...interesting.

Frontline Team of the Season

Wigan Warriors and St Helens lead the way in the 2011 Frontline Team of the Season with three players each in the statistically strongest line-up at the end of the regular Engage Super League season.

Free-scoring Sam Tomkins is the chosen full-back and is joined the backs by Wigan team-mates Pat Richards and George Carmont, who have earned their place at wing and centre respectively.

Prop James Graham, hooker James Roby and team-mate Jon Wilkin, who is selected for the second row, see Saints players dominate the pack.

League Leaders Warrington Wolves are represented by Matt King, who is selected on the wing alongside Ryan Atkins at centre. Castleford Tigers star Rangi Chase is named at stand-off, pairing up with Salford’s Daniel Holdsworth at scrum-half.

Bradford Bulls captain Andy Lynch joins the squad in the front row while Jamie Jones-Buchanan is the only Leeds Rhinos representative in the team, as he takes his place in the second row with Hull FC’s Craig Fitzgibbon completing the team at loose forward.

The Frontline Team of the Season comprises the 13 players who have achieved the best average scores for their respective positions, having played at least half of their teams games during the 2011 Engage Super League season.

The Frontline Index undertook a new look for the 2011 season, with the previous Frontline Fair Play Index that measured club discipline being replaced by a system that measures individual performances on the field. The new Frontline Index for 2011 recorded each player’s direct involvement in an Engage Super League match focusing on areas such as tackles, carries, kicks and errors.

Every involvement was given a points value depending on the importance and frequency of the action. For example a try was awarded the highest scoring value, with actions such as tackles and carries scoring smaller values. Mistakes such as handling errors or penalties conceded incurred negative values.

The player with the single most outstanding performance during the regular season will win the Frontline Index and be presented with a £1,000 cheque at the 2011 Engage Super League Man Of Steel dinner.

2011 Frontline Team of the Season

1 Sam Tomkins (Wigan)

2 Pat Richards (Wigan)

3 George Carmont (Wigan)

4 Ryan Atkins (Warrington)

5 Matt King (Warrington)

6 Rangi Chase (Castleford)

7 Daniel Holdsworth (Salford)

8 James Graham (St Helens)

9 James Roby (St Helens)

10 Andy Lynch (Bradford)

11 Jon Wilkin (St Helens)

12 Jamie Jones Buchanan (Leeds)

13 Craig Fitzgibbon (Hull FC)

I view JJB as just a machine.

Congratulations JJB.

Although, I don't see what the above has to do with your thread title?

JJB makes as many carries as any other player in the game, and added to that he is high up on the tackle count.

Therefore any minus's for penalties or errors, are quickly counteracted by the carries and tackles.

That team in all fairness will generally comprise of the players who have played in one position all season, since they are entirely relative to the position rather than player.

Fully agree.

He has alot more ticks than crosses.

His game isn't perfect (penalties) but he covers so much ground on a number of levels.

Some of his errors I don't mind as he is attempting to do something productive with ball in hand.

He has had some nice acclaim for a very work-man-like season. Played JJB.

JJB has been our stand out player once again and much deserved Club Player of the Season.

Many seem to view him just as a workhorse because of his high tackle count and carries. But he is also a very good allround footballer with good hands and a rugby brain. He reads the game well and regularly gets into try scoring positions. He also has a never say die positive attitude and with Buderus is usually among the first up in a kick chase.

OK he has a higher penalty count than most but I forgive him for that because it is inevitable given his high game time and high involvement.

If all or team were as committed as JJB we would still be champions

JJB is a good RL player, he has a decent skill set, but what makes him such a well-loved part of the team is his work-rate. I genuinely can't remember a player at Leeds with a bigger heart.

What the stats will never tell you is the way he reacts to an error, which is always to (somehow) find another gear t make amends for it.

In short, I love JJB. Not in a romantic way (I hardly know him).

I've only got one issue with that statement.

Macca was not our coach last year. So to try and blame him for that as well says it all!

Please note JJB has been superb under BM's coaching this year. I repeat if all our team were as committed as JJB we would still be champions and I will add had the rest of the team shown the form and commitment of JJB this season we would have been in the top 4 easily.

Where did I blame McMuppet for 2010?

Sorry are we still blaming mcdermott i cant see where hes done anything wrong challenge cup final where we should have won play offs in a season where alot
Of previously below par teams have made massive improvements i.e cas catalans also wigan saints warrington have all had very good seasons i fail to see where the massive problem with mcdermott

The Frontline Fairplay Index was previously a team competition to rank the teams in order based solely on their discipline. It appears this has now morphed into something that determines a players overall contribution covering both the good and bad aspects.

The irony is that Jones-Buchanan has made the final line-up in a scheme sponsored by a company previously associated with just the fair play aspect of the sport.

Bearing in mind Jones-Buchanan's hard earned reputation remains intact as he still remains Leeds' most penalised player (over the SL Regular Rounds) by both quantity and frequency (just edging Peacock for the latter - although Peacock probably took it on a minute-by-minute analysis.)

By saying the only thing wrong with my statement =#0000FF"If all or team were as committed as JJB we would still be champions" was Macca.

The current championship was won in 2010

Not all posters have always recognised JJBs importance to the team.

Some would even resort to having a go at his mutton chops rather than give him praise.

Thanks tvoc - you've saved me having to type out a reply. Exactly what I was getting at with the thread title...

But it's still incorrect though isn't it for this year?

While you're here A-Fire-Inside did you ever get to the bottom of the 'Buderus conversion' we were discussing?

Very subtle


You can't beat a bit of "Mungo Jerry" in the summer-time!

Do you enjoy highlighting the negative?

JJB was a penalty machine at the beginning of the season but has improved a lot this past month

No, just the reality.

Jones-Buchanan has consistently been Leeds' most penalised player, followed by Sinfield and Peacock. Not much I can do to alter that fact I'm afraid.

__________



Jones-Buchanan's end of season (penalty concession wise) almost exactly mirrors his start: SL Regular Rounds

0, 2, 0, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 1, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1 R, 2, 0

R = Rested

JJB deserves it for giving us one of the best laughs of the year, when he strolled past the dawdling Cas winger to touch down at HQ.

Good player and always gives it his all. He is very mentally strong. It's a shame some of the bigger lumps we have had at the club didn't have the same mental strength.(chris feather springs to mind) had the same determination

Ah, thanks for the reminder - it had slipped my mind!

I'll look into it and let you know...

The "reality" is that JJB is a very worthy 'player of the season' for Leeds. I find it a little sad that you choose to highlight a negative aspect of his game when his positives far out weigh any negatives and have been the reasons for his consistent success this season.

As I have stated any forward that puts in the amount of game time and activity at the sharp end the can expect to incur some penalties, many for offside etc.

I prefer to dwell on the positive aspects "which is more than can be said for some of your posts on here"