While I hesitate to get involved in this argument, I'd have to disagree with that. His first couple of seasons with us he was pretty hit and miss. The last two or three he's been much more consistent. Hardly had a bad game this season for instance.

And of course when he's good, he's [ireally[/i good.

When he's, lets say, "Not as good" as normal he is still normally in the top 3 players in a Hull shirt.

The inconsistant label was placed on him when he first came here (perhaps fairly) but that should have been long gone based on the last 3 or 4 seasons. Unfortunately some people form an opinion and refuse to revise it. The inconsistant tag was never really a problem for me anyway because the standard of his average game was plenty high anyway and his better games are very good. What I won't accept is the utter cack opinion that he has 2 rubbish games and 1 good.

Manu does perform consistently for Hull. What isn't consistent is the impact he makes in these games. As you're a bit of a one-eye, you fail to differentiate between the two. For the past 2/3 seasons he's been quality.

Think about it - each time big Willie takes to the field, there are factors that effect his performance that are out of his control. Performance is purely down to........'the performer'.

The first factor is the opposition. Some teams may target him in Hull's defensive line, tiring him out and taking away his attacking threat. Some may pick him out for special attention when he's attacking and wrap him up with two/three men as soon as he get's possession. Big Willie isn't privvy to the prep the other team has done on him.

The other factor, as against Widnes, is his own team. What can he do if, as a team, they're on the backfoot & giving the opposition good field position? What if the halfbacks can't get the ball out to him fast enough or don't give him the space he requires?

Sometimes players aren't 'poor' they just don't get a chance to perform - and this is (in the most part) credit to the opposition. Slater doesn't score hatricks every week after all.

The bitterness from you now he's leaving in laughable - he's a top player.

alongside hock and westwood he is the best backrower in the league. he would get in any team in SL and most NRL teams! Wish rhinos had signed him instead of saints!!

There's no bitterness, he owes us nothing and I'm gutted he's leaving. Two games and one good was obviously a bad choice of words by me - I apologise.
This season he was poor against Widnes away, Leeds away, Salford away and Catalan away, as well as being distinctly average in the home games against Wigan, Hudds (cup) and London.
The idea that he doesn't have poor games at all is silly.

Again talking rubbish, was hulls best players in France, only player that caused them problems and I'm sure he wad MOTM against London at home.

If you have hullfc live I'd suggest you watch the games again?

Easily in the top four hull players this year and has better stats than any other backrow forward in the league including hock and westwood.

He's nowhere near as good as Westwood.

Obviously I'm wrong, he's no doubt one of the most consistent players in the league and is completely irreplaceable, better than Hock & Westwood and never has a poor game.

I not sure I even know where to start with that. How about - they're totally different styles of player and impossible to compare directly?

They both play 2nd row, Westwood is a better 2nd rower. What he does for his team is better than what Manu does for us as a 2nd rower, hence why Westwood's up for MoS and Manu was nowhere close.

Manu's a one off, I don't think there's another backrower in S/L like him, he's unplayable on his day, which imo is far more often than not. Whilst Ellis is no doubt a top player I do think that you'll miss what Manu brings. When Rovers were promoted Manu was the 1 Cas player I hoped wed sign as they were relegated, nevermind.....

Manu is irreplacable but should we get Ellis and Bateman to replace him and Tickle then I think it's an improvement. Our current game with a lack of creativity in the halves means we rely on him a lot to bust tackles. Maybe with better halves and a different emphasis on attack it will lessen the blow of losing him.

He can blow hot and cold and isn't getting any younger but that said i'm gutted to lose him.

If Westwood played for Fc he wouldn't be up for M.O.S probably, as if Manu played for warrington he probably would be up for it too.

Remind me who the current MoS is?

Spot on mate.

Manu will be massive loss and i dont think Ellis can be compared to him as they are completely different players but he does play well in 1-2 games then go missing for 2 and has done his entire FC career. Saying that we are most defiantely a better side with him in even when he's not on fire

Manu is the leading forward for try assists, not only that he can be a beast in the tackle, draws defenders like flies to , makes tackle busts for fun.
I hope he has a terrible season for the next year or two because he is a potent threat every time is is on the pitch, just not always as effective as we would like him to be. that's sport, can't always be 100% all the time.

Hope Willie gets a massive send-off at the Cas or Playoff game, he deserves a pre-match round of applause like Swain & Domic and not just the walk round at the end when half the crowds gone home. We've had 5 years of fantastic rugby out of him.

Agree 100%. Manu's contribution deserves special recognition.