Quote ="Juan Cornetto"The figures I produced were contrary to your comment "He has never been noted as a big metre maker (although that has improved in Peacock's absence)"
His average metres per carry have not improved but in fact have deteriorated in every year since 2007 (8.84 m/carry) and this year have dropped below 7m for the first time (6.72 m/carry including his good last match)'"
There is a difference between metres per game and metres per drive. My reference was to the former measure rather than the latter.
Quote ="Juan Cornetto"As most of his other stats have similarly deteriorated year on year it is reasonable to make the valid point that he, like several others in the squad, has
passed his peak. '"
Most of us are past our peak (at least those of us past our early twenties) but that doesn't neccessarily equate to being ready for the knacker's yard just yet. In Leuluai's case it only becomes a relevant issue when someone does what he does better than he currently does it. That player is yet to emerge or sign for Leeds, IMO. I make the same argument with Senior btw.
Quote ="Juan Cornetto"You make the fair comment of the value of his impact in the first 15/20minutes which he showed last Monday. However this was the best set he has played all season and not before time. '"
Why not before time? He ended last season very well (hence the Peacock reference) and started this season in a similar vein, unfortunately he picked up a pectoral muscle injury (missing three matches) and has since his return played in 5 of the 6 rounds, increasing his metres per game week by week.
Quote ="Juan Cornetto"I seem to recall he made his best impact for Leeds was when he came on from the bench in the early days.'"
Most can make a flashy impact in that scenario but the real deal props tend to make the starting side. Regardless of whether it was coach Smith (7 of the last 9), coach McClennan (87 from 92) or coach McDermott (8 from 8 ) they combined (102 from the last 109) appear to agree his talents are best utilised in the run-on side.
Quote ="Juan Cornetto"My comments were not intended to have a go at Leuluai but to point out that Cross has at least the equal stats of our other props and when game time is taken into account he has the best work rate of all of them.'"
So you (and perhaps others) would select Cross ahead of Leuluai while I (and perhaps others) would do the reverse. Meanwhile the Leeds coach will select the actual team.
Made me chuckle that. Cross does look a plodder but hopefully as he gains match fitness he will become at least a solid plodder who will put in some decent stints. Hauraki I thought would be a very astute buy, he scored a load of tries last season. However he does not appear to respect possession enough (similar to Watkins) and seemingly cannot tackle (very strange for someone who is not scared of the collisions).
