Buderus' delivery of the ball from dummy half and line speed and intensity in defence is far superior to Diskin's IMO.

The biggest difference for me in last nights game was the ability Wigan had to make yards from deep in their half and get into position to make an attacking kick - the prime example was the first drive of the second half. I think with Buderus' intensity in defence and ability to get out of the line quicker we were better with this when he was on the field.

Diskin did some good things and Buderus some poor things last night but the player who offers more to our side is still Buderus for me. I think it's criminal his game time is as limited as it is at times.

Having said that Disko should, and will go down as a Leeds legend and I have no axe to grind with someone who is a very accomplished and successful Super League player.

Just a question, but shouldn't we expect more - a lot more - from Buderus given his track record pre-Leeds?

Hoo frikkiin ray, some sense at last.

Of course we should. He's been an absolute bust. When people speak about his tangible errors, as shown last night, his supporters talk about the speed of the ball from Buderus which is really unquantifiable and hasn't really done much for us this year. Diskin's speed of the ball has been pretty useful.

Yes, and I still don't think we needed him when we signed him. Although I'd argue that behind a pack which has been depleted and struggled for a lot of this year both him and Diskin have performed fairly well.

In fact after McGuire and Bailey I think Buderus has probably been our best player this year.

HAving not seen large parts of his NRL career would it be fair to say that while being a great hooker he never really managed to drag a poor Newcastle team at times to his own level? His defensive work and service are superb and can set the tone but on there own cannot change a game.

What he does he des very well and in dominant NSW and Australia sides he was clearly a great hooker but with a team on the back foot he isn't going to inspire you in the way that a Cunningham or a Lowes have done down the years.

Buderus did not cost us the game, lack of creativity in the halves and the bounce of the ball on a couple of occasions leading to 2 wigan tries cost us the game. Neither diskin or buderus cost us the game but both played poorly.

The game was made for mcguire because on at least 3 occasions there were chances for an offload which mcguire would have scored from 9 times out of 10 but nobody was there. Burrow was poor and has been all season and offers us very little. We need a Briers or Dobson kind of halve back to compliment Mcguire to the maximum.

Am I right in thinking you question the sense of signing him due to our needs rather than his ability?

Would you agree he has outperformed Diskin over the course of the season?

How would you organise the role next year as we have retained both players so will be in the same position?

My only gripe with the hooking 'situation' is the persistence in trying to keep both happy with equal game time. For 2 seasons interchanging hookers hasn't worked, we just seem to lose our way as the team re-adjusts to the differing style of each player. Nothing against Diskin (a fine club man) but we shipped 18 points after he'd come on. Could be coincidence, but its not the first time this has happened.

Next season give either Buderus or Diskin a clean run at hooker and free up a bench spot for another forward. How useful would Ambler have been on Saturday given that when Kylie was spelled we had no recognised props out there.

That is correct. He was a luxury that was not needed and the quota and cap space could have been much better used elsewhere.

My other issue is with the complete over reaction our fans have to his performances which have ranged between poor, anonymous and good but never as great on a consistent basis as any reasoned fan would have a right to expect from such a player.

Not by as much as some would have you believe and given that he has had the lions share of the role not by enough. Certainly not my the same margin's as Diskin out performed him when given the role exclusively in July last year.

I'd start Diskin and bring Buderus off the bench.

Bang on, and something that Webb has been doing increasingly more often this season.

How many times do you seem him making tackles up in the defensive line ten metres out and then being in no position to deal with the kick on the last play?

Whether it's the way he's being told to play or something he's doing off his own back I don't know, but it's leaving a yawning gap for the grubber into the in-goal.

As has been mentioned previously, Buderus bombed a walk in by trying to score himself and not passing outside. The deliberate off side was also very odd, given that he made absolutely no attempt to get back on side.
The problem is that niether of our hookers are particulalrly good at being the interchange impact sub. However, I have to agree with G1, of the two, Diskin is probably best suited to starting the game.
I don't like to criticise coaches because I'm pretty certain that even the worst SL coach has a greater knowledge of the game than me. However, I have found myself questioning Bluey's decisions so often this year that I really do worry about next season.

