Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Fri Sep 13, 2019 6:02 am  

Very good signing. Work horse for the squad and he has done everything asked of him no doubt.

The great thing about Donaldson is you know what you will get every week. The same cannot be said of about 90% of the rest of the squad at the moment.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Fri Sep 13, 2019 7:24 am  

Take that. As others have said, he's a good one to have around for attitude alone. I get the sense the entire squad forgot what it meant to play as a professional/for Leeds and started going through the motions. Given Donaldson's "story" and his efforts to win a contract last off season I don't think there's much chance of him forgetting the level of commitment you need to put in and hopefully he can drag that out of others.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Fri Sep 13, 2019 6:52 pm  

A good honest professional. Not the most talented, but was about our only decent defender at times this season. Hard grafter, who you'd want in your side

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Fri Sep 13, 2019 9:21 pm  

The Eagle wrote:

A good honest professional. Not the most talented, but was about our only decent defender at times this season. Hard grafter, who you'd want in your side

Highlighted that so much tonight.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Fri Sep 13, 2019 9:33 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

Highlighted that so much tonight.

He is the kind of model professional that’s hopefully a good influence on the young lads coming up.

Has plenty of ticker. Whether he plays more reserves or first team next season he will be good to have around.

We need to see Ferres released though unless he takes a major pay cut and on a short deal too.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Fri Sep 13, 2019 10:23 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

He is the kind of model professional that’s hopefully a good influence on the young lads coming up.

Has plenty of ticker. Whether he plays more reserves or first team next season he will be good to have around.

We need to see Ferres released though unless he takes a major pay cut and on a short deal too.

I wouldn't offer Ferres a reduced deal.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Sat Sep 14, 2019 5:27 am  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

As for Donaldson, yeah good pro, tries hard every week, earns small change but do you know what, if I played for Leeds I would give my all and I would play for nothing but doesn't mean I should be given a 2 year deal. Give the kids a chance instead.

We have reserve grade and dual reg with Featherstone to give the kids a chance, not Super League. They need to be standing out at that level before they move up, throwing teenagers into Super League before they are ready isn’t the way to develop players, the difference between U19’s rugby and Super League is huge.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Sat Sep 14, 2019 7:24 am  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

We have reserve grade and dual reg with Featherstone to give the kids a chance, not Super League. They need to be standing out at that level before they move up, throwing teenagers into Super League before they are ready isn’t the way to develop players, the difference between U19’s rugby and Super League is huge.

Of course it is and nobody is saying they should be in week in and week out but they should get brought in gradually. Look at how well Corey did last night, did he look out of place? Has Newman not done ok?

Weve a back row of Martin Ward and Merrin and weve Mellor coming in along with Cam Smith so we are ok for back rowers especially with lads like Walters, who looks an outstanding prospect, Mustaoha and Trout coming through.

We are still in transition and in a rebuild. We needs these kids to come through and the only way to do that is by drip feeding them in gradually but it has to be done.

Short term pain for long time gain.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:04 pm  

I’d like to see Muizz given a shot next year, he’s a player who makes things happen on both sides of the game. When he’s physically matured he’s going to be a total pain for the opposition - but for me he’s probably the next in line physically.

Anyway Donaldson clearly has a first class mentality and it’s so important to have senior players around the place who train well, eat well, put in a professional shift every week. I could see him mostly playing reserves but making a valuable contribution.

Re: NEW DEAL | James Donaldson - Expires: 2021 : Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:11 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I’d like to see Muizz given a shot next year, he’s a player who makes things happen on both sides of the game. When he’s physically matured he’s going to be a total pain for the opposition - but for me he’s probably the next in line physically.

Anyway Donaldson clearly has a first class mentality and it’s so important to have senior players around the place who train well, eat well, put in a professional shift every week. I could see him mostly playing reserves but making a valuable contribution.

From the little I've seen of Muizz he does look a bit on the small size for a forward.