do you think his contribution is good/acceptable ?

Do you mean you would have dropped Donald?

You were very careful at the time to demonstrate how that wasn't what you were saying back then.

I was critical of Donald's performance levels this season (to that point) and in particular in that game, which was a low point.

I qualified my criticism over several posts, and several threads, explaining the reason behind Donald playing below the usually excellent standards he had set for himself throughout his Leeds career.

I was also very impressed with Halls form and emergence at that point.

Watkins had a magnificent game against Huddersfield on the wing.

I recall that I opined that Mclennan and Donald needed to find a way to turn Donal's form around.

Thanks goodness they have done and the Donald boo boys have gone quiet. Many more performances like the Huddersfield game though and they would have been out in force and Watkins may just have got more games on the wing in the 1st team.

Is that defensive reply a yes then?

He also got away with reefing the ball after the tackle was completed on at least one occasion. On another day he'll get caught for it.

Yawn.....

The "usually excellent standards" ...

... if we discard the entire first season....a portion of the second....and most of this one...you'd be bang on the money Gareth.

Have to concentrate to read so many words at once did we?

His first season he was very good.

His second season he was excellent.

His third season he was excellent.

This season started poorly for a number of reasons but he's turned it around and is now in fine, matchwinning form again.

Donald remains one of the best wingers in the league and, on form, head and shoulders the best winger at our club.

The answers are all there.

Disagree with this part, although agree with the rest. The above comment is selective memory IMO.

guess not then

Bless.

MATRON....

Quality rebuttal.

Not at all Matt. I've maintained this since 2006 and beyond.

He played well in 2006. I think those that say he had a terrible season have selective memory based upon, mainly, the semi final at Odsal.

Comparing 2006 (allegedly poor) with 2007 (dream team selection).

2006 better try return.
2006 more tackles.
2006 more offloads
2006 more runs from dummy half
2006 more marker tackles.

Of course there are areas where he was better in 2007 but I maintain he played well in 2006. Often (and Smith commented upon this at the time). He would be the next men in support after the try scorer, showing an appetite for the ball.

And there's me thinking statistics were for mathematicians.

that depends entirely upon whether they support my argument or contradict it, as well you should know.

If they don't support your argument just spin them, not that I need to tell you that anyway.

I thought he just ignored them rather than spin them.

I thought that Donald's turn & chase to prevent Brier's kick restart from their 20 metre mark was absolutely criotical in us winning the game.
Just as important as the tries he scored.
Showed true appreciation of the game situation, not sure that Watkins would have had that, but we'll never know.
He's turned his season round & is now back to his best, let's hope it continues.

As was his kick return in the build up to a try. Its good to see him showing some form again.

My understanding was that Donald was quicker than Hall. I couldn't understand why, when Sinfield kicked from the scrum, Hall was the only one chasing down Mathers. Either communication was poor or Donald didn't want to commit himself.

Or Sinfield had called the play with Hall. Hall was in position, centre of the field, off his wing so it had clearly been set up for him, and not Donald, all along.

it would have looked a lot more obvious what was on had donald been in the middle of the field. with the scrum been on the left hand side, hall been behind the scrum would be a fairly normal position for running the ball in.

As I said a communication issue, in which case I had Donald as blameless.

If he had been aware he could have chased from his wing position. I would have expected his speed to run down Mathers, I suspect he wasn't aware which is a bit of a waste of an alleged speedster.

With hindsight perhaps I should have used this one:



In my defence I was spoiled for choice.

____________



SL Reg Rds only

Kevin Sinfield - 12
Jamie Peacock - 4 + 1 joint top
Carl Ablett - 3 + 1 joint top
Danny Buderus - 1
Matt Diskin - 1
Jamie Jones-Buchanan - 1

The top tackle count in a single performance was by Sinfield with 51 V Harlequins at Headingley.

If Sinfield played at loose forward all the time he'd most likely be expected to top the count in light of his regular eighty minute stints he puts in there.