If Leeds had released Diskin and signed Buderus only for him to flag by season's end or get injured the club would've been roundly criticised by folk on here

I think that is a good point. But our game is far superior when he does play 80 minutes. I can see an argument for using Diskin some weeks to give that rest you mention. But not every week in the 17 just to spell Buderus for the sake of it.

appologies have not seen this rule before! is not listed with any of the salary cap rules i have seen must be in the smal print somewhere!

That's not what I am saying. When he's in the 17 he is there on merit because the [ishould not[/i be playing Buderus for 80 mins every week.

Thats also a very true point.

But again, does that justify giving Diskin a place in the 17.

I'm happy about it but then again I'm not in Matt Diskin's boots.

do you not think diskin should be used more often than not to keep him match sharp

what if buderus was to get injured before the grand final it would be a bit much to ask disko to play a full 80 mins with very limited game time under his belt for the previous few months

Bingo - in much the same way that we [ishouldn't[/i be playing Jamie Peacock for 80 minutes every week either.

If you want your best players hitting top form at the business end of the season, you don't run them into the ground in June, July and August.

Of cause they would that's why they intend playing both.I thought the reason why Buderus was playing 80 mins was because Diskin was injured.

Yes because we can't expect Buderus to play 80 mins week in week out.

Not every week, no. Some weeks the 2 of them are in the squad, some weeks Diskin plays the full 80, but on most occasions Buderus does the 80 minute job he's used to and Diskin's left kicking his heels in the stand.

That's the way I'd like to see us go between now and the end of the season. It's a bit rough on Diskin, but that's the way of the world I'm afraid. If he can accept that he's now back-up to a world class talent then, even at his age, I'm sure there's stuff he can learn and add to his game. Of course, the lure of a tax free sum from his upcoming testimonial may also have a strong pull on his feelings.

So we are back to the first part. Has Diskin ever looked anything near to justifying a place when he has come off the bench?

When Diskin has started and Buderus come off the bench, we have started matches pretty poorly, a comment made by the coaching staff and players recently. Although not specifically directed at Diskin.

I don't either but they probably should have if they'd followed his career in the NRL.

Is the intensity of the weekly rounds as high over here?

Buderus also played in the City V Country match + three State Of Origins + an Anzac Test (perhaps) in the middle of the season with no weeks off when knocked out of the cup as we have over here this season.

For Buderus SL is a comparative walk in the park compared to what he's accustomed to.

And thats my thinking too.

This post just about sums it up perfectly for me, those like Gareth commenting on a player from a league he knows nothing about smacks of cluelessness of the highest order.

Buderus is playing on autopilot at the moment without really breaking sweat, he will be different again come play-offs.

Diskin is now a reserve grade 9 and thats life at any top end sporting unit, one day your time is up or you are replaced.

You don't expect to get away with that do you. I expect a reply containing at least 3 big boy words.

Get away with what?

Ramrod knows I have no interest in the NRL because, guess what, I told him.

Remind us all how dead set against the Buderus signing you were in the off season?

calling you clueless. Interesting you've not challenged that statement.




I remind you that I questioned the Buderus signing.

...........because i am not 7 years old and this is not a play ground.

You're clearly clueless.

you smell of poo

Yes. I am sorry about that. The heat has played havoc with my digestion.

I'll go clean myself up.

I think most people on here agree the way Buderus plays the game is much better suited to the Rhinos match rhythm than the Diskin way.

To interchange with a slower player kind of defeats the object of bringing a fresh player on to target tired legs- ala Saints - when in fact what he does is to slow the game down to their pace - bizarre.

Buderus has shown the way and that way is beyond the skill set/physicality of Matt Diskin - sadly the one injury has ruined a potentially phenominal player.

So what is the future - this is a key position that must be filled by a really high quality player - if Buderus does go after the two years then we need to recruit from Australia - Michael Ennis would be a great signing.

As for Diskin well he deserves a testimonial - if only for he performance in 2004 GF - but for me his long term future is not at Headingley

I don't necessarily disagree with your points about Diskin but why must we recruit from Australia?

Where did Saints fill the need for their change of pace interchange hooker from?

IMO, it doesn't need to be filled by a high quality hooker. It needs someone nippy. McShane looked the part earlier this year. Perhaps even a failed half back like Roby.

Distribution and quality of passing is not as important if he's coming on to run at tired legs.

I still think Diskin can and will fill this role btw.

something that diskin does reguarly and maybe more so than most other hookers is finding and running at the retreating players to gain an extra 10 yards or so. This does help when another team is tiring but unfortunatly this seems to be his only running move

My point about Australia is this - if we agree they are quite a bit ahead of us in driving the game forward - they have identified the hooking role as important if not more important than the half backs and as such there are 8/10 better 9s than anything we have here - if you want to continue with a nine at Buderus level it will not come from GB in the short term - will McShane be good enough to carry the team in 18 months unlikely IMO

I think it is not about being nippy the 9 has to be a strategist with a great feel for the momentum in the game that is why Buderus is so good he has the technique but he has the mindset and understanding that is what sets him apart IMO