That appears to be the case in 2010 so far but was Burgess behind last season when he made 30 appearances to Bailey's 20?

Bearing in mind that Bailey has played in 6 of the regular round games and Burgess only in 3 before the weekend.

Burgess Positives - using the averages per performance - double the carries and double the number of metres gained going forward, double the number of offloads, double the number of tackle busts, Try Assists awarded 2 (should really be 3) to nil, clean breaks also 2 to nil.

Burgess Negatives - using the averages per performance - double the number of penalties conceded, less than half the number of tackles completed, a 5% lower tackle effectiveness rating at 90%

Where they meet in the middle - using the averages per performance- handling errors

Using the stats Burgess appears a clear winner going forward while Bailey equally appears a clear winner on defence.

Bailey was injured for a while last year so i don't think the appearances stat counts mate.
Burgess is more of a "risk" at the moment whereas with Bailey we know what we get and on form he'd be my choice out of the 2.
Saying that though i'd still keep Burgess and select him ahead of Kirke on current form

Alas when Burgess plants those heels and an attacker waltzes around him it probably doesn't count for a "Missed tackle" in terms of Opta so I will continue to rely upon my eyes rather than the highly questionable (even by you) Stats provided by OPta. On this occasion anyway.

Will Ryan Hall be fit for next Friday's game?

If we go to Wigan without any recognised first team wingers, they will crucify us. Their two are playing out of their skins according to everything I've read.

Not by reports of him limping about some bars last night.

It makes you wonder if we should do a "Millward" and take the Wigan game as an opportunity to get everyone with a slight injury fit again and just accept we'll get 50 shoved up us.
We usually find it difficult to win at Wigan with a full team nevermind with 8 or 9 first teamers out

I've also promoted a similar thought on here in the last 24 hours. It's a battle Leeds appear highly unlikely to win at present so lets save ourselves for the battles to come starting with the Bulls the week after.



As the Opta stats from this season support the view that Burgess is a poorer defender than Bailey I don't see the issue with Opta for you in that regard.

On the other hand Burgess' go forward is considerably better than Baileys and an area you identified as weak in Burgess (handling) is on a par with Bailey in 2010, prior to the Hull KR match. Indeed in the Huddersfield game where they both last played together, Bailey had 2 handling errors to Burgess' non, one of Bailey's even made it on to Cullen's Boots 'N All piece this week where Bailey appeared concerned that Kevin Brown had him lined up.

I basically remain an Opta cynic and the reason I report the weekly breakdown figures on here is to allow posters to question their validity just as I frequently do myself.

"Typical"!!!

Burgess' handling does need a lot of work. It's one area of the game I don't quite get TBH - how some players seem to look like losing the ball every tackle (Watkins seems to have similar issues) whereas with others its almost a shock if they lose the ball in a collision.