It's all relative compared to what has gone before





I want to see J Tomkins in the team for the next game. We have a squad so lets use it. Hansen and Bailey are a bit too similar defensive oriented players.

Ideally I'd like to to Lockers in the 2nd row and J Tomkins at 13.

Dave

Hansen's great tackle record covers up his weaknesses in attack.

OK drop Bailey for Tomkins. Though drop is a bit harsh - rotate Tomkins for Bailey.

Dave

Might not make for an interesting thread but...I agree!

Sooner have Bailey and Tomkins over Hansen, bot can tackle up well and offer far more in attack.

Plus Tomkins would be a 13 with Lockers as 12. far better balance.

Leave Hansen out, see if he's missed.

Hansen, Hock and Lockers at second row and Tomkins at 13 for me. Hansen has a very important role in defence and though being unspectacular in attack he tends not to make too many silly errors.

Leave out last seasons SL Top Tackler and see if he is missed?

With Lockers at 12 and Tomkins at 13 I think Hansen is the ideal sub for Hock when it is time to defend.

I like Bailey as a player as well. I think he is underrated by many but if balance is what we want I think Hansen is the ideal sub for Hock given both J T and S O can do 80 mins.

Dave.

I simply said leave him out of the squad for the game and see if he's missed in any department.

I'm better no. His tackling helps hide his lack of skills in other departments.

Do you ever see him linking up with the centres then wingers? ever making a break? ever looking like trouble for the def?

Not making too many silly mistakes doesn't justify his place it the team. I'm trying to build a GF winning team.

I know what you mean but too many silly mistakes is imo [ione of[/i the main reasons we will never be a GF winning team. As DaveO says he is one of our hardest working players in defence and I think he will be missed if we drop him. I don't particularly think Bailey stands out in attack to be fair and if you look at clean breaks for last season as an example (since Bails has played at centre most of this year) Bailey didn't make any.

I've had a look at the replay now.

Lockers WAS at fault imo. He was the Primary marker and should have driven KC back instead of trying to tie him up.


Would KC have scored that try vs the Aussies? Not a chance. He has proven this inability on many occasions.


That said, as per my original post, I thought Lockers had one of his best games for us.

Wouldn't be a proper BK post without the Lockers knock would it

Come off it. How many times havew we seen Sean send quick ball out to the left this season. If I'm being totally honest Carmont gets too much credit for the attacking work done down that side because O'Loughln has given him the ball quickly and in space countless times this season for George to exploit. To limit Sean to the right side of the pitch would IMO severely limit our attacking options.

The lad has been playing well for a good few weeks now.

Whilst no-one is saying he wasn't at fault, as primary marker his decision to tie up the ball wasn't a bad one. He didn't and so he takes the blame (along with Bailey who should have been the oe driving him back). However if one of your 'favourites' had put the performance in that he did last night you wouldn't be using it as a stick to beat him with. He tore into the Saints players and was good in attack. Our best player on the park by a country mile. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Your bias against, and inabilty to compliment without at the same time taking a unneccessary pop at O'Loughlin really lets you down as a poster.

I'm sorry you're wrong, Locky did what he always does and went to wrap up the ball. IF we are to lay blame at anyone's feet, I was disspapointed nether Piggy or Phelps (both onlookers to the rabble) decided to go low in anticipation.

Phenomenal performance.

After one massive tackle he got close to a standing ovation in the South Stand.

That tackle near the end of the first half was as good a tackle as anyone could ever hope to see, a massive hit. I'd love to see the stats to find out just how many tackles Lockers put in, it was a defensive effort Phil Clarke would have been proud of. Outstanding stuff.

Lockers put a big 2 fingers up to all his knockers last night and lead by example.

He played very well as I have said but the captaincy is a different issue and the is no such thing as leading by example. It's a myth made up to cover up for the lack of direct leadership.

Dave

I have played in more than a couple of teams lead by myths then.

Of course its made up. Clearly the only way to lead is by shouting at people.

David Beckham as England captain for example, he must have beena mythical leader?

O Loughlin was MOTM by a county mile last night he was absoloutly superb. Some of his defence was absoloutly ferocious.

Dave O has a point.

It's not necessarily about "shouting" at people. It is about "leading" them though.

Setting a good example helps, of course it does, but it is not a substitute for leading a team.

Good performance from Lockers last night though. Hope it continues.

No you come off it. Tomkins is a far better loose. Hock is linking up very well with Carmont then Ainscough, that side is complete.

Concentrate Lockers down the other side of the pitch.

Are people forgetting how good Joel was at 13 when Lockers was injured last season? more balance please.

O'loughlin has been a different player this season and has really kicked on, shown some maturity, and although he will never set the world alight, he is one of our most hard working players. For me hes certainly in our top 5 players so far this season.....I just hope its not a blip and he continues in this form.

Hes never a captain, but at the end of the day thats not in his character, you cant blame the lad for that.

Lockers should have been MOM last night by a mile for me.