yes I would agree with that. maybe they'll get another hooker in. couldn't comment because I don't know.

Sounds interesting, I suspect the birthday bash was not in the tadcaster locale.
I was in the angel and white horse Saturday night, unfortunately no south sea islanders on view.

sadly not but it was in a house in Boston spa. my mates sister in law married a former bulls player and it was a birthday bash.
I laid that stone floor in the Angel and fit the stone fireplace when we refurbed it

The Angel in Leeds centre ? Lovely wheat beer in there.

Still worries by the lack of a hooker but doubt we will hear anything until boxing day / season ticket sales slow down

Aren't we potentially linked with Beau Falloon from Gold Coast?

Latest rumour appears to be Glen Buttriss, who was Canberra's starting hooker last year but has fallen behind Josh Hodgson in the pecking order.

Thirs choice behind Hodgson and Baptiste for a non-play-off club. I know we need *someone*, but if we're looking at the likes of Buttriss we must be down to our eighth or ninth choice.

What was Aiton's pedigree when we took him from Wakefield?

Aiton is a journeyman with a pretty basic skill set who became important to us because he did a 'job'. That we cannot find an English player capable of doing that role is a huge failure of the game as a whole in this country. They should be ten a penny.

I have no doubt Buttriss can do that job. I have doubts that he is an answer that takes us forward either long or short term.

You don't rate someone you don't rate someone, but what exactly is your definition of "journeyman" that you seem to use in a derogatory way? If Aiton is a "journeyman" then you are looking at 70% of the rugby players in the same boat.

I think he has played for four clubs in his career. If you compare to other Leeds "Journeymen" in your definition, then Cuthbertson has played for 5 clubs, Kylie 6 clubs, Moon 4 clubs, Peacock 4 clubs. Are we supposed to be put off because players have played for more than one club?

Well yeah. Most players are of journeyman quality (if not moving around enough to be a journeyman)

I would say that Kylie is a journeyman aswell. Probably moon too.

Cuthbertson is better than that. And Peacock is a legend.

Aiton is a mediocre player. He has a pretty basic skill set and isn't doing anything gets particularly special. He is doing what you expect a hooker to do and not a whole lot more. A.n Other hooker will be able to slot in to Aitons role and we won't see a huge drop off.

Are we taking a month at Featherstone and a winter sorting his head out in Australia as evidence that Peacock - two clubs in 16 years - is a "journeyman"???

Anyway, the point is that maybe Butriss can fill a hole and do a job but if we really are looking at the likes of him it means we're a fair way down the list and moves for Ballin, Clark, Houghton and the like must not have come off.

When Hodgson has missed games this season, Buttriss has come straight into the starting line-up and Baptiste has remained on the bench IIRC.

i remember when we signed Aiton, i was one that said he was a decent enough signing,mainly because it would mean we would have a traditional 9 again and not be totally reliant on Burrow,however i remember there was a lot of meh reactions from the majority of the board.Its only really this season he has stood out, albeit has to be said in a team that has really clicked into top gear on the whole anyway. I agree with smokey TA, in that most experienced bog standard genuine hookers could slot into the role left by Aiton and we wouldn't lose a right lot if anything.Crucially, we need someone, even if it has to be a stop gap like Butriss.

I agree. We just need an Out and Out Hooker to defend the middle and get us good meters from Dummy Half. Leeds should be attracting quality though.

I think he was the clubs player of the year and fans player of the year. The Wakey board said he was their best by some distance. Was he their captain also?

90% of SL players are of the "journeyman" status - there are a few really top players. The really top players are all playing in the NRL - compare the skills and technique on show today and tomorrow with what will be on offer on Sunday - the gap is massive.

If you look at the players you mentioned even his agent wouldn't describe Kylie as anything more than an average JMan player. Cuthbertson has looked good at this level - bit like Gaskell in L1 - but he wasn't a huge success in the NRL. Aiton is a good average SL player nothing more, he was fortunate to get a chance in a top side. Would you swap him for Clark or Roby or MciLorum? They are top players Aiton is not at that level IMO. He is like Henderson solid JMan player. It will be a lot easier to replace him than Sinfield or Peacock.

I dont think thats fare when applied to Cuthbertson, the guy has been a revelation because he's allowed to play a more free style of game. Props in Australia are almost robotic in whats expected there. He's playing with a smile on his face and is clearly a bloke enjoying himself , having got a away from an almost formulaic game , he is now free to display exactly how skilfull a player he is.

I only hope we end up with a replacement "journeyman", as Smokey puts it, that ends up even half as good as Aiton has been for Leeds this season. If we get that great, but in Super League you will only find two or three at that level, therefore I only hope there is as many of these "Journeyman" stars in the NRL as thought, as we have seen many of these previous "Journeyman" NRL stars grace super league with nothing more than failed money grabbing performances. For every star who has come from there and excelled, there has been another three that have failed.

As for would I swap Aiton for Clark or Roby? in a heartbeat. Would I swap him for McILorum? god no. Aiton has more skill in his little toe than MCIlorum has in him, yet above Aiton is put down for skill. I suppose it depends what you are looking for in a hooker. Some hookers give great defence, some give great scoots, some give great distribution, and some have good kicking with it. Players like Roby and Clark can give you the lot, and yes that is what you want in an ideal position. Aiton gives you good defence, good distribution, uses head, and can scoot. McILorum gives you the h0use side to a player that some people like, but offer nothing to entertainment, but he can tackle.

Leeds either need an 80 minute hooker who can give everything, a top star, or they need a player who can play hooker for 40 mins, to be spelled with Burrow, and can go back on to play in the pack, therefore utilized more, with a good defensive game.

...... some people just don't like to be 'wrong' it seems.

Exactly!

Sal talks much sense, but he also seems to often have a 'bee in his bonnet' about certain individuals, or that the NRL is the utopia of the sport ..and he will do anything to try vindicating his argument with many sound valid points, but then spoils these points by revealing his underlying prejudice (e.g Sinfield - who was 'skinned' by the Catalans left winger, but who would have been joined by the vast majority of other Leeds players too, if not all - and Hardaker - too numerous examples of 'bad play' to be mentioned).
The NRL is a fanatastic competition with ALL teams competing equally, but the SL is a better vehicle for seeing the likes of Cuthbertson show his array of talents as has been [i[uproven.[/u[/i

I reckon, (yep this is a purely speculative prediction, I have no neighbour who went to school with the time keepers tea boy) That the Sleeve has already sorted a Hooker but will hold on the announcement until after the NZ game. In the meantime I reckon we will be linked with every conceivable Ausi hooker who might possibly be leaving his current club.

Bang on as that's how Gary operates

Put it this way. Since 2004 we have seen at hooker for leeds (for a reasonable period) Diskin, Buderus, Burrow, Millard, Mcshane, Aiton, Duneman, and lunt.

In terms of quality, Aiton is closer to the Millards and McShanes than the Buderus' and Diskins

Is he hell, that is just not true. He certainly is no Buderus, but neither are any of the players you mentioned. Aiton has had as influential season on Leeds as any Diskin had. Whether that makes him better or worse is completely open to opinion, but if you are bracketing players, he would be much closer to that standard, than a second rower like Millard pushed into the hooking role.