www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 15,00.html Got up this morning only to read that one of this country’s most respected number nines doesn’t rate Diskin and McShane but rates consistent grand final loser James Roby and a player who couldn’t get into the second best super league side last year. Surely he’s deluded in thinking that these two [i“are the best nines in the country and will be the best nines in the country for the next few years”[/i. Makes my blood boil does the lack of acknowledgement for our nines

www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 15,00.html Got up this morning only to read that one of this country’s most respected number nines doesn’t rate Diskin and McShane but rates consistent grand final loser James Roby and a player who couldn’t get into the second best super league side last year. Surely he’s deluded in thinking that these two [i“are the best nines in the country and will be the best nines in the country for the next few years”[/i. Makes my blood boil does the lack of acknowledgement for our nines

Player in "talking up team mates" scandal. Stop the presses.

I doubt KC is the only person who rates Roby above Diskin (Tony Smith appears to agree) and do you rate McShane more highly than Scott Moore?

Without getting into any debates on the merits of players.

Where in the world on that interview does it say Cunningham said "Diskin and McShane are rubbish"? or where does it imply that Cunningham does not rate Diskin and McShane?

Did you really expect him to say anything different? I would be more confused if he was chatting up other hookers from other teams.

I’ll be honest with you. At a time I rated Roby better than Diskin but that was probably because one has been recovering from a terrible injuries since 2004. Now Diskins back to his best then yeah no doubt he’s better than Roby. Roby hasn’t done anything spectacular since 2007 IMO.

On the other one its hard to say as Scott Moore has had more first team opportunities than McShane. I rate both of them but at the moment Scott Moore edges it for me.

He might as well just of said it.

Maybe he rates Diskin and McShane very highly but he rates Roby and Moore higher?

If we want to discuss the respective merits IMO its' easily Diskin. Roby and Moore might've had one season in the last three or four where they've shone brighter but for a level of consistency over the last four years or so nobody in the league comes close to Diksin.

Saints have some real strength in the hooking position and so do we. Should be interesting.

It's an interesting one. I'd suggest the only way Diskin has bettered Roby in the last few years is by playing for Leeds and picking up the GF as a result.

For example, in the same number of appearances last year, Roby had:

Same number of tries
Same number of assists
Almost twice as many metres (2548 v 136icon_cool.gif
Over 100 more carries (367 v 253)
Over 100 more tackles (723 v 600)
More offloads
Same number of attacking kicks
More runs from dummy half
More tackle busts
Almost twice as many marker tackles
Over double the clean breaks (8 v 3)
More forty twenties
More kicks in general play
Far fewer missed tackles (despite making far more)

The only stat Diskin comes out on top is that he gives fewer penalties away.

I'd say that's far from clear (ignoring the fact Roby is preferred at international level too).

That's not to say Diskin is a poor player, he's a very good hooker indeed. But I think people talk down Roby now that he doesn't score as many tries and ignore all the tremendous work he does for Saints.

I noted Cunninghams comments but the remembered what Franny Cummings wrote in the Diskin Testimonial programme "He is so unselfish, he sacrificed his own game for the good of his team mates, especially in 2008 when he worked himself into the ground for the full 80 minutes, if it wasn't for that we could not have won the title. In the Grand Final, [ihe was competing against two of the so-called best in the competition[/i who both got long rests during the game."

Franny Cummings comments will do for me!

Very true, he was excellent. Unfortunate that Franny has to spoil the praise with an unnecessary dig at other players, but true nonetheless.

This going the same way as the Sinny v Lockers debate? Let's agree to disagree. We're quite happy with Disko and you can be happy with Roby.

Absolutely

Source?

For the stats? The Superleague website. No idea how accurate they are but don't know of any other source for them.

Irrelevant for me. Both are completely different players. Roby is an impact player coming on when some of the stats you have quoted are easier to achieve. Not to mention that Roby also played other positions in achieving those stats rather than just hooker.

Good luck to Roby, I hope he continues in the same vein for you, and Diskin continues the same job for Leeds.

Thank you for your agreement - By the way did you know Franny and Diskin are related through marriage??

Almost on topic - is McShane going out on loan this season?

I imagine with Buderus and Diskin being such good players and McGuire/Burrow/Sinfield able to fill in when required - his opportunities will be pretty limited?

To put it politely. They aint the best.

He didn't mention any of the Leeds players, he must think they are all rubbish, the litter bugger.

Is that legal now?

Whers Puig when you need clarification?

I wouldn't disagree with much of what you've said. I suppose you see more of Roby than I and I see more of Diskin. I do think Diskin is vastly under-rated throughout the league.

Oh, and don't place too much value into the international recognition. Tony Smith did enquire about Diskin but he made himself unavailable because of his knee op in the off season.

Checking on his churns

Fair point, didn't know that.