I'd say he is. There is a lot of rubbish talked about people constantly trampling over him and I always look for it but it happens rarely tbh. He does get dominated sometimes but he is still a young kid, Hull have to kepp him and try and develop the skills he already has. I sincerely hope the rumour about him going out on loan next season isn't true.

He gets targeted by the opposition all the time, im not saying he misses many takles but he is usually dominated in the tackle.

Personally I'm not bothered as long as he tackles them, gets them down and doesnt give away a penalty.

I haven't watched him closely this year - but last year I think it was weeks before he missed any tackles at all. Checking back - he made 698 tackles all season and missed 23 in 24 appearances.

Stats aren't everything but I think they support him being pretty good defensively.

For interest, in 2006 Richard Swain made 721 tackles and missed 27 in 20 appearances.

That should be the minimum required. Whilst he does speed us up in attack when he comes on we are also weaker down the middle in defence. He is an impact hooker IMO, certainly at this stage in his developement anyway.

I would prefer we lined up like:
1. Tansey
2. Calderwood
3. Berrigan / Turner (or Briscoe / Hall)
4. Yeaman
5. Raynor
6. R Horne/Rooney
7. Long
8. Cusack
9. Lee / Berrigan
10. O'Meley
11. Burnett
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Washy

14. Houghton
15. Manu
16. Moa
17. Lauaki

No room for Tickle, G Horne, Radford, Thacks, King, Maloney or Dowes.
Development opportunities for Hall and Briscoe to support the backs.

Dont think we'll keep Tony on.

The team above is what i'd go with, cant see Agar moving Berro from 9 though and doubt we will bring in Rooney.


Do we need to recruit more?

Its not just about the number of tackles and how many are missed. He makes a lot of takles because the opposition target him knowing that they will get a fast PTB.

Well - I can't disagree because I haven't seen that but I will watch out for it.

If players are falling into him and deliberately going to ground then that should be a surrender call from the ref to let the defense set themselves. Probably many of his tackles are marker tackles in whcih case it matters less how quick they get up because without the tackle we'd be in a worse situation. If he's failing to hold them up on a one-to-one then that is probably true of practically any SL player - one-to-one it is very hard to dominate a tackle when you have to stop the man and the ball and let your team get back into line. If he's not dominating the tackle when joined by other players then it's not all his fault. Anyway, it might be that you're absolutely right and that's why Agar bring him on as late as possible. He is, let's not forget, only 21 years old and playing in a very physically demanding pivotal role. His player profile on the FC site says "The young star possesses a good technical ability and understanding of the game well beyond his years and has been hailed by former FC teammate Adam Dykes as one of the England stars of the future."

Berrigan at 6 and Long at 7 for me.
Houghton and Lee working great at hooker.

Richard Horne? Why don't we use him where we need him for now. He's not been in the best of form has he.

But we deffo shouldn't be finished on the signing front. If we don't sign a world class centre, there is no point in signing one as we have Tom Briscoe. The only reason we need one is so he can learn off them. He is the future. Why get an average duffer in when we can put him in and do just as good a job?

FB also needs sorting. Tansey isn't exactly a world beater is he? And I think we signed him as utility (ala Todd Byrne).

1. Tansey
2. Calderwood
3. Berrigan
4. Yeaman
5. Raynor
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Cusack
9. Lee
10. O'Meley
11. Burnett
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Washbrook

14. Houghton
15. Manu
16. Lauaki
17. Moa

18. T. Briscoe
19. Hall
20. Dowes
21. Whiting
22. Maloney
23. Hodgson
24. J. Briscoe??
25. Cordoba??

TBH I wouldn't be too disappointed if we don't sign anyone else, however we could do with someone who can play 6/7. Rooney would do this.

I can't beleive people are suggesting not putting Berrigan to Centre because we don't move the ball wide. Its the not moving the ball wide that needs addressing. The try Berrigan scored at weekend struck me as a typical Centres try in a Centres position.

Tansey
Calderwood
Berrigan
Yeaman
Raynor
R.Horne
Long
O'Meeley
Lee
Luaki
Fitzgibbon
Tickle
Whiting

Cusack
Moa
Manu
Houghton

And don't forget Hall - please God we don't forget Hall.

Berrigan took the ball at first receiver and was just to the left of the posts, nothing like a centre's try. It's okay playing him but when he gets 2/3 passes all game he will be wasted. If we start to get the ball wider when Longy comes then it's an option. Personally I would like to see Berrigan in the halves with Long and Horne at centre, might be worth a look.

Also in your side there was no Washy, now I can't believe Washbrook would not be in everyone's 17.

Washy and Long would be the main passers for me. If Berro played in the centres with those two ball handling i'd be surprised if he only got 2 passes a game. Yeamo will have a field day too.

Wouldn't be a waste if him and his winger score 30+ tries next season

I'm not sure on the logic of the signings we are reported to still be going to make. Looks to me like we will sign turner and rooney. rooney as a back up 1/2 back in case (when) someone gets injured and turner presumably to be our 1st choice centre as we have an abundance of back rowers. Personally I'd rather us use the cash from those 2 to sign a better quality centre or 1/2 back.

The worry for me if we sign turner is where does that leave hall and briscoe? What's the point signing a young back rower/cenmtre who isn't really any better than those 2?

I think craig hall will end up being agar's sean briscoe who he lets go for all the wrong reasons and ends up looking stupid a couple of years down the line.

Also, where does the signing of turner leave rich whiting? Another back rower/centre

Exactly.

Spot on, should be first on the team sheet IMO.
I also would like to see berrigan and long as our halves, with Horne in the centres. Or :-
6. Whiting
7. Long
9. Berrigan with houghton as impact
13. Washbrook

Seem as plenty of others are having a stab at next seasons line up, I'll go with a mixture of what I'd like to see and what we are likely to see;


1. Dedicated full back to come in (Aussie and the last piece in the jigsaw)
2. Calderwood
3. Bristow (Tom)
4. Yeaman
5. Raynor
6. Horne
7. Long
8. O'Meley
9. Berrigan
10. Cusack
11. Burnett
12. Fitzgibbon
13. Washbrook

14. Tansey
15. Manu
16. Lauaki
17. Lee

18. Tickle
19. Hall
20. Dowes
21. Whiting
22. Turner
23. Hodgson
24. Moa
25. Rooney
26. Houghton - loan deal to Fev?
27. Promote a youngster (James Greene or Jack Bristow)

Think we'll dispense with;

Motu
Thorman
G Horne
Thacks
Maloney

and pay off

Radford
King

Has the looks of a very competitive side, and a pack that should be able to give Longy a platform to push us around the park.

Tansey
Calderwood
Briscoe
Yeaman
Raynor
Berrigan
Long
Dowes
Lee
Shrek
Manu
Fitzgibbon
Washbrook

Houghton
Hame
Yak
Burnett

Would love to see us line up like that next season.

Must say that looks a pretty useful team. Though i'd be tempted to swap Manu and Burnett.

Well i am stunned as i thought the first person to quote me would say about no Horne

Tansey
Calderwood
Briscoe
Yeaman
Raynor
Horne
Long
Cusack
Berrigan
O'Meley
Fitzgibbon
Burnett
Washbrook

Lauaki
Manu
Houghton
Moa

May be tempted to put Berro at half back and Lee to hooker. I just don't think Hornes creative enough, hopefully Long will take some pressure off him.

Tansey at FB may surprise a few people with his creativity too.

Looks good to me. Possibly swap Manu and Burnett, and Briscoe has to prove himself at centre, but it looks a strong team containing a bit of everything.