Agree with you. And Whiting is a decent utility man who has played a good number of games and does have a decent footballing brain. Like it or not his main strength is his utility value and I'm glad we kept him and released our other 'utilities'.

I like Washbrook but it is now his time to show how good he is. I don't quite concur with those who rave about him. He has plenty of potential but needs an injury free run to establish himself. He has not really knocked on the international door (injuries have not helped) but until he does that he shouldn't be made captain above other senior internationals. I haven't seen the leadership that some are saying he possesses - leadership is something we have badly lacked for 3 seasons and he has played in plenty of games in that time - but anyway I would rather he concentrate on establishing himself and working on his own game. He has plenty to prove yet and I hope he does.

I dont recall many centres making 50 tackles a game but I do recall someone bottling up Vainikolo when he was at his peak, no mean feat in my book. Washy does do a lot of work in all aspects, I just think RW's work has more quality about it and I firmly believe if we saw parity in game time then stats probably wouldn't be much different

Agree with all of that.

Absolutely bang on again Dave. This Whiting rubbish comes from one good season, IMO he's just Graham Horne with a pass! But you know we can't praise any local lads nowadays. Rich is a solid pro with a great work ethic and utility value, no more no less. Washy has the ability to do something creative that can win you games, whiting hasn't.
I'm not saying washy is a great 6 which some seem to think, I just think he's better than Horne there.
I too think it's funny how the whiting/volcano incident has got to Tallis/Hodgson status!

Personally would have Whiting over Washbrook every day of the week.......IMO Whiting offers more and Washbrook hasnt kicked on and looks a bit of a plodder now and he really only has his step off his left foot which teams quickly sussed out........Whiting has a superb footballing brain and should be back up S/O if Hornes form carries on...all in all a much more valuable player to the squad tham Washbrook.

Dont think you can really blame washy for not kicking on, in 2008 he found himself having to play in a new position and trying to guide a team around the park, but still managed to get in some coaches team of the year. 2009 was a non starter really as he was a victim of the injury curse that has haunted our club for 2 years.

No, it really doesn't. Whiting demonstrates pretty much the same qualities every time he plays. That's not to say he never has a bad game or doesn't have shortcomings, but he's a far better utility than Graeme Horne ever managed to be.







In all fairness, Whiting has had precious few chances to demonstrate his creativity due to almost exclusively being played in non-creative roles. It would be interesting to see what he could have produced had he had as many games at either 6 or 13 as Washy, for instance.


Better than Horne was last season, or better than Horne has ever been?

stop been a knob karl,what did the question ask?

Anyone else think he won't play much this year and will leave at the end of it?

You could say the same about Whiting and injuries.........I just think Whiting is a better footballer....just wish he would get a run at 6 or imo his best position of 13...think he has 13 wrote all over him but we persist in playing a bloody 2nd rower there.

some thick f-ckers on here

Can see it happening but it shouldnt be that case....back end of the season he was one of our better players yet still got dropped......

I would be happy to see Washy or Whiting given a run out at 13 next season , but i dont think we'll see it happen.

Why isnt it mate?

washy could well play a big part in the team this season.

Yes he does bring his qualities to every game he plays, averageness.

Just reacting to those who think people are blinkered when praising local lads.

There maybe a reason why he hasn't been given that chance by several coaches!

Based on washy's skill set being better than Hornes, also don't think Horne will ever get back to the way he was.

dont think agar sees whiting as a 13 as some fans do

...out of all the bolloxs you have wrote...that is the biggest load of crap i have read........it is only under Agar he hasnt had a chance but he was injured for most of his tenure so far.......by the way...its 4 coaches...

Think it was more about his chances in creative positions, but thanks all the same.

It's all getting a bit O/T now, Whiting, will he be gone after 2010? Not sure he has a true position but wouldn't mind seeing something like -

11. Fitzgibbon
12. Whiting
13. Washbrook

With Manu and tickle/burnett as backup also lauaki backing up 2nd row/ prop.

Well we'll have to disagree there. I don't think that Whiting is a superstar by any means, but he's certainly not just 'average' IMO.


Best not to in my experience.


The main reason being his utility value when dealing with our numerous injuries.


Can't say I agree with the first statement. The second may well be true, but he deserves the chance to prove it one way or the other.

I wish to associate myself with these comments.

the 50 tackles stat comes from Washy playing 13. I'm lead to believe that's where Whiting sees himself too, he doesnt offer that kind of defensive work ethic.

I'm convinced that Agar will go for the option of playing Fitz at 13. I think that will waste our best option at 13 which would be Washy but guess we'll see game 1.

I'd have Whiting nowhere near the back row.
8. Dowes/Radford
9. Berro
10. Cusack
11. Manu
12. Fitz
13. Washy

Bench of
Lauaki
Moa
O'Meley
Houghton/Burnett

How can you say that when he hasnt played there yet?????? his work ethic in other positions is very good.

Scrap what i said, that sounds good to me! although i would prefer O'Meley from the start. If both impact players are on the bench it means one will see less time on the pitch, but i suppose if that one is Moa it might work. I think we might be a man short in the front row this year.