Ferres looks ok to me and with a full pre season under his belt i would expect to improve. But i would play Chan Lawrence and O Donnell as first choice back row with possibly Ferres on the bench.

Players like Bruno never get the accolades- they are workhorse players who run blood to water but because they aren't "flashy" aren't noticed by many.
Dave Atkins was a similar player- would regularly get close to 50 tackles a game but wasn't rated by some fans (who clearly were clueless) as it was whinged he didn't do anything going forward!


Bruno has decent go forward stats- only 0.6 metres per carry less than eorl! Couple that to his defence and he's an asset we need on the pitch.

If everyone in the team was doing their job as effectivly as Michael Lawrence we would be up near the top of the table.

The props (other than Eorl) and the Halves (other than Brough) are the reason we are not performing as there is no go forward and no creativity. As a result the backs get no space to play in and the back row spend most of their time defending as we cannot keep hold of the ball.

add that we dont keep hold of the ball and you have hit the nail on the head

id go with that but you do realise ferres in andersons bessie mate so prob keep giving him a starting spot

It's also worth saying that defensively Bruno is better than all those listed above.

I would find a spot for bruno anywhere in a starting 13, his workrate and attitude is second to none and he is consistent, never plays out of his skin but never has a bad game, top class performer,would be one of the first names down for me.

Reminds me of Roy Powell, never the flashiest player but always on the team sheet

Reason is I want the Giants to move to the next level and Bruno defends very well Granted, however the better teams have players like Westwood and Hock in their 2nd row, guys who defend well with aggression (nasty players) who also offer tons going forward.

Feel that top teams don't carry anyone regardless of defensive stats, this is just my opinion by the way.

Alot more would har him 1st on team sheet so I am in the minority.

It's almost like they have more energy than other players, are maybe super human. And they both have massively disfigured features. I wonder why??

we have o'donnell for this when fit!

By defend well with aggression do you mean give away more penalties? Hock has made 350 LESS tackles than Bruno and missed twice as many playing one game less. Westwood has played 5 games less, made 300 tackles less and Missed almost twice as many. The only stat Bruno is lacking is his tackle busts- but for his first year at second row he's done great. But you know what if people underrate him that's fine by me- it means we haveore chance of keeping him in the giants side.

If he's unable to scatter defenders,at least Bruno needs to get his legs pumping when he goes into collision.

You have been watching closely too Sheepridge! Gives up a little too easy for a guy his size but as I said its only my opinion, if Bruno was at Wire would he get in ahead of Westwood and Waterhouse? NO
If Bruno was at Wigan would he get in ahead of Hock and Hanson? NO
Get it right going forward and that could be different but the top 4 clubs don't carry anyone.

Nowt in the rules anywhere to say that you can't have both your 2nd rowers doing this though!!

Honestly the Kilner Bank where I sit hushes now when Bruno takes the ball up,just really willing him to win a ruck.

The whole pre-season this year was taken up with hitting the ground as soon as the tackle was made and not driving forward, thus speeding up the PTB in the hope of catching the opposition offside.
Whether or not this is still the plan is unclear, but at least Michael is following the training regime, and for me the lad is still on a learning curve and can only get better.

chan the other

to be honest paul most of the kilner bank hushes as soon as the game starts!

Though Ferres and Chan were very very good today as was Doof in spells and LOD while on the field.

Bruno was awesome today. As usual.

Just not in a flashy way but the way that wins matches.

One of the most consistent performers for me.

I personally thought Crabtree and Ferres were outstanding as well. Every time the ball came out wide to Ferres he looked dangerous.

ferres was brilliant, the guy is MASSIVE could be a prop and must have shovel hands way he carries the ball in one hand!

some talk about lawrence being rubbish in attack, i though he did very well to score his try yesterday

Bruno almost always gets his nose through the tackle, and as a former centre his passing is top rate, as is his eye for the gap - just most of the time he is charging it up the middle or busting a gut in defence.

Against Leeds he was allowed to run a little wider and looked better for it in attack.

All the forwards were immense on Sunday though.

Glad he is getting some credit as it was a season when he could easily have fallen out of favour and no position being found for him in the team but he has worked his socks off and found a new position which perhaps is not perfect for his game but where he puts in 100% and is starting to get his rewards.