Why all the negativity? (Leeds Rhinos)

For a good 10 years we have been blessed to watch a standard of rugby that has seen us reach Grand Finals, World Club Challenges and numerous trips to Wembley. I have been lucky to watch the golden generation of players and have seen some of the worlds best play rugby at Headingley Stadium. We have seen one of the most successful Leeds squads of all time, and watched the likes of Kevin Sinfield, Danny Buderus, Ali Lauitiiti and Jamie Peacock grace the hallowed turf in the blue and amber. Now.. I am still lucky to watch some of the worlds best at Headingley but the golden generation is slowly moving on and a new abundance of young players are creeping up the first team ladder making their way into the 17.

In the past week however the negativity from the fans of our club has reached the point of ridiculousness (yes that is a word). There have been arguments among fans, negative comments left right and centre and just general criticism of a man who has built this club to be what it is today, Gary Hetherington. Now I criticise Manchester United fans for their fickle nature and expectation of success season after season. Now I feel that is what we have become. We simply cannot expect success season after season. Yes our league form does have to improve, but we are currently holders of the Challenge Cup and that is still not good enough for some? Now I know not every fan is like this, and this is just a small percentage, but those fans need to pull their heads out of the idealistic bubble they are in and get behind our team next season, like we have for the past years and give this young lads a chance.

Now enough negativity from me, the rest of this article will be giving fans reasons to be positive about next season, because would you believe it, there are actually quite a few.

NUMBER 1: THE BACKS

Zak Hardaker - Tom Briscoe - Kallum Watkins - Joel Moon - Ryan Hall.. there are a lot of team in the Super League that would dream of a back 5 with that ability. Tom Briscoe may not have had the best season last year but we know that he has the potential. If Zak can keep a run going he could easily be in with a shout of being player of the season. The lad is a talent and is by far the best full back in the league. Watkins, Moon and Hall all have a good 4 years left with them at the club at the least. If these 5 can hit form then we definitely have the most dangerous back line in the league.

NUMBER 2: ADAM CUTHBERTSON

Cuthbo comes in in the prime of his NRL career. He was highly rated by Wayne Bennett and is sure to make a massive impact in the forwards next season. He still has a good few years left in him, and will be a perfect replacement for Leuluai if and when the Samoan giant decides to retire!

NUMBER 3: YOUTH

There will be a big reliance on youth next season but that certainly worked for St Helens last season in their title winning campaign. We have a lot of talent in the academy, and given more game time this year they could really kick on and become the next generation that brings success to the club. Liam Sutcliffe showed real signs that he could be a big hit this season and the answer to our half back problems. In the forwards, if Rob Mulhern and Jordan Baldwinson can continue their development then they are sure to be first teamers in a couple of years. Along with Andy Yates, the 2013 signing from Hunslet who was hampered by injuries last season to come back into the side this season.

NUMBER 4: EXPERIENCE

We still have the likes of Sinfield and Peacock to keep the team going this season and provide that level of experience to the young guns that are coming through the ranks. At the end of the day these guys started somewhere, so who's to say the next Sinfield/McGuire etc are waiting in the wings?

NUMBER 5: OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE NEW

We have gotten rid of players that you may refer to as "deadwood". Now Kirke, Bailey etc's contribution to the club can never be understated but it was time that we moved on and gave a chance to the youngsters that we have been praying to be given a chance for so long. Achurch will finally have a chance to carry on the form that he showed in stages last season and the other young forwards we only saw glimpses of last season will have their chance.

 

 

So hopefully this article will give the pessimists some optimism. We have to remember though we're not going to win every game and we're not going to win trophies every season... what we can do is get behind the players who pull on the 2 shades of blue and amber and try and do our bit to lift the team to victory.

As the golden generation comes to and end, is the next generation ready to step up? (Leeds Rhinos)

Last week saw one of the final remaining members of the 2004 Grand Final squad, Ryan Bailey, depart Headingley to East Hull to play for Hull KR. It is only a matter of time before Sinfield, McGuire, Burrow and Jones-Buchanan follow suit. So the Academy and Hetherington's/McDermott's transfer policy start to play an incredibly important part in the club's future.

We've been very lucky to be a part of this golden era, numerous trophies, numerous finals and many incredible memories. The next generation have a lot to live up to. Our Academy is yes, clearly very successful and the next crop of youngsters coming through do look promising. Where the problem lays is that these players simply do not have enough experience and currently can not be relied upon to takeover from the golden era.

I'm not going to rifle through every promising youngster we have coming through, but our main problem is in the forwards. With Kirke and Bailey departing and only one replacement in Adam Cuthbertson of Newcastle Knights coming in we do look light in the forwards. Rumours have been aplenty this week as to who exactly we will be bringing in, currently Olsi Krasniqi of London Broncos looks the likely option. The re-signing of Baldwinson from the Warriors already confirmed as well. Rob Mulhern, fresh from his turnout with the Irish national side is also one to watch this season, and of course Andy Yates signed from Hunslet last season, whom had a torrid year with injuries is a promising forward. This still doesn't fill me with confidence for the years to come. Yes, 2015 we may well have enough cover, beyond that though I really don't feel we do. With Peacock and Leuluai both set to retire the future in the forwards feels bleak. This brings uo the question of has our policy of using experience forwards worked? In the short term yes, long term certainly not.

Now is an important time for Leeds to change their policy. With the rumour of Ryan Brierley's arrival from Leigh quashed by Hetherington in mid week because we have enough cover in that position, does not fill me with any confidence. This kid is talent, of which we saw first hand at Headingley in the cup. It is time for Leeds to quit this reliance on McGuire and Sinfield and put our hands in our pockets and throw money at Leigh to get this lad in. If he turns out half as good as Hardaker has then we have a talent on our hands. Don't need him this year? Put him out on loan to gain experience, something that in Hardaker's situation worked wonders.

I have a lot of respect for St Helens following their success last season. The Grand Final saw them missing a huge number of key players, and their young guns really had to step their game up, and they did. Their success bore down to spirit and hunger, and a drive to defy the odds. Wigan aren't too far off the Saints mould, both utilise their youngsters in abundance and this is one of the reasons that they are driven to success. This is the way Leeds need to go forward this season. Give Lilley a chance, give opportunities to Mulhern, Baldwinson, Tonks etc and don't let them rot away and slip down to a Championship side, talent wasted. Use them in the team. We do however need to strengthen, Cuthbertson is the start, but i'd like to see another forward and Brierley brought in. Alongside our youngsters, this could see the start of the next era mould into shape for the club. We have to stop looking at the past, looking back at the success we've had and start planning for the success we are going to have. Stop buying 30+ players and start to bring in players that have an extended future at the club and to use our own crop of youngsters. Could they be the platinum generation? Who knows.