correct environment for him to flourish. Yes he held out in contract talks, so what? there's teams out there that would bite their arms off to have him in their ranks and as alluded above hes not short of confidence in his abilities and nor should he be, the fact is at 19 he's still learning his craft, yes he needs to be more consistent but with the right environment and guidance he could be a superstar.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:41 pm  

He is a long way from NRL standard but to be fair even Tomkins and Hardaker struggled over there in their prime we don't have any track record at all in the SL era of a three quarter going well over in that comp.

That said he has already achieved so much as a teen. My advice would be give it 3/4 more seasons in SL where he will hopefully become the finished article with us and will still be only just coming into his prime.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Apr 09, 2019 7:19 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

He is a long way from NRL standard but to be fair even Tomkins and Hardaker struggled over there in their prime we don't have any track record at all in the SL era of a three quarter going well over in that comp.

That said he has already achieved so much as a teen. My advice would be give it 3/4 more seasons in SL where he will hopefully become the finished article with us and will still be only just coming into his prime.

Not many 3/4’s have tried to be fair. Hardaker only ever went temporarily and was playing centre, which is not his position. Tomkins did ok if not spectacular, he would of made a success of the NRL if he’d of stuck it out. Brian Carney did alright and he was a decent winger but nothing amazing. I’m sure Ryan Hall will be a success, when is he due to be fully fit? While Walker may not get a starting full back spot now, I’m sure he will in a few years time, if he progresses and moves downunder.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:58 pm  

Bit confused with peoples thoughts that he could be a new player! He has zero goal line defence, fails to get under the ball evrytime. He is a decent tackler and really good under a high ball, that is if he goes for them and doesn’t let them bounce. I don’t think I have ever seen him bust through a tackle and his support runs are really poor. May seem to be a bit harsh as I know he’s only 19 but I think he has gotten way too much hype and my opinion is that he is a very average fullback

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:29 am  

My worry with overhyped juniors is that in SL they hardly ever get rid of their flaws. Centre that can't pass? No worries, he'll learn it. Not. Winger that's useless defensively? He'll get better. Not. Halfback with no kicking or passing game? He'll develop it. Not.

Whilst Walker may "only be 19" he's also playing every week in first grade and doing well in some games and badly in others with seemingly not that much incentive to cut the bad and improve the good. Even if he never improves from where he is now he'll still get a SL contract somewhere. What worried me about the KR game and others before is the lack of urgency he showed - as though any time the ball moved more than 5 yards either side of the posts it wasn't his problem. That's nothing at all to do with ability.

I prefer homegrown players to signings but I can't stand rose-tinted views of homegrown players. Mind you I've got harsher as I've aged - it took me 5 years to decide Ryan Hall was actually pretty good.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:04 am  

Imo Walker has talent and is learning the game behind a poor Leeds team.
He will look better once the team looks better but like others have said he does have a few weaknesses that considering the hype Sky afford on him he should be a world beater which he isn`t.
Whilst he did not want to play scrum half which is where Leeds saw him playing I do think that this might well be his best position.
This would mean Lolohea moving to full back which in attack is no bad thing but in defence I would worry.
Saying all that I thought Lilley was a better option that Myler and that Golding is a better option than Walker.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour Thread V2 : Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:24 am  

Opinions are like the proverbial - we've all got them. However, to paraphrase a science saying, extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence. Or something. He's got ability, but he's shown nothing to justify the "once in a generation" tag he was given at 17.