I agree that Pita is a great hooker. The problem to me is that we then have one of our best players on the bench for half the game.

I like him at half back with Smith as they compliment each other too especially in defence.

Gerry Round would have taken Carney round the legs unlike today when people try to tackle his flabby gut.

Craig Halls defensive qualities are no better than Sammuts at fullback, unless you know something we dont?

Don't think we should sign Miller...nothing against the guy, but IMO he has always underwhelmed at Hull, hence the reason he went on dual reg to Donny. As others have said, we need another centre or full back please.

Sammut playing alongside Smith. Godinet hooker rotating with Mcshane. Sammut in halfs with Smith looked very good. warrington away??? Best win of season

Bang on Brian Briggs Ghost, one of my main concerns with our game is just how poor, in general , defence has become. You see so many poor tackle attempts these days that is 100 % down to players not tackling round the legs. It the fault of coaches at all levels insisting that youngsters are coached not to tackle round the legs. Two exceptions, watch Rob Burrow and Danny Brough who are brilliant one on one defenders who tackle round the legs. Now when you watch RU it is obvious that they are now the game with the better defenders. Its all down to the coaching.

Pure speculation but what if Tim Smith has told the club he is returning to Australia next season (hence the 1 year deal) and Miller is to be given a 3 year deal to understudy Tim this season and be a long term replacement after that.

A possibility I must admit, but realistically we don't have the time or money to be able to afford understudy's ...we have to hit the ground running this season or we are doomed....doomed I tell ya....doomed

I wouldn't look at Sammutt at fullback, but, in the early/mid season Carney was swatting most defenders off, later on in the season teams got him Sussed, put two defenders on him and he was very average.

Gerry Round? Someoneis showing their age!

Don Metcalf anyone?

Players are taught to take around the legs, from behind, from either side and from the front with both passive and aggressive techniques. They are also taught to tackle as a defensive unit working with far more sophistication than defences of old. Attacking and covering the ball carrying arm is predominantly the way the 1st defender is coached in the game today and it's taught that way through necessity. Offloads would kill a defensive team who's first man in went low every time, they'd get carved to ribbons.



Rugby Unions defences are 15 years behind Rugby League, they do not have the better defenders but they can still get away with leg tackles in Union so they're not exposed as they would be in Rugby League.