Lets put this one to bed tonight once and for all, i know it has been mentioned on another thread, but not in a million years is he a 9.

He needs to play at 7.

The game changed when Deacon moved to 9. If Riddell is out for any length of time then Deacon has to play at 9 from now on for me.

What makes you see him as a 7 jonh?

His world cup winners medal say's you are wrong.



But for us yes he should stay at 7. Don't forget he had all last year to get an understanding of Sam. Deacon's had One full game and several sub cameo's lets not get too down beat, about Deacon @ 7.

I think the World Cup medal simply shows that the Kiwi's lack a quality hooker.

Why do i see him as a 7?

He has a great running game, and looks dangerous in broken play, unless we get a quick play the ball this is lost from him as a hooker.

He has a very good short kicking game, again something lost from him as a 9.

He is a much more off the cuff player, which i like as a 7 but it only works with a controller in the 9, 7, 6 triangle and boy did we miss Piggy for that tonight, although Deacon did give us a little extra when he mover there (although i was nearly pulling my hair out when we were passing rather than scooting camped on our line allowing our players to get lined up and smashed like hansen did off Morley.)

I'd forgot about that.



Your right jon, all that was needed were runs from dummy half plus a good kick at the end.

100% Agree

With quick play the balls I would much rather have Leuluai there.

But the good teams do not give away quick play the balls, its ok having a scooter there against Crusaders or Salford but against a good team a scooter is often simply neutralised, and in the big games we need control and direction at the PTB not a 1 trick pony, we may as well get Higham back if all we want him to do is scoot.

I think that comes with experience, although sometimes I despair at Piggy's distribution he does control the PTB and the pace of the game very well. Deacon has that that experience, Tommy is getting it.

I agree it comes with experience as does quality half play, he has bags more of that and is much further down the line to being a quality half than to wipe the slate clean and try to convert him to a 9, a game I personally do not think he will ever have.

He is not and never will be a controller what he does well is play off the cuff so rather than stifle the one thing that could separate him from the crowd we should embrace him and play him in his natural position for me.

Last year I said that Roberts was the best winger at the club and Riddell was the best hooker.

I still believe it.

Last year, Richards was the best winger. This year It's Roberts. Your point confuses me. Riddell still has alot of game time before he convinces me he is more use than Leuluai. He does not create anything even if he is solid, his distribution can be awful.

DaveO has just gotten a rather large tent

Our PTB and ruck control was shocking tonight, it nearly cost us the game. Piggy is a massive loss in this area.

I disagree with Rouges regards Roberts, while I agree he was the best winger at the club at the back end of last year, i think he could prove to be the single most valuable player in the completion if he can continue this form.

I am not a betting man, but i will be having £10 on him to win MOS, top try scorer and the Goldthorpe medal each and £5 on the nose for him to win all 3 in 2010.

i have said in another post that we were better when deacon went dummy half,tommy very good in loose play and tonight put hell of alot of work in,but better and quick ball from there when deacs was there

Never a hooker as he can't even do the basics of the job, ie quick ball, he stands and takes a step when passing left to right. That gives the defensive line far too much time to move up.

MaGuire changed things around with that switch of Leuluai and Deacon. It worked and contributed to us winning the game. He has earnt his money tonight.

I think Tommy is much better in shorter spells at nine, but tonight he was far more effective at seven than at nine.

Exactly what Monaghan was doing to great effect. He was taking 2 or 3 strides and then passing.

He had a bloody good game did Monaghan. He caused us all sorts of problems. An absolute swine to contain.

No disrespect to Tommy, but he will in my opinion have the craft of Monaghan.

Why would that disrespect Tommy?

Monaghan is twice the player Tommy is at hooker.

Totally agree, simply comparing them as halves that have made the switch to hooker. TL is not the same style of player as Monaghan and he brings many different skills to the table, Monaghan has a style that suits the hooking role over TL, and i do not think TL can ever develop this in his game.

Any idea when Riddell is going to start proving this wild theory of yours?

Thank God for that, someone's finally seeing it!