His defence was the equivalent to scoring 2 tries. We wont the game and he made a huge contribution.

As has been said, if Motu pulled off those tackles there would have been nothing but praise for him.

He was nowhere near awesome. For awesome see Motu's display at Leeds a couple of seasons ago.

I have given him plenty of credit, he was solid in defence and made a couple of good tackles but that doesn't make his performance awesome.

Because he would then have made those tackles whilst offering a hell of a lot more in attack, making it a better all round performance.

the motu tony fest

How good was he that day. Incredible.

As you say he made 2 brilliant tackles but that doesnt warrant the term awsome.

Its interesting to see what people watch for and what sticks in memories isnt it. Motu was awesome v Leeds due to his work it attack (as he has been most of the time when he has played FB)

Byrne was awesome on Friday for a totally different quality.

So one of the best defensive displays ive seen in recent years from an FC fullback doesnt warrant the term awesome because he only made 1 half break early on and didnt go the full length etc?

As i said earlier, think your doing Byrne a dis-service mate TBH

No his all round game was awesome that day.

If Byrne was awesome on Friday the likes of Radders and the Yak were out of this world.

Byrne was my MOM with those 2 just behind him.

Are you serious?

I've said several times that Byrne had a solid game but I just dont get why people are bigging his performace up.

what a pointless conversation, Byrne did his job at fullback and, by all accounts, had a good game.

Does he really need comparing with Motu like this?

Nope.

Two different players offering different strengths and weaknesses, and one of them isn't even fit yet.

How else do you suppose we all decide who we would like to play at FB on Saturday?

Must have been good to rate above St. Briscoe.

Byrne, he has done nothing to deserve dropping, Motu to the bench if fit.

Thats not how it works. Motu is the first choice FB, Byrne is "covering" Motu until he is fit. Motu wasn't dropped for playing poorly.

Motu hasn't proven his fitness yet, hence playing him from the bench is sensible.

friday was the best i have seen byrne play in a hull shirt

I agree on the fitness front but if he was fully fit he should be straight back into the starting line-up IMO. If he then plays poorly he can be dropped for Byrne and Byrne would keep his place providing he plays well. Motu is our number 1 FB and should come straight back in when fit.

Does that mean that Bryne should go straight in at centre then as he is one of our starting centres?

Is he?

What sticks in my mind is the first 4 or 5 games of last season where Motu Tony couldnt catch a bomb to save his life. Everytime the ball went up the whole stadium held its breath, closed it's eyes and said a prayer. Some people seem to have very short memories. Motu is good in attack but is weak defensively. ASAIC the first job of a full back is to be the last line of defence, it doesn't matter if you're good in broken play, if we're gonna concede tries because of weak defence all the good work is undone. The game against Wigan was very tight, could have gone either way but 2 try saving tackles from the full back had a massive impact. Byrne everytime for me.

must be if tony has 1

i dont think byrne will get dropped simple as that

why fix whats not damaged

I would play the side that played against Wigan.