And that is where we do actually agree. And on that basis, I see no problem in Kirke been rewarded with a new contract. Giving competition to others, and allowing us to rotate.

However, I see a different picture forming.

By getting his chance later in the season on both occassions, and giving good form going into both games.

Are we seeing the same form now? are we balls. Does that mean he is not deserving of a new contract? not in my opinion, he is a good squad player.

Totally disagree with that.

IMO Bailey doesnt offer us as much as Kirke and doesnt get through the work that Kirke does. With his size Bailey should be offering us alot more than he does. Kirke would be in my 17 every week.

"What Kirke is though right now is a first choice selected 13 player. He is in the team week in week out now. On that basis IMO and it appears others, he is not good enough for that role"

If that doesn't mean that you don't think he's good enough to be in the 17 week in, week out then what does it mean?

Honestly, knitting fooking fog again...

When is kirke doing this work?

He had a lot of game time last Tuesday with JJB's injury.

He carried the ball 7 times, made 33 metres at an average carry of 4.71 (worst amongst our forwards). He also missed 4 tackles. Much poorer than Bailey.

Kirke can and has put in much better performances than that but not on a consistent and regular basis.

He's not the cornerstone of anything I am afraid. He's done some good stuff and I can agree with bloodbath and Gilder's assessment of him to a degree but I am afraid there's a touch of the Feather about him. He's got the raw tools and the size but too often puts in powder puff displays, Tuesday being one of the worst.

Kirke reminds me of big Wayne Mac but not as good, although Kirke is considerably better looking, although I aren't sure if that played a part in the his new contract.

I'd second that - just behind Hall

-

A much better signing than Kyle.

Well there is no point arguing further then is there. If somebody cant tell the difference between 13 players and 17, its a no gamer.

Yeah well aparently his day time show, talking to chavs ITV1, is going well.



You win some you lose some.....

Or in your case, you win some, you lose more.

Not sure I agree with that. He didn't struggle to get into the 17 with Ellis in the team

Says the man who thinks there's a huge distinction in whether someone starts or comes off the bench in their value to the squad.

ROFL

IMO Kirke is an average squad player. but still a decent signing to make as it is a 20 man game.

For me he plays very little game time with JJB, JP etc almost able to play a full game. when he does start i very rarely notice him apart from an occasional run. To say the little game time he plays you would think he would make a bigger impact.

Although i think he has improved over the last couple of years probably because he is now training full time having previously been part time.

possibly more to come he does not infuriate me as he used to!

Just of the top of my head here is a list of current players that whilst being out of form some f***wits on here have decided that we should not renew a contract or get rid instantly

Burrow
Senior
JJB
Sinfield
Bailey
Donald
Ablett
Lautiiti
Kylie
McGuire
Kirke
Diskin
Hall
Smith


I think only Webb & Peacock have been the lucky ones

That was when we tended to use 2 props and 2 backroweers on the bench because we only had one hooker. Ablett/Ellis were also filling in at right centre. I'm not knocking Kirke just questioning DISA's assertion that he is currently a first 13 choice player which IMO he isn't.

Webb's had some criticism, but the majority of that was acknowledged to be part of his return to first team action after a bad injury.

So that just leaves JP, did he get some stick during 2006?

Yes, there were many on here disgruntled that he wasn't as good as when he was at bradford when he's simply done the same as he always has, wherever he's been.

Our fans are easily the least knowledgeable in the league, or certainly the proportion of them that post on here are.

Fair point.

My take on it is that you can't have an international in each position, and he give a certain level of effort and skill, but at low cost. It used to be the role of JJB, but he has now progressed to one of the best 2nd rows in this country, and will be on a fair whack more now.

A decent re-sign. Just hope that we have some new faces in the pipeline, as most of the other clubs are getting their signings sorted for next year too. I don't want us to miss out

There was also the argument that JP wasn't a prop.

It's all flooding back now, well thats a full house BINGO

Not one of our back to back championship winning squad is fit to play for Leeds

Seriously? and I dont mean this disrespectful, so apologies if taken, but i take it you don't go often?

Leeds last 7 games.

the starting pack was

Hull: Kylie, Buderus, Peacock, JJB, Kirke, Ablett
Cas: Kylie, Buderus, Peacock, JJB, Kirke, Sinfield
Catalans: Kylie, Buderus, Peacock, Kirke, JJB, Ablett
Harlequins: Kylie, Diskin, Peacock, Kirke, JJB, Sinfield
Huddersfield: Kirke, Diskin, Peacock, JJB, Ablett, Sinfield
Salford: Burgess, Diskin, Bailey, Kirke, JJB, Sinfield
Bradford: Kylie, Diskin, Peacock, Kirke, JJB, Sinfield

Perhaps me and you have a different interpretation of what the word current means. Or anybody can pick me up if the teams are wrong. But either way I am correct on this.

Without having had a serious look at the stats the comparison of JP 2006 with JP in each of 2003, 2004 and 2005 is interesting.

JP the Bradford prop from 2005 looks to have performed better in most areas to the 2006 Leeds model - more yards, more carries, more breaks, more busts, more tries, more offloads, more marker tackles, more tackles generally, fewer misses. Even if you weight it for him having played more games for Bradford the difference is still very marked.

Its difficult to compare a player playing in a different side in a different year but I'd have thought the naysayers had a fair bit of evidence to support their comments in 2006.

I suspect though the fekwit angle really comes into play as most fans' memories will be of JP the second row playing as part of a big pack and his busts and long range breaks, rather than the JP playing down the middle in 2006. Look at acomparison with 2003 for that - more yards off fewer carries, loads more breaks and busts but nowhere near the often unnoticed defensive stint that 2006 contained.

They could also be spending their cap on a backrow of: Pelutua, Wilkin and Flannery - wonder where that backrow currently sits in the table?