Read it [url=http://leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1388here[/url....

What can I say. I agree with everyone of those marks and the comments. Spot on IMO.

In general, fair comment.
Maybe a tiny, tiny bit harsh on Lee Smith, anyone in that position would have thought they'd successfully shielded the ball dead. It's not very often you have to take sloping corners into account.

Sinfield: Given credit for delivering a forward pass for one try and credit for a pass given by Lee Smith for the Delaney try.

I am in agreement with the scores and comments. I would've marked kirke lower than Ablett and JJB but his chase back has rescued an otherwise kirke-like display. Also, I'd reckon Burgess got almost the same game time as Kylie. That said, his mark wouldn't alter.

Not every player can be as hard working and effective as TMFMISL. You have to take that into account.

Agree with you this week!

Eastwood my MOM too - had a great game, good to have him back.

Re the penalty count reducing once Kirke went off. Kirke wasn't the most penalised Leeds player in the first half.

He got pinged for just the one while he was on and that (IIRC) wasn't helped by Senior laying over the top delaying the ruck clearing. His avoiding conceding a penalty after the chase back on Sykes should not be underestimated either. He stayed on just long enough without overstepping the mark and conceding an automatic sin-binning.

It wasn't forward.

Look where sinfield was stood when he passed it. Look where delaney was stood when he caught it. They were about level.

Your constant bagging of Kirke is getting a little tiresome and over the top. Yes, he may not punch his weight going forward. Agreed that he may not dominate in defence, but his completion rate is good as are his numbers.

However we both know his role. He is a squad player. He'll not be on anything like the wages of anyone else in the pack, bar the juniors and maybe Burgess. You can't expect international performances from everyone in the squad. He's a safe option, who has been able to fill in large parts of the season where 3 of his better 2nd row colleagues have struggled with injuries.

one of the things that often gets trotted out in opposition stats is that they don't always tell the true story. For Kirke, the track back tackle will only count as 1, but its importance in the context of the game cannot be ignored. Where were our supposedly speedier, fitter players. He is a trier, who may lack the ability of some, but as you so often say, offers something, otherwise he wouldn't have featured so frequently in the last 4 or so years in such a sucessful team

Neither of which has any relevance whatsoever to whether it's a forward pass or not, but thanks for introducing them to the debate anyway.

Sorry but on the clear evidence available via the Sky coverage looking directly down the centre line that comment is bizarre.

On that basis the ball travelled forward a clear two to three meters.

I'd mark JJB & Ablett one higher for work rate. Same with Kylie for putting in some decent drives at an important time despite being in cloud cuckoo land in the second stint. I'd also have marked Diskin up one more.

I'm in a generous mood.

You do realise that would mean having to give Buderus two extra marks and a score of 11 out of 10, him being twice the player of Diskin?

I'm aware of the demarcation ruling but one picky penalty and a debateable forward pass aside I thought he had a very solid game.

Diskins stats were also superior to Buderus' against Bradford.

Gareth will be pleased.

Just had to check these and whilst you're correct I can't honestly remember seeing Diskin make as many one on one tackles as Buderus. His defensive work is superb, glad David picked up on this.

Don't be fooled by stats, they only tell half a story.

I'll be adopting the Christmas rule: it is better to give than receive.

I'm sorry, but where Sinfield is stood when he passes it and where Delaney is stood when he receives it is very relevant to whether it was forward, especially in the context of a poster saying the receiver was level with the passer.

I happen to agree with the poster as well.

if we are talking about Mcguires first try then Sinfield released it 2-3 metres before half way and it was caught on half way
it came forward from the hand and proceeded to get "more forward" as it flew

T R Y

That's how it seemed to me too.

If I were a Bradford fan, I'd care.
But I'm not and it didn't materially affect the outcome.

Momentum

Exactly.

It's all moot.

It is and it's not how I recall it. I recall delaney receiving it before the white line and in line with where Sinfield released it.

I still have it on Sky+ and, if I get time, I will re-watch.