Has started to actually tackle his weight in defence this season. He is also making more drives for better gains rather than a couple of hit ups.

He is becoming a better all round prop this year.

To be honest, I think we've seen the best of Maurie. I preferred him when he was an athletic second row rather than the current muscle-bound WWF imitator. Back then he seemed to be everywhere whereas today his muscle mass precludes a similar level of fitness.

That said, he's been enormous value for money. When you consider he arrived from Union speaking little English and understanding nothing of the game it's a miracle he's made it. Credit must go to Maurie's attitude, which has helped him beat the substantial odds.

He's not hit the heights of 2006 where he had a freak year.

For me, he's been hit and miss again this year.

He also lost his temper which gave away two penalties, which would cost us against a good team. He seemed to calm down a bit, but its been creeping back into his game lately.

Which is odd because he was as placid as a goldfish when he arrived at the club.

Like last night. I'm glad he decided to go after whoever it was in the dying minutes of the game otherwise he would have been yellow carded.

You lot are harsh on Maurie. He's a far, far better player now than in previous seasons. He's fitter now and able to work harder, his stints on the field are filled with effort in both attack and defense.

Sure he's not doing the two barn storming runs a game he used to that won over so many fans, but he's doing the graft. We won comfortably last night without Jammer and Cayless, that says it all about Maurie.

I don't think he's allowed to. I'm sure coaches and players got the measure of Maurie ages ago and know exactly how to go about limiting his effectiveness, regardless of how he may be playing at any given time.

Is this a positive comment from you? Surely not

and he doesnt do the haka now...

He's a working class lad from St Helens, England, why on earth would he want to do the Haka?

Here, here.

Here, here, here

see Ryan Bailey for more details.

Maurie needs composure and knowing when to run harder than usual, take yesterday for example, fantastic break through 3 players, all he has to do is calm down and hand off the full back.

Walloped by the full back and loses the ball. Composure of 0.

I admit i liked Maurie when we first signed him but he is quickly becoming like Fozzard and having a style that defences will spot during the week watching game footage. He needs to take advice from Jammer, go straight sometimes but others look for the outside and the smaller blokes.

would u swoop him for crabtree

You mean swap?

I'm not sure.

I think Maurie has been good this season, he has played well.

Don't think he deserves criticising on this seasons' displays.

Nope because Crabtree is like a 7ft statue when it comes to defence.

Countless times i see teams target him, as he is the classic big lumbering lad.

Going forward Earlo can be devastating with his size and ability to offload but his all round game is limited.

Earl is the classic fan favourite because he is massive, easy to recognise and generally does one or two high impact actions in a match that catch fans attention. His overall impact though is negligible.

Crabtree reminds me of Crouch in football tall and clumsy.

Maurie is more dynamic, goes in for impact for better or worse. This year Maurie has been targeted more by the "enforcers" of the opposition, they know if he,s let off the lease he will cause havoc.

I didn't see the hit because of being stood in the Eddy End, however the full back did injure himself never to return making that tackle didn't he?

I think Fa'asavalau is a bit stuck in some respects. People demand that he ups his gametime, but that means being more conservative than he used to be, however then people complain that he's isn't busting tackles like he used to.

I don't think he's been that bad this year, he may not have hit the heights of 2006, but he's not been woeful as some try to make out.

I agree. While he does get a bit excitable sometimes - the hit mentioned being a good example of that - he is playing much better than the second half of last season. Hopefully his confidence will continue to grow and his own game will develop so as to increase his effectiveness, unless he is happy to be Saints' barger of course.

i.m.o when he stops slowing down whilst running the ball in and starts taking the ball in harder and more consistently he will become the prop we expect him to now be

The full back went off for 2 minutes and then returned to the game.

on crabtree:
i thought some yrs back he had big potential to become a top player but he seems to have slipped into the comfort zone at fartown. maybe a change of club and a new focus on ambition would fire him up??

I do remember in the last few mins of a game when we had already comfortably won, he was put in the centres and even scored. He'll run at people from whatever position you put him in.

Samoan number 2!

He's awesome and as far as being impact prop with a love for the game you won't find better imo.
He'd walk into any side in Superleague