Im not his biggest fan, but......

Brain praises him week after week and gave him a two year extension.

Makes me wonder ..... Kirke must be playing to instruction cos you would hope that if he wasnt and he was playing like he is he would be getting a rocket under him.

This does of course raise questions around what Brain is asking his players to do, but thats a whole different debate.

I like Kirke. There. I said it.

Was that just "cake" in a Hull accent?

I like 'Kirke' too, in that case.

If you meant Ian Kirke, then I welcome this thread, for there are too few threads about Ian Kirke on htis forum.

Can I request another about Sam Tomkins being a rude young man too please?

Dont feel you have to post if you dont think you can contribute and are too Kirked out. Really, its fine. I wont be hurt. Jeez.

What else am I going to do? Work?

I think when Sinnie hangs up his boots Kirke should be Captain.

It kinda has a ring to it. Captain Kirke.

Fair point well made.

We should send him off on the starship enterprise

... To boldly go where no man has gone before
With no other man to compare him to it wouldn't be noticed how bluddy useless he was.

Personally I can see he's limited, and his workrate in attack leaves a lot to be desired.

However, I think the criticism he gets on here is unjustified (or should that be that it should be directed elsewhere first)

you got it bang on there RR

He definately has my vote Captain Kirke Can boldly go backwards everytime he gets the ball

Kirke stepped up in the final when other forwards with bigger reputations didn't perform e.g. Leuluai.

It seems he is only capable of putting in a big tackling stint OR making yardage and using his size. I wonder how much he is following the orders of the coaching staff on this? If he did both at the same time he really would be good value in the 17.

I think the criticism, on the whole, has been justified, although if every player was scrutinised in the same way then there would be some uncomfortable truths for some posters. I used to think Kirke offered value for money when we first signed him - now I am less sure, but his CC final contribution might point to better times ahead once he gets used to being a prop. Calling him 'Shirk' and a coward is way OTT though.

For the OP, please stop calling our coach 'Brain', unless it is tongue in cheek...

My tongue is firmly in my cheek.

The answer to the "Is the criticism fair?" question is simple.

No it's not.

Kirke can't really be criticised. Not by us anyway. He's continuing to get picked by a variety of different coaches so he must be either doing as he's asked or proving good value for money. He's just turning up to work and doing his job so he can't be criticised for that. Some of us think he's doing it badly but his bosses clearly don't (or haven't). The question is, "is the criticism fair" not "is Kirke a good player". Whether or not he's a good player, whether or not he's what we need, whether or not he could improve. That's all a separate debate and entirely each fans opinion. If your opinion to those debates is "not", then the criticism needs to be aimed at the coach/board who pick/sign him. Not him.


P.s. Yes, I'm sure you can find a post of me criticising him. Most was tongue in cheek "Kirke Bashing" and I'm sure you can also find many posts of mine praising him.

By jove he's got it. Give that man a sweetie.

So long as it stays in your cheek and not someone else's. We don't want any shenanigans and/or tomfoolery around here thank you.

Quote ="CAGED RHINO"a010.gif you got it bang on there RR He definately has my vote Captain Kirke Can boldly go backwards everytime he gets the ball'" We, like Spizzenergi, would be asking Where's Captain Kirke? www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVpUZYTt-rQ

Quote ="CAGED RHINO"a010.gif you got it bang on there RR He definately has my vote Captain Kirke Can boldly go backwards everytime he gets the ball'" We, like Spizzenergi, would be asking Where's Captain Kirke? www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVpUZYTt-rQ

I'll have a piece of cake please. Not really a sweetie fan. Cup of tea would go down a treat too if you're feeling generous.

The problem for me in those defending him is that they are being selective in who they compare him too. Think most would agree the re-signing of Lleulai is as equally as bad a decision.

Why do we have to wait for him to " grow into the role " of prop when there are Ambler and Amor waiting in the wings ?
I know many scoff at my mantra of promoting youth, but I really cannot see any advantage in Kirke ( or Lleulai ) over these two.
Somebody please tell me what this ' advantage ' is ?

He had a very good final on Saturday in my opinion, making good yards every time he took the ball up - this is the Kirke we need to see every week.

Nobody is waiting for him to grow into any role (perhaps other than you).

He's a squad player, doing a squad player's job, for what is highly likely to be a squad player's salary. That's his role. No growing required. End of story.

Kirke made small, but significant contributions to the GF wins in 2007 and 2008. He's been excellent value IMO over the last few years as a squad player who comes in and does a solid job and could make a defensive impact off the bench. Smith, Bluey and McD have obviously all rated him. However, unlike Ablett who kicked on and became one of the first names on the team sheet his limitations as a player with ball in hand have never gone away.
I think the last couple of years, in a team that's begun to struggle he's also looked very average and his limitations are even more obvious. He's been around a while as well, so he has age to contend with as well now. For a few years he never let the side down, got on with his job and was good value for money (although I really don't know what level of salary he was on so I'm guessing there a bit).
But as a sportsman you tend to get judged on your last season/performance and if you want to discuss Kirke's current value to the club, then we aren't talking big numbers I'm afraid and I think there are better alternatives barely getting a look in.

Quote ="Clearwing"We, like Spizzenergi, would be asking Where's Captain Kirke? www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVpUZYTt-rQ'" got that on 7" vinyl

Quote ="Clearwing"We, like Spizzenergi, would be asking Where's Captain Kirke? www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVpUZYTt-rQ'" got that on 7" vinyl

Re-read Exeter's post... Something along the lines of him getting used to the role of prop. Exeter's words not mine.

As for the old chestnut of he being only a squad player .... Nothing seems to stop him getting into the FIRST 17 every damn week.
Even on his diminshed impact ability these days I would suggest Lauititi would still be the better choice off the bench.

How do you know what salary he is on compared to Ambler and / or Amor ? Hard then to state he is value for money.

A's for end of s'tory ...sez who ? And im ju'st mis - using apostrophe's now just to annoy you : )... Besides I'm sure you're another one of many who uses it's (apostrophe) when they mean its (no apostrophe).

Tendency to get personal when somebody disagrees with you duly noted. As you were.

Personal ? Me ? Don't be so Fekking stupid you great big spotty nosed spec wearing that must be a xmas present jumper fat rhino