El D.
My own pov is that Mcshane was awarded the 9 shirt on merit ,his pre-season form points to that and listening to our coach about form been the re-mit for selection then i think Mcshane should be starting at 9 and at the very least deserves more than 10 minutes from 2 games.

With the departure of Buderus and no top line hooker being available to sign, McShane was the senior specialist hooker at the club and so it was obvious that he would therefore get the 9 shirt. However having the shirt should not guarantee him the position because although promising he is not the finished or proven article yet.

In fact despite the negative comments about Burrow starting in the 2 games so far IMO Burrow has more 1st team game time experience at hooker than McShane does despite the fact that he is primarily a 7. The coach has gone for experience in the run up to this important WCC game but he may yet spring a suprise lineup for the big game.

It is a long season and McShane will get plenty of chances. With Hood getting injured the coach has tried an experiment that may or may not work out. But last year his handling of Burrow was a major reason in us winning the Championship.

I don't think he has been given enough opportunity to prove that hooker is the best place for him

Thought he had a good game tonight.

McShane was spot on tonight, full of aggression in defence, great kicking game and can act as a 2nd scrum half if needed.

Definately, thought McDermott used them both well. There was a period in the 2nd half where McShane was playing scrum-half and Burrow hooker, looks comfortable at this level.

Liam Hood looks real class.....BUT McShane did not deserve to be dropped. Why can't we have [uall[/u three in the first 17 ? McShane starting at 9, Hood on the bench and of course Burrow back to starting 7.

Having Burrow then have that 'roaming' freedom to jump in at dummy half or 1st receiver with McShane and Hood alternating to complement him would really test defences (as proven in the WCC)

I think it will come eventually Nantwiche i think they (Mcshane and Hood) are been handled with "kid gloves" at this moment in time.
Saying that i agree it should be Mcshane at 9 and Hood on the bench with Burrow at 7 now but we have to trust the coaching team.

Not so long ago I would have said why ? I do have more faith now....but it still puzzles me. It's as if Sinfield is immovable now from SO. McGuire and Burrow both demand a starting position so......stick Burrow in at starting hooker regardless seems to be the mantra.

Who gives a toss. We're winning games aren't we?

I think there's way too much emphasis on players being "dropped" we have a big squad with a lot of competition for places and are at the start of a long season where we need to peak at the end. Rotation is a very sensible approach while we have relatively few injuries.

That's patently nonsense... Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not just as likely a player will suffer an injury in the under 20's match ??

We need two hookers, Hood and McShane both offer something different, Burrow isn't a hooker. I don't see why anyone has to go anywhere?

The season is still young and injuries and form will no doubt make for different line ups as we progress. McGuire is begining to look sharp once again and this may lead to his return to the 6 spot. However for the moment playing Sinfield at 6 has been a success so we should not be in a hurry to change a winning formula.

With regard to playing both McShane & Hood and starting Burrow at 7 means one of the back rowers drops out as Sinfield moves to 13. So when all are fit the real choice you would have to make would be to pick only 3 out of JJB, Delaney, Ablett, Clarkson, Hauraki, assuming you keep 2 props on the bench and you don't include a reserve back. So on form you would pick JJB, Delaney and Ablett leaving out Clarkson, Hauraki and Smith etc.

IMO Hood looks to have more star quality than McShane but I am not sure picking McShane ahead of Clarkson & Hauraki would improve the balance of the team.

I think the key phrase there was 'rotating [iwhile[/i we have relatively few injuries'.

PS: If the Ellis news is correct then next year would you pick McShane ahead of Ellis, Clarkson, Hauraki or Pitts in order to play Hood & McShane?. I guess the coach will persist with starting Burrow at 9 with one or other of Hood/McShane on the bench in what is proving to be a winning formula.

The rotation argument would make more sense if players were actually rested ( Peacock )... Playing them in the under 20's surely negates any benefits of trying to ' conserve ' players.

Are all players going to rotated ? Are we going to see Ward and Chisholm in the first team with Webb and Hall in the under 20's ? McShane and Hood in the first team with Burrow rotated into the under 20's ? I don't think so.

The argument is disingenious IMO.... Players ARE being ' dropped '

How about sending McShane to London for the rest of the season? He would get a game every week. we only have 1 hooker in Chad Randall and he's awful. worked for BJB.

Please?

IF we don't up "his gametime" and maintain RB at 9 all season then i would back that idea as long as it was on a 24hr recall.

Your judging this on a 6 minute cameo apperance against a very tired Castleford team?, I'm hearing lots of good things about the players but i won't be calling him real class after a 6 minute performance.

Don't forget Boxing Day, George. He could be the next Mick Shaw



Oh, and I bet you are glad you swerved that bet last night

I'm not going to jump on the 'Next Big Thing' bandwaggon like a lot of Rhinos fans are after last nights performance but i'm looking forward to seeing more of him, I've seen McShane command games (Castleford & Bradford away last season) & he has one of the best kicking games at Leeds IMO, i think he is the better option at the minute.

Glad you talked me out of it mate otherwise that would have been embarrassing!

Who Leeds MIGHT sign in the future makes your argument here irrelevant

it might be a winning formula but my point remains: will McShane remain contented with his bit part ?

We have two good up and coming young hookers and it makes sense to rotate, if thats the word we use. Bring them on steady both will get their chances and more than likely become the starting hookers when ready.
When the games get tougher we will need the hooker to defend around the ruck (like buderus did)anyone watching now will notice Rb always goes out wide like a good scrum half when we defend, leaves us short in the middle. I am convinced mcShane will be the goods as the year progresses and will be content (even if champing at the bit) with his bit part for now

I think you're missing the point. McShane doesn't so much need resting, but if we do happen to have an injury crisis later in the season it was a good opportunity to give Hood a bit of first team action last night, so when his time comes he's ready for it. Added to that, I don't think there'll be much between them, and it keeps McShane on his toes. Hood has probably earned an opportunity with his efforts in pre-season and in the u20's. Who's to say we should hold him back because McShane is doing OK? Is OK good enough, or does McShane's 2 try performance last night show that he's determined to get that place back (FWIW I'm sure he'll be back in the side regardless next week).

As for your point regarding Hall, there is a world of difference between Hall and Chisholm at this point in time, so that wouldn't be so much rotating as weakening. If Hall does happen to be rested it would be a complete rest as he plays week in week out for 80 minutes, something McShane doesn't do. I would expect Ward to get a game at some point though.