Yes.

It doesn't particularly matter in many games, and I understand the need to keep both players fresh/happy, but the fact is that the team will be better whenever an on-form Buderus is on the field and he's capable of playing the whole game, and for big games he should be there for the full 80. Added to that, you get a free option on the bench. That's hard on Diskin, but that's the situation.

I agree that we should have 4 forwards on the bench, Bluey will have to rotate them if he does go with 4 forwards but i'm not sure either will be happy as they'll both want to play 80 minutes every week and that's what both are used to doing.
Personally i'd like to see Buderus play every week for the full 80, Disko has been a good player for us and still is but Buderus is just on another level, he's different class and IMO we look a better side when he's on the field. Last year when they both played Buderus was getting us on the front foot from the start and Diskin would come on and the momentem would go with the other team, it was affecting Diskin's game IMO which is understandable when your used to been the number 1 hooker at the club and then a world class hooker comes in and takes your starting place and your number 9 shirt and then your playing from the bench. Nobody would be happy but that's sport and Buderus is the better player. Once Buderus got injured and Diskin could play the full game knowing he's not gonna be coming off he came back into form and finished the year great but it will be interesting to see what Bluey does because straight away Buderus is back in from the start with Disko on the bench.

Which hooker have we won four Grand Finals with?

Which hooker has played every game since Buderus got injured in the defeat to Wigan which, i believe was the last game we lost?

Why does this mean absolutely nothing to our supporters?

You can't use that as an argument against Buderus. Many would say we lost because he went off!

Can't argue too much on the other points, though. Disco is part of the core of the phenomenal team we've put together. I'd be loath to lose him.

Our fans are like magpies who crave a shiny penny.

We have a fantastic young hooker in Diskin who has been integral to this golden era at the club.

Yet that is so easily dismissed by our fans because of a bigger, flashier name who has done wonders at other clubs and in other countries but nothing at ours.

I am only pleased our players show more loyalty to our club than our supporters do to them.

Serious question here Gareth.

Are you really trying to say that if given the choice that the club could have Sam Burgess but would need to drop Ryan Bailey to do it, that you would prefer Bailey in the team?

Big difference Sam Burgess isn't in the twilight of his career.
I see no reason why we can't have both Disko and Buderus in the 17.

He could have answered himself. I thought the issue was about "shiny pennies" rather than age. But fair enough.

Is anyone seriously saying that if giving the option of signind Roy Asotasi, but would have to drop Ryan Bailey for it, that they would prefer Bailey in the team?

I'm not really bothered which hooker bluey picks just as long as it's the one who's playing best and every time I've seen bedsy he's been light years better than disco. you have to pick your form players, I think we can all agree on that? but again I will say for me Leeds are a better team with 4 big lads on the bench.

i agree, when buderus got injured and Bluey played 4 big lads we improved a hell of alot, in fact did he get injured in the wigan game and didnt we beat everyone after that?

maybe that shows that Disco really stepped up to the plate, or actually that 4 big lads works better!

Or that the continuity of having the same player at dummy half playing the same way makes it easier for the rest of the team.

For me both! Disco really stood up after bedsys injury. I think bedsy was the form player of the comp until his injury.

In the same vein, it would be possible to replace all the lads who've come through the Leeds system with supposedly superior players. Assuming we were to do this and get rid of Sinfield, McGuire, Diskin, Bailey, JJB et al., would you really be that confident that the new Leeds would substantially improve on 4 GF wins in 6 years?

These are all players who still have much to offer IMO.

Its a fair point, and one I agree with, what I think the point you are making.

But the question I was raising was relating to one change, not various. The management of any club will always tell you that they are looking to improve. Is it therefore wrong if a decision is made to bring in a quality player at the expense of someone who sentiment wise you would rather not lose?

I could've but was getting a sandwich and fanstanningly answered it succinctly anyway. Besides, why do we have to lose Bailey to sign Burgess? If we had our heads screwed on we'd sign BUrgess to replace peacock or Kylie.

And I wouldn't sign Asotasi to replace Bailey for the reasons set out in Clearwings post which I suggest you, and other fantasy squad builders, have a read of and think about.

Is it sentiment or risk?

For mine Buderus as an 80 minute player week in week out is a high risk strategy.

Diskin on the other hand is a low risk proposition.

The way its being played so far looks to be trying to balance the risk.

But we were discussing Diskin/Buderus and you started introducing other hypothetical into it.

So, perhaps best we stick to the subject at hand.

Buderus is clearly a more talented individual than Diskin. Were there any signs during Buderus run in the team that we were playing better than we were during Diskins season ending undefeated run in the team.

Hetherington sells the team ethos to these players. they buy into it. read Halls comments when he signed his new deal or Sinfields after the GF. What will it do to everything we've built if they see their team mate, a lad who came through the ranks, a lad who gave great service, who has played, sweat and bled along side them to 4 GF victories, ousted in favour of an old, injury probe, big name Aussie?

Buderus is the better player but Disco is the one i'd keep anyday. He's still got plenty left in him, he's consistant and also a fine hooker, not as good as Budsy but very good. He's English, he's part of the fabulous set up at the club and is and will be a vital cog in our future success.

I used your same argument on a different position, that's all. We signed Buderus at 31 year old. I can not believe that anyone (salary cap issues aside) would not rather have say a 31 year old Adrian Morley than Ryan Bailey.



And that should be the end of it. The best players that are "available" should be the team taking to the field.

Is that not all that people are saying? Or have I missed something from others earlier posts. Aplogies if I have.

Really? What about Scott Donald? He's the best winger available to us but you want rid of him to comply with a quota we're complying with already and want to sign someone based solely on them being club trained or federation trained.

Do you make things up as you go along?

I have just answered that on the other thread you asked me on.

IN YOUR OPINION he is the best winger we have. Not in mine, and a lot of other supporters.

Who is the better winger available to us?

Oh, and its' not just my opinion. Its' the opinion of Brian Mclennan and Tony Smith before him.

I'm not left with a lot of options am i. I have already answered it on the other thread, Watkins for me should be playing there to get the game time. Outside Delaney you could put Ricky Sheriffe in and he would get bag loads of tries, so I would have no worries with Watkins ahead of Donald.

they can all play till they can no longer walk

everything in the garden is rosy but if everyone is irreplaceable because they won a grand final will reach a point when we lose half the team @ once

Once Leeds took the decision to extend Donald's deal for 2010 it makes perfect sense for Leeds to play him as he's the second best winger in the club.

Once Leeds took the decision to sign Buderus for the 2009 and 2010 season it makes perfect sense for Leeds to play him as he's the best hooker in the club.

Dependant on fitness and form there will be games where Diskin (the second best hooker in the club) will be used on the bench, there may be other games that call for an extra forward option that maybe better provided by a different player within the squad.