Agreed - we looked a better team than last week when both Hauraki and Cross were playing.

Wow! I agree with Tad! Did not miss either of them today and Kirke had a decent game- he made all of three metres once and made some good tackles. His best game so far but that's not saying much. Great to see the impact of Danny's return too. It lifted everyone - team and crowd!

Old ladies usually like me

OOOOERRRR!!!!!!! I was just so pleased to see that my thoughts were in line for a change! I do like you Tad ...but only for today!

I thought kirke was better at hull but this was probably a close second. He's useful to have around the squad at little cost I hope! However when everyone is fit he shouldn't be troubling the kit man

With regulars of JP and Ali still to come back competition in the pack is getting very strong. Fridays squad selection will be interesting with or without a JP return.

I thought Kirke played well and on more than one occasion he was through the line looking to off-load with no support runners.
I will add though if JP is fit for friday then Kirke drops out imo Clarkson ,Abbo and Jjb were good again and that plus Sinny to 13 should be our back-row.

Would Ali really bring that much that Kirke etc offer at the min?

Do we know if JP is gonna be in the 19 for friday?

I never thought I would read this as a serious comment.



Ali might be past his best....but Kirke ? One half decent game and all is forgiven ?

I thought I saw JP limping a bit still??

Kirke played well today. Made good metres and his quick play the ball led to a break in the 1st half and a good offload another break resulting in a try in the 2nd half.
The match highlight for me though was Burrow producing a defence splitting pass for Abletts try. Almost as rare as a dominant performance from Kirke.

Apart from the dynamic running and dangerous offloads? nah not much

Thought burrow was good today, possibly his best game of the season thus far

No one looked more surprised than Burrow himself.



He looked "busy" and scored a good blindside try...(but after the initial break he ignored the runners). He remains guilty of ignoring what is happening around him and goes for the duck for glory far too often. Still..an improvement on more recent showings.

Seems very likely

Glad MCdermott has shown the mettle to drop his two overseas signings. Not sure Cross merited it, but Hauraki certainly did.

Kirke was, as said, pretty good today.

Burrow was excellent but he always is. Not sure what people are seeing. That was his third official man of the match of the season and he should have got it really at Millenium.

Kirke was superb today.

Reminded me of a carefully yet beautifully constructed amalgam of all the best bits of Trevor Paterson, Adrian Morley, Ellery Hanley and Sam Backo (Yorkshire Cup spell).

Agree on all counts.

Did I overhear correctly that McGuire was named 18th man and that Hauraki was a late injury withdrawal?

Was Cross dropped or rotated given we're in the middle of the busy Easter period. Another big game coming up on Friday.

I heard Cross and Hauraki were 'dropped' although if they had a slight niggle then I guess that's an easier decision to make for the coach.

Not sure if this has been mentioned in the thread but Cross, Hauraki, Pitts and JP spent 20 minutes training on the field after the game so, finally, some selection headaches ahead.

Both a waste of the quota and still difficult to comprehend....esp with Ambler and Amor obviously both ready to step up to regular SL standard

Harlequins are trying to turn Ambler into a loose forward.

Watch out Sinny.

Funny, I thought their fan would have us believe it was only Brian McDermott that made puzzling team selections and that Rob Powell was the answer to all their woes?

Not taken long to put both of those myths to bed.

He played very well at loose in the Ireland V Scotland international in the Autumn