Quote ="Rob Wire"So what your saying is that were a stronger team with Clarke at hooker over Monaghan ? It boils down to ability like you say, its who has the ability to move us around the pitch better between the 2.
Since Monaghan reverted back to 9 we have looked a totally different team, i'm not convinced that we are that same team when he moves back to scrum half.
Monaghan is lightening fast around the ruck, he draws players in and creates gaps for others and he has some big defence in the middle. Look at Monaghan in last years challenge cup semi final and final, at hooker the guy just oozes class on the big stage.
If Clarke has the ability to move us around the same way as Monaghan and to control the ruck in the same way on saturday then i'll be one of the first back onto this thread to congratulate him and to eat my words, i just don't see it happening but thats just my opinion.
Clarke deserves his place in the 17 which i agree with, i'm not convinced that its as a starting hooker though. He will never have the same effect on our team as a starting 9 than Monaghan does.
I'm not so sure we needed to tighten up down the middle by dropping Myler, he is no worse in defence than Rob Burrow is or most scrum halves in SL. In fact he's actually made some great covering tackles since he arrived.
I can't see Leeds wanting to take us on down the middle anyway with Peacock out, i think they will attack our fringes by getting the ball to Senior as often as possible with Webb supporting the line and McGuire on hand to recieve the ball from any breaks.'"
I've just watched the SF again, Clarke & Monaghan literally share hooking duties from set to set. In some sets Monas will dominate from 9, Clarke in others. I'm sure in some respects, it's harder for defenders to pick them up in moves, given the rotation.
I'd never in a gazillion years leave Myler out for Higham, but he has. He's not an impusive bloke, so there'll be a logic & a thought process behind this decision, and I guess we have to suck it and see.
This is two years on the trot now that allowances have been made for Higham, so TS obviously rates him highly. (For some reason)