If some of the things I've been hearing about McLennan from inside the club are true, I'd question whether he'll still be at Leeds next season personally.

I think that is more to do with how disorganised we have been in defence and Webb's confidence in those in front of him, rather than any grand plan. Either way, you are quite right, the gap left is very difficult to defend against on rushing attacking players.

Seems to be alot of it about AG gathering pace and IF it's true it needs sorting 1 way or the other ASAP we can't have it stewing during the off/pre-season and start next year with unrest and division behind the scenes.

I don't know what you have heard, but I heard a lot of players were pretty pished off at Barrie McDermotts comments on sky on the Bailey/Radford incident, losing a lot of respect, and yet the club have done nothing about that.

It's more fundamental than that Gotcha, suffice to say some of the feedback from the players indicates that McLennan's input on the training field and attitude to coaching is more Doug Laughton than Ellery Hanley...

The fact is neither Diskin or Buderus have been playing well consistantly. I do feel however Buderus has played better than Diskiin has for us. I feel Diskin is a shadow of his former self, lost some pace and no longer looks a threat from DH. Buderus has at times looked world class, but not on enough occasions imo to justify the money spent on him (salary). Buderus on his day though is by far the better hooker. And for those saying either cost us the game is just utter nonsense and laughable.

But we have brought in a first class coach for next year to work with him, that should solve that issue. BM was regarded as important for Smiths role with the club, and certainly got a glowing reference from all players whilst here.

Yes very good point.

I hope/think that you're right and that Brian Mc will have a positive influence but if Bluey has "lost" the dressing room or the divisions continue then it may be too late to be smoothed over.

My main point was that the interchange of Buderus and Diskin patently is not effective.....never has been. We seemed to be maintaining control with Buderus on the field.....then on came Diskin.
I repeat I do not have an agenda....but really see no point in wasting a bench spot to bring on a player who is generally inferior in all areas. Diskin does not come on and potentially change the dynamics in our favour with something different like a Roby does for a Cunningham.

Buderus might have been disappointing but castigating him for the penalties is harsh. Webb held onto Richards' leg for an eternity but was lucky to escape a penalty... Penalties are a lottery sometimes as we well know. But a terrible pass to Sinfield on the wigan line was an inferior skill.

I would be more happy if both were dropped for the start of 2011 and we looked to the future with the next generation of McShane and/or Hood. However, of the two old timers Buderus has much more to offer and, as many continue to state, should be given the full 80 for a lengthy enough period for us to properly judge him. If he fails to impress fair enough...bring back Diskin to play the full 80.

Again I really genuinely cannot see what the likes of Emma, Danny and Gareth see in Diskin. It's bordering on fanatical hero-worship....maybe one or all of them are ex lovers of the man ??

More surprised with Batley rhino though.

I think what they and others see in Disko mate is a 1st choice 80 minute 9 who has played a major role in us winning 3-in-a-row and has proved his worth to Leeds in numerous finals etc etc etc.
I haven't seen anyone question whether or not Buderus is a good player but he was signed and that has been seen as not needed and has had a negative effect on Diskos game whilst the praise has gone to Buderus when we've won feck all with him as 1st choice 9.
Now i like Buderus and think he offers us quality in the 9 position but i think the rotation hasn't worked when he's started so why not start Disko?
We tried once or twice and it seemed to go ok and i will also add it's not Disjkos fault if we lose momentum when Buderus goes off it's a 13 man game and it can't just down to 1 player if we squander a lead or lose a match.

If both have to be included in the game day 17 (not that I think they should be) then I would perhaps like to see Diskin start and Buderus take over on twenty / twenty five and play out the game from there. Diskin would then be available to mix and match back row from the bench if required.

Buderus is the better hooker but the way he has been used at Leeds has failed to make the most of his ability. A failure of team selection/coaching, IMO.

That has also failed Disko imo but i also think both of them have to take some responsabillity for poor form.

I think with McDermotts input next year, you might find Diskin been used as he should be next year.

How has McDermott used Randall for the last few years? I am pretty confident that will be Buderus next year.

Do we think Mclennan is going to sit back and let McDermott take the reigns?