Ignore it the younger lads & especially Newman are a huge positive.

It's not like he's in danger of being dropped, but a clean break from centre would be nice.

Would that be Harry Newman that leads the Clean Break and Tackle Bust counts for us?

We've played 7 games ( 6 now the Toronto game has been removed) honestly don't know what some fans want if the team were putting in patchy performance and poor efforts after 15 games I could understand but we played 5 games before the pandemic postponed the season and we managed to get 4 wins and put in 2 decent performances against Hull KR and Warrington and obviously battered Toronto as well, the two performance since the season has resumed have been poor yes but give the team a bit of time to re gel and get some combinations going again this was a new team anyway with players still getting to know each other etc time will prove where the rebuild of this Rhinos team is really at.

Can't say I noticed the 1 against Saints. I did see the 1 against Hudds when Hurrell put him away though.

Like most of the team, Newman hasn't been great in the last couple of games, but before lockdown he was starting to look the real deal. I was hoping to see a bit more aggressive running from him but he hasn't had many chances. Against Huddersfield we seemed to favour Hurrell's wing more often than not.

I'm more worried about the seasoned professionals who haven't looked up to much - Ava, Prior, Martin, and Lui all seem to have lost a lot of form since the pre-COVID part of the season. Gale and Hurrell have been okay, as has Mellor. Handley at full-back reminds us why we need Myler so much: at least Myler offers some threat with the ball in hand, or as a support player.

I really hope Dwyer isn't going to get Andy Hay syndrome now that he's signed a new contract. Some nice touches from Leeming, but he hardly imposed himself - perhaps better starting next time? Would prefer a more physical hooker Terry Newton style instead of two lightweight scooter types, especially against the bigger sides like Saints. Let's hope Leeming is more Lee Jackson than Mick Shaw.

Leeming looks a pretty big lad to me.

Had a major car crash just before the Hudds game but still put his hand up to play (we talk about taking pride in the shirt, that's a great example from a young lad). And last week the team were played off the park. He kept going all night. There's a top quality centre in the making there.

OMG im not alone in thinking this then??? People keep telling me how good he is. Goalkicking aside, which hes terrific at, i dont see a bloody thing he does.

What do we expect from Martin?
He works very hard in attack and defense. He's got solid stats on both sides of the ball, and does big minutes, is quick and punches above his weight.

He was outstanding in the 2nd half last week, so I'm not sure what else should be expected.

Anyone else noticed that when we sign a new forward they always start well and then the longer they spend at Leeds on our fatness regime they always decline to pitiful performances and very round shapes.

Sorry, not sure if this is a pish take or not?

Where on earth are you pulling stats from that are "solid" in attack and inparticular defence?

His defence is absolutely woeful, regularly the top missed tackler in the side. Last week against Huddersfield he missed 7 tackles, and not seen stats for this week, but I would imagine he would be double figures. This is not not new, as look at his stats properly, he regularly misses a high amount of tackles. I am unsure how anyone would equat that to "solid"?

So in terms of what do we expect. I expect an overseas player on big money, to at least be able to get the basics right, and then offer something above what a local alternative would in the game. He does in goalkicking, but is that enough?

Edit: He apparently missed 4 this weeks. I would question that though to be honest, but that's what it says.

How many carries and metres this week cos i hardly saw him in 80 minutes? I cant say hes a grafter at all, he is capable of making the odd line break but for me his overall contribution is very poor most weeks in my opinion.

I know a lot like him but i just dont see much at all tho i agree with Jack he did have a better 2nd half v Huddersfield but his 1st half was abysmal.

At HT v Saints i messaged 'lets see who has a dig in 2nd half' i nearly put 'i guarantee Martin wont' but i didnt.

Apparently 15 carries, and a total of 78 metres. Really poor. But they all were. He made less metres than Smith who had one less carry, and Smith made 54 tackles in the match. For me Smith is way above anything Martin currently offers, and he's a local lad.

Smith is different gravy altogether to Martin. Different attitude and toughness .

Martin
35 tackles 4 missed. 15 carries 78m vs Saints
20 tackles 7 missed. 22 carries 188m vs Hudds
18 tackles 6 missed. 20 carries 108m vs TWP.
25 tackles 0 missed. 10 carries 67m vs Warrington
43 tackles 4 missed. 9 carries 59m vs Hull.

Average per game
28 tackles
4 missed tackles
15 carries
100 meters
Average gain 6.67m per carry. Tackle efficiency 86%

Alex Mellor
13 tackles 1 missed. 11 carries 79m vs Saints
46 tackles 2 missed. 14 carries 111m vs Hudds
35 tackles 2 missed. 12 carries 76m vs TWP
36 tackles 2 missed. 11 carries 79m vs Warrington
29 tackles 9 missed. 8 carries 56m vs Salford
25 tackles 5 missed. 14 carries 114m vs HKR
13 tackles 1 missed. 3 carries 26m vs HFC

Average per game
28 tackles
3 missed tackles
10 carries
78 meters
Average gain 7.8 meters per carry
Tackle efficiency 89%

It'd be interesting to see how those compare to other 2nd rowers in SL.

Different position too.

Hang on a minute though, that tackle efficiency you say doesn't fully stack up. I did say he is regularly poor with the missed tackles. I wasn't comparing him to Mellor, but taking that, you showed seven games for Mellor and only 5 for Martin. Yet in 4 out of 5 games his defense stats are poor, and that is exactly the point I was referring to. Take the same 5 matches, and but for one game his attacking stats are equally poor.

So in terms of value for money, is a player giving one good game in every five, value for money, especially when an overseas player?

Does not even attempting to tackle go on a player's stats, like when the team waved Regan Grace through our line?

I compared him to Mellor because there's nobody else to really compare him to statistically in the squad as Ward and Sutcliffe have only started a few games between them.

That was the worst "parting of the waves" since Neil Harmon stopped traffic for Martin Offiah at Wenbley...

Sunday was obviously a very poor result for the Rhinos but no point in mass hysteria. We were second best to a superb Saints team in all respects. We need to rebuild but it will take time especially in the current circumstances. We have good players but lack umph up front and real speed in the backs. Patience is the key. The coach can only do so much.
Omens are not good for this year but with no relegation it does provide the opportunity to blood some of the younsters. Yes we want a winning team but it does take time. With the culture at the club and the continued investment in youth we will see the light albeit it may take longer than we hoped!!!!!

Martin was my MOTM against Huddersfield.

Against Saints Mellor was our second highest meter making forward and he played 40 minutes. For me we have zero depth in the back row. Yes, money is tight but the way to create depth in my opinion is from the youth give them a crack. Walters is ready to be introduced. Or are we going to expect Martin and Mellor when fit to do 80 every week?

add another 3 months of enforced sitting on his backside eating and we may aswell start playing him prop!

You wouldn't believe it, but I was actually thinking he'd make a decent prop today!
Lol...
He plays more like that.