Granted but it still needs stamina to do it. There are plenty of hookers who can't. I think he is a 80 minute player IMO

yes i do



first saints and then leeds

Ref for friday is ..

Ben Thaler

Cue our stats king Mr TVOC, what's our record under young Ben?

I may be wrong but I dont think we do too bad with ben in charge. The stats will obviously prove me a fool

No - I think you're right mate, IIRC we have more wins under young Ben than losses.

makes a pleasant change for me

Thaler is whistle happy, very frustrating.

Good news for Leeds.

Our win percentage seems high when he refs.

Maybe someone can clarify this?

And you're just backward.

Diskin, JJB, McGuire, Ablett and Bailey all return this week. No Ali tho.

Id go with

Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGurie
Sinfield
Kylie
Buderus
JP
JJB
Ablett
Eastwood

Diskin
Kirke
Bailey
Burgess

i think

Webb
Smith
Delaney
Senior
Hall
McGurie
Sinfield
Kylie
Buderus
JP
JJB
Kirke
Ablett

Diskin
Eastwood
Bailey
Burgess

If those are the 17 - I would roll with that line-up.

Spot on.

Big bench. Strong team.

Will it fire though?

If we have to have Diskin in the 17 then he has to start.

He is too slow to be an impact player, offering nothing to change a game.

He is a steady as you go player, playing at a steady tempo.

Therefore use him to keep the momentum at a steady pace to start off with and keep things tight. Then go for it when Buderus is introduced.

I'd agree in part.

Buderus comes out of the ruck quicker.

But rather then be reactive - why not be proactive?

We're at home and we need to make a stand. From the kick off we need to take the game to Wire and put them under pressure. Keeping it tight is safe - I think we need to up it and really go for them. So to follow my tactics - I'd have Buderus starting as he is (at present) the largest attacking threat at 9.

OR we could forget about Diskin altogether for this one (pigs might fly) and use the superior player for the FULL 80 mins. I agree we need him on from the begining to "take it to em"....what's the point in then bringing on a player who will "slow it down" and allow Wire back into it ??

I agree, but what a waste of a sub spot then to have Diskin there. He shouldn't be there in my opinion unless he is starting, and my preference would be Buderus.

But we know he is going to be there, so we have to go with the steady and tight tactics first.

I'm not sure with our squad as it is we have a stronger player than Diskin waiting to play.

Even if he plays as a second row I think he would offer more than the likes of Pitts etc

Sinfield at 7, Diskin at 9, our pack, kicking and defence are going to have to be at their very best if we're to have a chance IMO.

Looking forward to McGuries first game to be honest.

Oh aye, keep an eye on him you wont be disappointed.

That'll teach me to copy another persons tea, list and edit rather than writing my own

McGuries first game was at Hull FC away in 2008, so said the FC announcer.

=#0000BFLeeds with Ben Thaler in the middle:

Played 18, Won 17, Drawn 0, Lost 1, 94%

W/D/L Sequence: W W W W W W =#FF0000L W W W W W W W W W W W

=#0000BFLeeds At Headingley with Thaler:

Played 13, Won 13, Drawn 0, Lost 0, 100%

W/D/L Sequence: W W W W W W W W W W W W W

=#0000BFLeeds V Warrington with Thaler:

Played 3, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 0, 100%

W/D/L Sequence: W W W

=#800000Warrington SL Regular Rounds with Ben Thaler in the middle:

Played 20, Won 14, Drawn 0, Lost 6, 70%

W/D/L Sequence: W =#FF0000L W W =#FF0000L W =#FF0000L =#FF0000L W W W W W W =#FF0000L W W W =#FF0000L W

=#800000Warrington Away Record with Thaler:

Played 9, Won 7, Drawn 0, Lost 2, 78%

W/D/L Sequence: W =#FF0000L W W =#FF0000L W W W W

Good work. That backs up the feelings I and my fellow posters have.