: Wed Jun 24, 2009 6:56 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

IIRC Burgess made his debut at Leeds and played well albeit for a short spell. But its probably expecting too much to include both Whitehead and Donaldson.

You do remember correctly. Sam's first team debut was off the bench at Headingley in 2006.

: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:51 pm  

Terry Monster wrote:

Why is it?

Whitehead has showed his capabilities and Donaldson is tipped by Steve McNamara as the top prospect in the country. What better time to show that you have belief in your young players and selecting them for a game against Leeds at Headingley.

The pace of the game will be unlike anything that Donaldson has ever experienced. No matter how well he and Whithead were to play it would be unrealstic to expect two such inexperienced forwards to contribute more than 40-50 mins combined. That puts too big a burden on the rest of the pack.

: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:34 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

The pace of the game will be unlike anything that Donaldson has ever experienced. No matter how well he and Whithead were to play it would be unrealstic to expect two such inexperienced forwards to contribute more than 40-50 mins combined. That puts too big a burden on the rest of the pack.

They are rookies, we don't expect them to beat the world in the first few games, further more we only expect them to contribute what they are able to. Nobody would tear them apart if they were to make a few mistakes, or indeed run out of steam.

Top level is fast, but they've got to get used to it, that's how it is in Super League. Besides, they are fit as a fiddle young men that would be well capable of handling the pace of a super league game and certainley more than 40 - 50 minutes combined, it's ridiculous to suggest that a 19 year old full time professional wouldn't be capable of playing over 25 minutes of a 1st grade game, both players would be well capable of 50 minutes, with ease.

I just don't understand why some people are so afraid of allowing young players to just go on the field and play. I really don't. At the end of the day, if they were not up to it then they would not be there.

: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:39 pm  

Terry Monster wrote:

They are rookies, we don't expect them to beat the world in the first few games, further more we only expect them to contribute what they are able to. Nobody would tear them apart if they were to make a few mistakes, or indeed run out of steam.

Top level is fast, but they've got to get used to it, that's how it is in Super League. Besides, they are fit as a fiddle young men that would be well capable of handling the pace of a super league game and certainley more than 40 - 50 minutes combined, it's ridiculous to suggest that a 19 year old full time professional wouldn't be capable of playing over 25 minutes of a 1st grade game, both players would be well capable of 50 minutes, with ease.

I just don't understand why some people are so afraid of allowing young players to just go on the field and play. I really don't. At the end of the day, if they were not up to it then they would not be there.

James Donaldson is only 17 and has only played twice for the reserves.

: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:47 pm  

redeverready wrote:

James Donaldson is only 17 and has only played twice for the reserves.

I know how old he is, I was refering to Whitehead being the 19 year old. He would still be able to handle 50 minutes though. Think of how many young players manage to establish theirselves as teenagers, it's most.

: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:52 pm  

Terry Monster wrote:

I know how old he is, I was refering to Whitehead being the 19 year old. He would still be able to handle 50 minutes though. Think of how many young players manage to establish theirselves as teenagers, it's most.

You said both players would easily manage 50 minutes.

: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:56 pm  

redeverready wrote:

You said both players would easily manage 50 minutes.

I know, it didn't mean I thought both players were 19 year old though. I just said again that Donaldson would be able to manage 50 minutes in the post you quoted above.

: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:13 am  

I especially like this comment from the T & A comments section...

Steve Mac for the Sack wrote:

Wanna see this Donaldson get ago personally. See if there is anything there what Macca has been ranting and raving about for the past 12 months or however long it is.

...as if he's fully prepared to crucify a 17 year old that's hardly played at the level below Super league you to prove his point that Macnamarra doesn't know what he's talking about.

There is a lot of garbage spouted on there but this takes some beating IMO.