Noone is knocking him tonight then? He has been getting better every week. From what i hear he had a massive impact for us. Slick seemed pleased with him:-
St Helens coach Mick Potter:

"We decided to change it around in the first half and it certainly paid off. Robes (James Roby) showed how quick he is out of dummy half and can add some real value to our team off the bench.

"Maurie (Fa'asavalu) was also very good today. He was dynamic and you wouldn't want him running at you, let me tell you. I think he enjoyed his try there at the end and it was well taken.

"It was a very physical game and that's the way Bradford play. It was hard for us."

Sounds good. There is a classic quote on the Bulls forum about the game having two turning points. Namely Maurie coming on for 10 minutes and destroying them in the first half and Maurie coming on for 10 minutes and destroying them in the second half.

McNamara also said that Roby, Fa'asavalu and Puletua coming on changed the game, as it was pretty even before they come on the field.

Its a great one


At least he's not one of the bradford fans saying it was the ref's fault

This does kind of throw into relief the weakness of having Hargreaves on during the first 20. He's a game lad who works like a trojan but he's going nowhere but smack bang into the defensive line for little yardage.

Disagree actually. The problem today wasnt Hargreaves it was Jammer. He was awful.

Hargreaves is a very underrated forward. He is no world beater but he actually does a lot of the early grunt work in games, and is excellent defensively.

I agree some what with the Chair - Jammer needs to learn that these offloads are far more effective if you dont do them every time you get to the line.

Take the goddamned ball up lad - you are a prop and stop acting like a standoff

I've said exactly the same quite a few times about him. Passing the ball as prop forward only works every so often, as the opposition least expect it. There is no point doing it every time he has the ball, and he needs to be told. Its a good weapon to have, when used the correct way.

I agree Jammer threw some suicide balls today and looked abit lacklustre. Maurie was good today with good hit ups.

Bryn isnt a Jammer or Maurie type of prop he is like Clough, work hard and reap the rewards. He does take one step back in the hit up but then usually a few more forward.

Graham's still young. You've got to expect this kind of thing. He'll learn and adapt his game. But Hargreaves isn't likely to add five yards to his average per drive and sooner of later (when we've got injuries in the forwards) we're going to feel the pinch.

I'm not saying we should spend, but I do think we could look at promoting Frodsham or one of the other academy props to the first team more often. Just so we've got that bit extra cover.

He ripped us apart today. He was brilliant to watch even from a Bulls pov so you guys must have loved it.

Maurie was awesome yesterday, was great to see, especially striding away for 70 metres with just one boot.

when he applies himself maurie is devastating! very much in the mould of perelini i.m.o but he also tends to slow down when running the ball in usually ending in him getting nailed.i feel he still has a lot of potential and a lot more to come from him

I think he was the difference yesterday. Its someone like that the Bulls really lack. Someone to come off the bench with size and power.

It was typical Maurie to be honest. Some absolutely barnstorming runs coupled with some basic errors. He did make a difference withiout a doubt good to see him find a bit of form. Great to watch when he is in that mood.

This is exactly what Maurie should be doing. He isn't a work horse prop, he isn't a grafter and he certainly isn't a 50 minute + prop. He is an impact prop and should be in our squad to change the game.

If he plays just 30 minutes per game in two spells, but manages to make big yards with the ball and possibly change the flow of the game then that's job done for me. We have Graham, Hargreaves, Cayless (when fit) and Clough who can all play long minutes and make consistent yards, we don't need Maurie to do it. Play Maurie in short bursts and he can be devastating.

Spot on, making him into something he isn't won't help him or the team. Like Roby, he's an impact player and is at his best when used this way

It seems that Potter is taking half the season, after constatntly testing players in different positions and styles of play, to come to the same conclusion that most fans knew anyway.

Well, at least he has come to that coclusion before the playoffs and last rounds of the cup