Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:50 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Seemed like he was causing Warrington and St Helens all kinds of problems when he was running a little wider in the away games against them this year.

He's going to a club that sees the value in the person aswell as playing ability he got dicked around by us no question and I think under Peet he'll come into his own.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:45 am  

I don't think Walters' interview tells us anything new. We knew he felt underplayed, we knew he felt he played out of position, and we knew he was away from family and friends whilst in Leeds.

The rest is just meaningless waffle. Everyone talks up their new club, he doesn't know the current training intensity at Leeds, and the culture is rather subjective. Some players talked negatively about the culture at Leeds during the 'Golden Generation'. Others didn't.

For what it's worth, I still think that Holroyd has it in him to be a better player than Walters. I suspect I'm not alone on thinking that.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:09 am  

Walters was collateral damage to what had to happen to rebuild the side. We've seen Smith can be ruthless, and needed to be to get senior, highly paid players out and new ones in. I have some sympathy if he had no interest in talking to Walters about playing in the second row when we're fairly well stacked there. Probably just said we see you as a prop end of conversation.

Its not maybe the best approach but understandable in the context of trying to manage games with a bunch of senior players he wanted to replace. The whole thing may have gone very differently if it was just Walters he was dealing with.

My view, FWIW, is that Walters looks like a prop with real potential. I've no doubt he can do some damage wider out but I'm not sure he's got the mobility or workrate for second row. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up moving to the front row longer term whoever he plays for.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:23 am  

Once were Loiners wrote:

Walters was collateral damage to what had to happen to rebuild the side. We've seen Smith can be ruthless, and needed to be to get senior, highly paid players out and new ones in. I have some sympathy if he had no interest in talking to Walters about playing in the second row when we're fairly well stacked there. Probably just said we see you as a prop end of conversation.

Its not maybe the best approach but understandable in the context of trying to manage games with a bunch of senior players he wanted to replace. The whole thing may have gone very differently if it was just Walters he was dealing with.

My view, FWIW, is that Walters looks like a prop with real potential. I've no doubt he can do some damage wider out but I'm not sure he's got the mobility or workrate for second row. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up moving to the front row longer term whoever he plays for.

Hes got all the tools to make a good 13 can carry the ball up well and has great hands and a good rugby brain.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:34 am  

He doesn’t have the engine to be 13.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:58 am  

No one who has the first clue is looking at Walters and seeing a 13.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 11:08 am  

Walters is very mobile for a lad of his size which is why he’s played England academy etc.

I dunno it’s all water under the bridge by now: he was a better bet than Hudson who is a similar player. But the Hudson gamble could yet pay off who knows.

It is genuinely hard to retain good players in this market I think. This is why it’s so important for Leeds to rebuild a bit of swagger as a club, where players want to come and stay here as #1 preference.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:23 pm  

I think this was all about timing.
He wanted a new contract and was prepared to stay at Leeds and probably felt like others those in front of him at prop were not performing.
However his form the season prior wasn`t that good and I feel Smith didn`t want to commit so soon.
He said as much himself that the younger players want their contracts sorting sooner rather than later.
When he did get his chance and showed what he could do it was too late as Wigan came in for him told him he can play SR and he bit their hand off.
I do think Smith would have kept him based on his form last season.
Walters saying there`s more intensity at Wigan is like Jack Harrison saying he sees Dyche like Bielsa.
It`s called sucking up.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:26 pm  

He's quick in a straight line because of his height, but his lateral movement isn't good. It's probably one of the main reasons Smith moved him to the middle.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Fri Dec 08, 2023 2:39 pm  

Is Walters a young Sam Burgess or Morley?
Getting far too much attention on here. Not our player anymore, move on!