So they've tupped us at every available opportunity because they play 3 second rowers? Or because they generally produce a better standard of player, and in greater numbers, in each of the key positions?

Either way, we're not talking about international games, we're talking about what will be best for Hull. I agree with rich1977. Washy is basically another second rower and that's where I'd play him. Whiting has the potential to be every bit as important to our attacking structure next season as Nelson Mandella was in his pomp.

Nelson Mandela played for hull?

Ah yes they are excellent at their brand of RL. But its always astute to look at who are doing better overall than you are, and cherry pick what can improve you. Not to become a carbon copy. That is what the game has been trying to do here.
Hence we have seen any real creativity slowly squeezed out of our game. You only have to look at the lack of proper SH's to see that.
I've got a bit of a bee in my bonnet about this subject after seeing how well Richard played on Saturday. He needs to be given a pivotal role. Lets face it, we have nout to loose have we??

Nelson Mandella = Stella.

Most people going OTT as regards Whiting again,he has decent utility value,but unfortunately isn't good enough to hold down a permanant position in our team,his best chance is the loose forward spot,but IMO Washbrook is better.

See the rumours thread

If he can shake the injury curse that has plagued him since he won young player of the year I think he will prove you wrong (about holding down a place). As for who is better, he or Washy: I think they are both excellent players with entirely different styles. I sometimes wonder if we have room for both on the same pitch. It's a bit like the dilemma of playing Lampard and Gerrard for England - you want them both in your side because they're so good but it's a complete waste of an opportunity to bring a talented player into another position giving you a more rounded team. This is based upon them both being 13s by the way.

Berrigan aside, he's got the best RL brain at the club. He's been desperately unlucky with injuries and if he can break that cycle, he has every chance of being in the team on a regular basis.

For me, whitings biggest issues are that he isn't quick enough to stand put as a back or big enough to stand out as a forward. He's a very clever player and maybe he'll shine as he gets older and bigger and cements a place in the back row

I think that when you're an injured player at Hull FC your value amongst the supporters becomes far greater all of sudden.

I think Richard Whiting has become a superstar amongst some of how fans. All this talk about him been the best at this & that is very premature imo.

None of you have seen enough of him in the loose forward role to say he's better than Washbrook or in the stand off role to say he's better than Horne. We have on the other hand seen him at centre and I think we all know that centre isn't his position.

Whiting is a very good player to have in your squad because he can cover a lot of positions adequatly but as yet I don't think any of us know that he is ready to hold down a starting place in a certain position let along be the best option in that position.

I suppose if this season we have nothing to play for and Washy been injured it could be a chance to play in the loose forward position for a length of time and see how he goes.

Think if you've read these boards for many years Susie, then you would have seen that I certainly didn't have to wait until Richard incurred his injury to see that his talent was something that I, as a very old B&W spotted that his talent was needed by the club I love for as long as we could persuade him to stay with us. Unfortunately maybe its because he has such a great rugby league brain, which puts him at least two moves in front of the pacemakers, it also acts as a worry to some of our coaches now and in the past.
However, I'm sure that the people who truly do love and understand our game, will make sure that Rich plays for us for many a season. ...grannyfan Cindy

In the end we are crying out for a creative player yet some on here still only go on about Richards utility value.
Yes he may have good utility value but only if you have enough creativity already on the park.
This I’m afraid is our problem we don't have that luxury.
As I have said earlier we cant afford him at 13 this year as our pack just is not big enough but six should be nailed on (he came to the club as a six I believe) Berrigan needs help and he isn't getting it from anywhere else at the moment.
On a side note we have been using the same move all season where the full back gets the ball late as the ball goes wide, well on sat when Whiting was full back is one of the few times this move looked dangerous.

Surely you can see why he has played him there though?

Because he's clueless

They've shat on us for decades because they're willing to evolve and adopt the most successful model. And I'm not just talking about internationals either. They've gone much the same way at club level, with those who were sticking with older methods not having the success of the trailblazers and changing their style to suit. It's why the NRL is so even, with a constantly changing hegemony, with all clubs moving to models that are successful.

I'm not saying everything they do is the correct decision, but when all clubs and all representative sides move towards a particular model, one which consistently produces success, maybe it's something that is just a better system.



That's because we've moved in a very different direction. In an effort to make the game as quick and as 'entertaining' as possible, we've had, since at least the start of SL, a very quick PTB. That's meant that scooting, getting a 'roll-on' and either making breaks or catching teams offside has become the dominant tactic. That's negated the need for creativity at half, at all levels, and, as a result, we stop producing those types of player. Creativity at half hasn't really gone out of the game in Aus. Likewise throughout the backs. They've had to keep producing creativity as, with the strength of the defences (partly helped by the style of loose they use), they need creativity to score.

Or maybe they just produce better players than we do.

And I'd suggest a large part of that is down to the structure they're producing players for.

Think this requires a bump after today...

If i was Whiting i would be looking for a new deal elsewhere, what more does the kid need to do

Why he was dropped for today's game I'll never know.

In half an hour he showed more enthusiasm, intelligence, backing up and offloads than most of the other players over the 80 minutes. Nothing special but also deserves praise for kicking the 2 goals.

Said exactly the same thing, was one of our best players last week and i thought he was MOTM when he came on today but no doubt Agar will drop him again next week

.

Reads the game sowell and would of been worse if he hadnt saved 2 tries.

On the basis of all season!

Didn't go today (thankfully) but not in the least bit surprised at these comments. I just can't fathom it - Agar said in the pre match interview on KCFM that "Richard showed some great touches with the ball against Leeds and created several opportunities". Why the doesn't he change things around and give this guy a chance ? FFS we are pathetic with ball in hand surely a change of plan isn't that radical ?