Or Sinfield who had experience at 9 including a MOM performance for England playing there, or Lunt who came in 2012, or Alton when he came in, or Lowes one of the best hookers of the SL era, or Roby when Burrow was called up to do the same role for England.....not to mention he did make a few appearances there earlier in his career pre McDermott so previous coaches too.

Burrow was hardly a stranger to the dummy half role prior to the McDermott era, he played hooker under every coach he's played for at senior level. I find it hard to believe he received no coaching from any of them.

As in any walk of life, the people with the biggest megaphone get the support of the masses. McDermot is therefore an object to be ridiculed. Facts cannot be included in this debate.

I guess Burrow is making a distinction between being tasked to stand in as a short term temporary measure and/or making an impact from the bench in addition to a recognised starting hooker to being asked to be the starting hooker - a role he'd fulfilled once under Powell, twice under Smith and not at all under McClennan according to my records.

Rob was also quite candid in a Sky interview with Sam Tomkins a few seasons ago, his (of the golden generation) will potentially be the interesting autobiography.

If you recall lowes was a decent scrum half at hunslet. Can't remember if he started at scrum half for Leeds and then changed to hooker.

For me the reason we need a change is because the rugby is just so boring - the attack has never had any structure in all the time McDermott has been coach. Previously we had quick players who could play off the cuff instinctively these days its just 5 drives and a kick. Its time for some fresh ideas

Oh you'll not be entertained watching Leeds that's for sure

All I can think is that were we to suffer injuries in a big game the players are used to playing with a limited bench. In a payoff that could be crucial, though is clutching at straws somewhat

Yes I think that is one hell of a straw to clutch at.

Someone said our pack is slow. Next year we have Galloway, Cuthbertson, Ablett, Delaney, JJB and Ferres all the wrong side of 30 and all likely to be in the first choice 17. Only Ward and Parcell of our definite starters are in the prime age range. As a group that needs freshening up big time. That can't be down to BM alone.

Also, reading Burrow's interview in the YEP, he could basically be saying that he had to work out a way of playing hooker that worked for him. Who was going to be able to teach him to dart around the PTB in the way he did to smash Sts? Literally nobody else could have done what he did, and no skills coach could teach it.

Burrow was stood at first receiver (where the 7 should be) when he carved up Saints in 2011, so I still maintain he played his best stuff at halfback.

Im still of the belief that it should have been Sinfield who converted to Hooker after Buderus left (or stuck at 13), but I guess it didnt work out too badly in the end.

But his 'stuff as a halfback' wasn't the meat and drink of a halfback - organising, kicking and passing. He was never good enough in those basics to balance his undoubted running game to have been a great halfback.

True. having Sinfield at 13 back in the day allowed McGuire and Burrow to concentrate on their running games and took a lot of the pressure off. If we didn't have Sinfield it's hard to imagine we could have run with those two in the halves and responsible for game management with a bog standard running lock behind them which is the way of most sides today.

I see Ryan Hall is coaching Yorkshire in the Origin game tomorrow. If Yorkshire win and Leeds become Super League Champions, does it mean Ryan is the real reason Leeds have come away with victories this year? Just like when Sinfield and Peacock used to coach the team...

It was a great time to be a Leeds fan, especially when Webb was fullback and an extra pivot. Part of the issues we have at the moment is that we don't have a "fully functioning"pair of halfbacks and we miss the extra option in either the 1 or 13 jersey. Its hardly surprising that we sometimes struggle with the ball when McGuire is the only ball player we have, its a lot of pressure on one man.

i think walker could easily replicate webb given time. I don't see moon as a half, he hasn't done it in a big game. i'd be happy for lilley to get a run next to myler next season. lilley has a great rugby brain, a real organising half back.

I wonder if he can control his gob this week or if he's going to do Cas's team talk for them again.

If Moon is moved from the halves what happens to Sutcliffe?

More importantly can the team do their jobs on the field. Can they wrap the ball up and restrict off loads. Can we cut out cheap penalties and silly mistakes which invite repeated pressure.

In attack can we cause cas some troubles?

I think that is a little harsh, Burrow has always had an underrated kicking game and I remember pleanty of big games where Burrow consistently stopped the ball in the in goal area. He never had the natural passing game that McGuire has (with big over the top balls or quick flicks of the wrists) but he could put a player through a gap (which was helped by big defenders being petrified of him running).

Hard to know if he had the organising skills at his peak as it always felt that Sinfield was pulling the strings and dictating the game plan, but if you look back at old games, Sinfield played very similar to how SO'L plays ow for Wigan.

I think what we can agree on is that Burrow McGuire and Sinfield all complemented each other perfectly, just a shame that none of the donkeys in the GB job could see it.

Good with his head though, that Burrow lad.

I'd like to see anyone defend this embarrassment.

oh i'm sure a few will

Printer, the floor is yours.

Nah I'll just let people read the first few pages of this thread again and let them remember what the likes of you and Norman said.

What was it you said mid 2011 ....this Leeds generation were finished? Only won 3 of the next 5 GF