I think stats can be useful/interesting, but it's important to apply context. As you say, Whiting has played at centre, so I've disregarded those games for comparison. I've not bothered to look at Tuson as I didn't advocate him ahead of Whiting. As said in my post, I'd have gone with Carvell and then Thompson in the back row. So, Whiting v Hadley:

- Hadley has averaged more tackles, but less completion. Makes sense given comparative gametime/workload, about even.
- Whiting has averaged more errors, but this also makes sense because he offloads more. About even again.
- Discipline about level.
- Carrying the ball. This is where Hadley is ahead. He averages more metres per carry, and has made more tackle busts in less games than Whiting.

So based upon stats, I'd say that Hadley looks slightly ahead, which is how I already thought, tbh. I would add 2 further points which I think are pertinent, too. Firstly, Hadley's performances have been improving IMO, so that is further reason to give him the nod currently. Secondly, with the stats being so close, it's easy to forget that we're comparing someone in their first real season to someone in their testimonial year still in their prime years. To me, that says a lot about Whiting's performances if he's about on par (and IMO even below) a rookie.

Do you give any credit for Whiting's X factor ? He has the occasional flash of brilliance, whether that's a good interception, ball steal etc. Just a thought.

I'll give credit when he does it. IMO, this season, he hasn't in the second row. Correct me with examples, I may have just forgotten.

Fair enough, wasn't trying to be clever. I agree he's been quiet this season, bit of a penalty machine too. Hadley is a good prospect but he's what my uncle would call an honest rugby player, by that he generally means a solid drive with not a lot of flair.

The most disappointing part of Whiting's game for me is the amount of silly penalties he gives away. For someone who quite clearly has an excellent rugby brain he doesn't half do some stupid stuff. I think the difference this year is that we've not seen enough of his good side to counteract it yet.

Nothing wrong with that, particularly at this stage of Hadley's career. All teams have some like that in them, and he may well have plenty still to come in his game.

Also Whiting has scored 4 trys and 2 assists compared to Hadley 1 and 1.

I like Hadley but whiting offers more in attack especially near there line and also in the air. Close decision I agree but against an inexperienced Wigan pack and Hadley just played big minutes 5 days ago o think Radford has made the right decision this week.

But to reiterate about context, 2 of those tries came at centre. So it's 2 of each in 6 games, vs. 1 of each in 4. Whiting has done a little better at those than Hadley, but not that much.



I don't disagree about this week.

I was responding to the claim that 'our forwards got bossed all game' which the stats clearly show is not correct. And we got one more penalty that they did so the difference in 'piggy backing' was totally negligible. Being 16-0 down after 55 minutes I don't think their forwards had done any better than ours unless they had dominated and were incredibly unlucky to have been caught on the break three times - which of course hadn't happened.

Wakefield got a sniff, started throwing the ball about a bit, realised if they upped the intensity a fraction, we wouldn't match it because as a team, we where not up for it, I reckon it's become a game plan for other teams, start slowly, let us think it's a stroll in the park, then booooooooom , smash and grab haha especially the teams we are expected to beat! On serious note, can we just get somebody doesn't matter if radford stays or not, but just someone who can string a sentence together before the match and at half time, somebody who actually talks a bit of sense! I'd love to be a fly on the wall in our changing room, I bet it's cringe worthy

... a bit like this post.

I bet you hate not been funny, yes they was alot to come back at me for that post, probably the punctuation, and the best you can come up with! Haha to be fair, they wasn't that bad comments. Could of been

"Yes like this post"

Oh and well done with the highlighting , made it miles funnier, really need to learn how to do that!

Glad you had a good laugh.

You had to try didn't you! Should have a digging smiley on here

\ (awful)

Just thought I'd go back to the beginning of the thread and see where it all started, I agree with this, but when was our last top quality proven head coach ? Probably kear if you could call him that, he did win the challenge cup, maybe we need a head coach that as actually won something as an head coach! Easy said then done I guess, apologies if this as already been covered in the last 20 or whatever pages

I am not in or out the Radford camp. But I think we need stability with the team and coaching staff .We do have a young squad our Pivots are all in their early twenties .I like every one else HATE [Shouting getting beat by any one never mind the lower teams .Which I think is where we are or a mid table team at best .But lets give it or them time . No big dramas we are never going to win the grand final this or next year. But I will be there on Friday

I am not in or out the Radford camp. But I think we need stability with the team and coaching staff .We do have a young squad our Pivots are all in their early twenties .I like every one else HATE [Shouting getting beat by any one never mind the lower teams .Which I think is where we are or a mid table team at best .But lets give it or them time . No big dramas we are never going to win the grand final this or next year. But I will be there on Friday

The number of penalties is largely irrelevant, it's where they occurred on the field. Plus one of our tries came from a midfield bust on half way, another from two consecutive penalties of which the first was in our own half iirc.

BTW everyone at Para is raving about how much Gentle has brought to the team structure etc..

Maybe the answer doesn't lie with changing the coach again, could it be that the players we have are just not good enough!?

He tried to rectify that at Hull FC by trying to improve our playing roster.
i.e. Holdsworth & Miller.

Look where that got him.

No no no some of our players and coaching staff knew far more about how to coach a SL team then Gentle did. Fact.

They don't seem to be doing a very good job now.

Maybe some of our players should have concentrated on playing to Super League standard every week rather than being wannabe coaches. No wonder there were problems.

Get's my Vote .

But he also brought in youngsters - Shaul Green.Crooks.Lineham Bowden.
Their enthusiasm was a breath of fresh air - Radford soon got rid of that.

I've supported every single coach who's been in charge of our club.
I aint gonna stop now. I wish it was that simple.