Whitehead's had an issue with missed tackles for some seasons now. I wonder if he'll ever sort it out and become a better player or whether he's just happy with where he is. Hope it's not the latter. The errors are a concern too.

Walker's played a lot of rugby this season in the backrow, he started off very well but he looks very much in need of a rest. I'd suggest that he would've had one by now if we hadn't such a small squad.

Addy's another one that needs to work on his defence. His attacking play, particularly his kicking has come on very well but his defence isn't good enough even if it is on a par with Whitehead who gets less flak than Addy from some quarters.

Sammut's one of those players who can brilliant or awful in the blink of an eye. To be able to withstand the brain farts he makes we need the rest of the team to be more disciplined in attack and defence.

I too remember Sir Keith. He'd have shaken his head at the "attempts" Jamie Foster made at the weekend. Obviously there's another man that could work on his tackling technique one on one.

Yeah, agree KR are our biggest rivals for a playoff berth. I think a few would have been 'rested' by now, but when it's "if you're fit, you're playing" it's always going to be difficult, I guess.

Although the stats shame Addy, Elliott & Chev, you have to point fingers at Olbison lately too. He was to blame for at least one of Huddersfield's tries with a missed tackle that he really should have made, and before that, his last game I think was at Odsal against Leeds, where he was also at fault for at least one of those tries too.

Usually a solid hand and was looking in great form this year, but his last couple of matches he's been poor in defence.

Something I've wondered for a while is what the tackle statistic actually is?. The missed tackle on is obvious but is tackle the total number of completed tackles or number of attempted tackles?. Players mentioned are top of missed tackle stat but they are also high up in tackle stat. Is it a case of there missing a lot of tackle because their also completing/attempting more tackles than other players. It would be interesting to to see a figure for missed tackles as a percentage of attempted tackles and compare it to other players in team who dont get criticised but maybe dont make as many tackles/attempts either.

Danny Addy has made more tackles than any other half back in the league and is 3rd in the Bulls list despite playing stand off.

Whitehead is 2nd in the Bulls list having made 160 more tackles than Matt Diskin.

The Bulls do not have a single forward in the top 20 tacklers in SL so far this season.

This is about much more than the individual players.

Sammut is Binary,no in between which is ok when you are winning but stands out a mile when you are playing good sides and getting hammered.To be fair to Whitehead he does try and release the ball which,when things are not going well,can UP the mistakes ratio,which distorts the stats somewhat.I think Sir Keith could still tackle better than the vast majority of our backs even at his age--lol.To me though what is needed more than anything else is a LEADER at half back,a Talisman/a match winner.How we afford one I don't know,but there is one player who could turn out to be such a gem and the first time I saw him I knew.His name

ESCARE of Catalan.
They'll be queuing in the isles to sign him for next season and if they could also get Dixon from London then we would have genuine pace in the team to burn and something to excite us all.Coz when the weather improves and the grounds become harder you need genuine PACE,we ain't got any at the moment and is why teams with pace will crucify us.

At least Dixon wouldn't have high missed tackle stats, he doesn't attempt the tackle in the first place

.One of worst defenders in league. Don't care how fast he is, we need to strengthen our defence out wide not recruit a turnstile.

what ambition you have,you want to sign a tackling winger with no pace.A winger is there as a finisher.Berwyn Jones couldn't tackle either--lol.

Who said that? I certainly didn't. But I don't want pace at the expense of any defensive ability at all. Needs to. Be a balance between defence and attack as in all positions. I'd be looking at someone like Luke George from ooc wingers. Not as fast as Dixon but still has pace but can defend as well.

I am not dissing Luke George but there's much more potential in Dixon. As for Escare - he is the real deal. What a find.

Which is why, if i were the Bulls, maybe spend sometime scouting the French leagues. If we are to improve, we need to start trying to unearth some gems. Signing the average players the teams around us don't want (I.E Luke George) isn't going to help us move up the table.

That's why he was never the great player he might have been

Must be a different Luke George from the one I've known since a 10 year old.

You obviously weren't at Swinton when the French all but walked off the pitch coz they couldn't handle Berwyn who was and still is the fastest winger I have ever seen in nearly 50 years of watching Rugby League.Unbelievably fast.

He sees himself as a backrower so his stats on defence should be compared with them rather than with halfbacks don't you think?



Whitehead's done a lot more minutes than Diskin this season so that's not too much of a surprise.



It's difficult to be sure about the reason for that. Are we in defence for less time? Don't think so. Is the work shared out more? Dunno. Is it a good thing to be in the top 20 at all? In the top 10 only Farrell and JJB of the top sides figure.

Possibly, are we weak in defence as a team? Is that what you're saying?

From the time the Bulls spent in defence against Hudds I would expect there to be some high tacklers in the team, if that game is at all representative. A point about Addy's defence, his technique can be really poor/sloppy, he does seem to spend a lot of time around the shoulders.

I think we have to remember that Addy, as already mentioned, is [ireally[/i a back-rower and he tackles like a back rower. As one of the 'bigger lads' he is, to some extent, exposed when playing in the halves against opponents who are usually both much shorter and nippier than he would usually confront when playing in the pack. It might just be me, but I find it hard to be too critical of lads who are doing pretty well in trying circumstances not of their making.

I don't want to appear as getting on the backs of the players, whose effort I can't fault. However I do think that Addy isn't that much of a "bigger lad" and other players of comparable size are capable of doing better in defence even wider out in the defence. We mustn't excuse poor play when we see it. Addy's improved his attacking game a fair bit but if he really wants to make something of his career his defence needs attention. If you look at Farrell at Wigan he's made rapid strides in all parts of his game since last season, that's a good example to follow.

As for Whitehead his defence seems to have been the same for the past few seasons. He's another who could do with improving.

51 missed tackles against Hudds,51, never seen a stat like that for a team in the top 8

Beginning to wonder if that was actually the tackles made

Looks like this thread was worth starting after all.

Sometimes it's not what you say it's the way you say it...

And that's what gets results.

Ah, but more "angry" posts provoke more responses. Keeps the board that wee bit more vibrant, which is what we all want in essence.

All deliberate Mr Bullseye.

If you say so!

I don't necessarily agree. It is all the fashion to be dissatisfied, over the top & angry with everything. Someone blamed it on 24 hour news coverage which goes completely OTT to try & grab people's attention, I think there is something in that. 99.9% of those involved in RL are there because they love the sport & as long as they are giving their best we shouldn't be getting angry, frustrated maybe. Save that for people who are deliberately exploiting people & screwing people into the ground.