You ARE funny! Yes Hardaker went for glory instead of passing to the supporting McGuire and 'cost a try', but do you really think he would have done the same if it had been a critically needed score?



As for passing to Burrow because he felt 'guilty' he passed because he knew he had made a mistake previously I'm sure, but to say he felt 'guility' is daft. What exactly did he need to feel 'guilty' about in his contribution to the match?



...and like it or not you had constantly advocated BJB over Hardaker at FB; even suggesting Hardaker would be better on the wing !!!!

Yes, having a player who is defensively weaker, has a much worse pass from dummy half and often crabs sideways before throwing mediocre passes to marked team-mates in one of the key positions for 80 minutes in no way weakens the team.



Seriously.



I appreciate everything Rob Burrow has done for Leeds, but arguing that he's every bit as good as Aiton as a starting hooker is obstinacy mired in nostalgia.

Printer, surely you don't think I'm responsible of such malice. I was gonna stick the pins in at the start of next season

I am huge admirer of Aiton from a physical commitment perspective. It was just his financially driven lack of loyalty I questioned. Like I said before, everyone has different goals in life, some people are primarily financially motivated, I'm not. I think it's a crying shame for Aiton and our club that he has broken his arm. I wish him all the best for his recovery, and genuinely feel for him missing out on possibly two finals and medals/rings. We never know what is around the corner, for me physical wellbeing for me and my family is the most important thing. I'm sure it is for Aiton too.......and then the money.

Do you not get a medal if you are not in the cup final squad? I had assumed that if involved at some point you get one by default?

That probably should be the case, certainly if you play in a semi final. I thought clubs were allocated a set number of medals and they'd choose who got them beyond the 17 on the day plus head coach?

Timing of the pass to the runner is critical at dummy half, the forwards seem to trust ,Ailton's timing and are running hard onto the ball, Anyone who plays or has played knows the huge difference it makes when you get a pass you don't have to slow down for, reach back or forward for, Ailton has really got his timing nailed in the last few games and it adds 2-3 metres of go forward and makes a quick PTB more likely, I think Burrow has been an amazing player and still does some tremendous things, he would always be in my 17, But his dummy half passing is not as sharp or as well timed as Aiton's.

Yes he can crab sideways and find gaps - all good half backs used to do that in the past - running sideways is not a problem in league - Andy Gregory was a master at tempting defenders out of the line and punishing them - but you don't want your hooker doing it.

Aiton out for the season.

It actually feels just like 2005 with this news. I think some still underestimate the contribution he has made to how well we play.

I wish i shared Juan's optimism about Burrow being a more than capable replacement, but i just don't see any of the skills that have made Aiton a success this year in Burrow's game. In tandem they work well with Aiton doing the "hard graft", fierce defense and getting the forwards rolling up the pitch then Burrow bringing his darting runs against a tired defense. With Aiton out, every player will have to up their defense whilst Burrow is on the pitch. You cant get away from the fact that he is a passenger in defense!

Aiton easy chucks in 30/40 tackles a game. Those tackles still need making.

Exactly....as others have said Aiton has been massively under-rated by some as to what he has brought to the team. I too wish i could remain optimistic but it does smack of 2005 ...exciting rugby only to slowly fizzle to a season of no trophies.



I will now be satisfied if the team does just indeed settle on trying to win the CC: now in itself alone a much bigger ask.

I'm not getting that despondent about the rest of the season!! Its just going to be a lot tougher without Aiton in the ranks!