Pretty much my thoughts there too. We could do with a few more of him for his support play though because it seems he's the only one who knows he should be backing up in case someone actually makes a break! I'd love to know why they don't do it, my 8 year old learnt that on the 4 day summer camp last week!

McKinnon isn't shy, he'll get on peoples shoulders for us next season hopefully.

I hope so, I sound like a broken record every week

Not the only thing that lets him down the main thing is that he isn't creative whatsoever.

Not sure I understand what you mean. What can any player do creatively except:

1. Pass
2. Run
3. Kick

?

Horney doesn't creative any space or gaps. Doesn't attract players to him which make the gaps. The only 'pass' he does is a drop off. He's far too predictable and slow at everything is does, unlike the top 6's in the league. Gimme just about any other 6 in the league over Horney anyday.

what about the clean breaks against saints, wigan, catalan?

tries resulted from them, maybe you just DON'T like richard horne

this isn't about liking or disliking, it's about knowing he's not good enough, which he isn't.

as many say with the right partners at 7, who would take the long kicking game over, horne does well, his short kicking game is quite good. this season he has been one of our players who have performed week in week out

Good enough for what?

He isn't an organiser and he isn't a long kicker. However play him outside an organising 7 with a kicking game on a regular basis and he is very much good enough.

also many are using horne as a scapegoat for the clubs failiure to sign a quality 7 in the past few seasons, the ones we did sign, long and dykes were injury prone ant thorman was just

so, he can't organise and he can't kick, great attributes for a half back, wonderful!

When he is allowed to play his natural running and passing game he is a good player, especially on the fringes.

He offers a decent short kicking game near the opposition line and also kicks for the corners well when attacking the line.

I don't disagree, but a good 6 should be doing more, Horne playing at centre or fullback or lose forward and doing those things would be reasonable, but a half back should be doing so much more.

Problem is at present he is doing ALL of it, not just the parts he should be doing!!!
alongside established guys he will be a cracking player, and to be fair has had a good season even with the injury he is carrying

Like what?

Not all stand-offs are organisers. Alongside an organising 7 with a good kicking game Horne was good enough to help us win the CC and get us to the GF - equalling the club's try-scoring record along the way. He's been involved in most of the good stuff we've done this season. He still has plenty to offer as a running half IMO, especially as we'll have a relative abundance of creative players next season and no shortage of kickers either.

And if he doesn't measure up we have other options.

And his step which stood him in good stead many years ago has now become very predictable and easily read by other teams, and let us not even go there with his dummy....The only assets he has imo is he is very good under the high ball also his support play although not superb at support he is the best out of a poor bunch at this task.
If I had to play him I would drop him to f/back as he is solid under the high ball.

Thats very harsh. Predictable because we have no other real options since Cooke left and he has been very isolated.

Longy, Obst, Head are 3 that spring to mind.

We'll have Seymour and Westerman in the middle too plus Heremaia. Horne will be allowed to concentrate on what he does best so if he doesn't perform then he has no excuse. Drop him and bring Ellis into 7 and Seymour to 6.

Horne looked good alongside Head (when he played), alongside Long (when he played), and Obst is a part-time 7 who blows hot and cold. It's been years since he had a decent 7 playing alongside him on anything like a regular basis. Maybe it would be worth waiting to see how he goes alongside Seymour before writing him off?

Then do what with McKinnon?

I have not written him off, I would like to see what happens with Ellis who looked good, granted though his performance was in NL1 so we will see. Horne is good for cover especially the f/back role imo.

Other than a step or a dummy, what other ways are there to get through a defensive line on your own?

Maybe we could all chip in and buy him some boots with foot-long springs on the bottom so he can bounce over the opposition?

Dummy runners, players running good lines/angles and hitting gaps are what's needed. If Horne doesn't have his teammates doing this, then he has no other option but to take on the line himself.