yep,he is spot on,as he usually is.
you have to question if ward is not rated, burrow is used when he has to be used here and there, then wtf did we only have one hooker in the squad? terrible oversight

Here they go again

am I wrong? no, since aitons injury we've fallen to pieces. it's there for all to see. if you want to see it

How is it a club the size of Leeds has been unable to produce a hooker of the correct quality since Matt Diskin?

Only having one hooker in the squad was a huge oversight - Burrow as a back up is nonsense notion too.

Even if they had played Sinfield at 9 he would not have defended in the middle so the issues that causes still exist.

If Sinfield isn't fit to play next week then he will play Burrow at 7 so the team will have to hide three half backs against one of the strongest physical sides in the competition - deep joy.

Never said he wasn't. I don't like McDermott use of subs at times and I don't like the hiding 3 HB's in defence tactic.

Just funny how old Mr Meldrew only pops up when it's going badly.

And you start making excuses

We have sustained injuries to both our two regular hookers in the closing stages of an otherwise successful season. On top of that the coaches have seen that the academy hooker has regressed and is not to be retained. Add to that the injury to Sutcliffe and Burrow (as cover for half back as well) and we had little alternative to play Sinfield at 9 leaving us exposed at 6.

In a capped sport you cannot just replace young Ward after the signing deadline. It is also clear that under the new SL format the Wembley finalists are at a big disadvantage playing an extra high emotion draining game in the middle of the super 8s. Add a number of injuries to key players and both the physical and mental toughness are stretched to breaking point. It would be a remarkable achievement if they can recover from this unfortunate set of circumstances.

Such as what?

Your comments about James Child's performance in the first half!! do I need to go on?

you probably should go on as I made no comment about Child's performance last night.

So I misread this?

"He was practically begging for the VR to disallow Moon's try for a knock on that only existed in his head. He calmed down in the 2nd half actually but the was so desperate for calls to go against us in he 1st half that it was again pathetic to hear from a paid "professional"

That was when we were talking about Phil Clarke you plank.

OK let's try this one

"A combination of missing 30/40 tackles a game from him for several weeks though adds up for the guys who have to make them in his absence. They were tired attempts in defence."

That's not an excuse, that's pointing out the bloody obvious that most people agree with, that we're missing Aiton.

If I were you I'd stopped trying because you're failing badly.

.
Its an excuse plain and simple - why not just admit they weren't good enough - next there be a comment about tired minds and bodies and fresher opponents - oh you have already made that excuse too haven't you?

Then it'll be we played more games than everyone else - yet omit to consider the WCC - you have made that one too?

Do you want me to go on because there are plenty more where they have come from!!

I said mid season the super 8 would define the season - an ageing side playing the best sides week in week out - so it has proved.

Can they turn it round - tough but possible - fingers crossed they can do the senior players deserve at least that. The coaching structure needs a serious review regardless - one player getting injured should not disrupt the team in such an alarming manner.

Well then you're accusing nearly everybody on this board of making an excuse then if mentioning Aiton being a loss......without checking all your posts since he got injured I'd hazard a guess that you've at some point highlighted to the significance his absence will bring. Also the number of times you've excused Catslans because Carney was injured.....glass houses.

True three teams played a WCC....six months ago. We're talking about right now the likes of Hudds and Wigan have had 2 weekends off in the last 8 weeks, we've had none. Again that's pointing out the obvious, that you mistake people highlighting the obvious as "excuses" says more about your Meldrew mindset.....even to the point when you can't read a post about Phil Clarke without mistaking it for one about the referee.

I'd love Leeds to sign some like Andrew McCullough from Brisbane. I think he's exactly what we need, chances of that ever happening are slim though :

Desperate need for a hooker?

Or a more desperate need to stop missing cheap tackles, dropping cheap ball and giving away cheap penalties?

Yes but the point that is beyond your comprehension is that the teams that played in WCC had to peak early in the year and that would have effected their form afterwards. Just in the way you are saying the CC has impacted Leeds. Leeds should have built a bigger lead at the top - sadly the usual mid season slump cost them again. There current position has nothing to do with weeks off, it was Leeds' inability to capitalise earlier in the season. The fact you couldn't see the issues the super 8s were going cause this side says much and your bleating is exactly how you responded last year.

Saints have played the same number of games as Leeds and the CC final was hardly a high impact game now was it? I suspect the drinking afterwards had more impact than the game itself. It is not an excuse IMO - the squad was never deep enough and the inability to cover positions with appropriate youngsters is there for all to see. The coaching needs some attention.

Confirmed that Robbie Ward is leaving at the end of the season. Another one bites the dust in the trailer of young hookers shipped out of Headingley...

I'm sure it won't be long before Halmshaw is added to that list. Thankfully, Whitley looks the business, both in terms of skillset, and physicality.

I like Harvey Whiteley. A lot. Got everything you need from a hooker about his game.

I just hope whoever the club do bring in, there's still going to be room for him at Headingley if he fulfills his potential.

Like what? I am a fan of Harvey's and have watched him play for his local club for last two years, but until the last year, and only at Leeds he has only just become an hooker. Played scrum half at Oulton, just Leeds that switched him.

He is not to the level that Robbie Ward was at the same age. And despite Harvey's tenacity, speed, rugby brain, and stockiness, his biggest weakness, which I am not sure he can resolve, is his height, and it may stop him becoming long term hooker because of it.

Pretty much what you've just described, plus having the hands of a half-back.

He's still got time to finish growing yet, but I'm not convinced height is that much of an issue. Nathan Friend is 5-7, and it's not handicapped him from having a successful career in the NRL which we're given to believe is much more physically intense than SL.

Agreed.Issac Luke is about 5" 8 and is one of the best in the world.