I was home alone last night so watched the Sts game again as I still had it on Sky Plus.

One player I noticed which I completely missed first time round was Hendo. He was massive in defence. He obviously had a plan of making doubles because almost every time he made a tackle he made the next one as well. Sometimes chasing past other players to get there.

I haven't checked but his stats must have been high and I reckon he gave the other forwards a longer rest than they would normally get in the mddle of the 6 which helped them keep going when under pressure.

Not a player who gets a lot of praise but he keeps his place in the team for me.

I agree, leading up to Sam's try, Broughy took a quick tap and second tackle Hendo made 10 yards I dare bet.
He's always going to be the one to go, but every team needs a Kevin Henderson.....

Yes thats a fair summary. The question I have to ask was where was this effort for the last 18 months, strange how contract time can focus players.

Looks like a player playing for a contract, either here or elsewhere. He does the dirty work, taking the hits, making the tackles, which gives the other players a rest. He isn’t the most gifted (and that’s been kind) but he has been 100% committed this season whenever he has played.

Sam Obst put it well after Henderson received an absolute battering from the Dragons forwards; ‘That’s what he’s there for!’

don't think i would ever fault his effort. Application yes, but effort no.

If, as has been suggested, we are going for quality not quantity next year then I imagine it will be bye bye to Hendo.

I had Hendo as Man of the match. League Express have the player stats in their match report.

Hendo made 30 Tackles, 9 carries,

Other points of interest

Gleeson made 24 tackles, Blaymire 18 carries, Sam Obst 38 tackles, Danny Brough 15 kicks in general play, JD 32 tackles and 16 carries, Snitch 33 tackles and 17 carries, Grix 15 carries, Fergy 32 tackles.

Well done lads, would suggest that Ryan and Side show need to up their work rate, Ryan 9 tackles and 9 carries ( one very important carry for his try ) Matt Petersen 3 tackles and 8 carries .

Hard to criticise Ryan and Peterson for the tackle count, as it must depend on whether the ball comes their way. Similarly, with the carries (unless they are accused of not looking for the ball). You could maybe criticise Ryan if he had a bag load of carries and Peterson had none, but it just looks like the game didn't come down their side.

Hendo does a job. He is unglamorous, and maybe he's cheap, and so is a decent squad player. I don't know how much he earns, but he might well fall into the "value for money" category.

Never been able to fault Hendo's effort tbh.

I think he has only had one absolute shocker of a game, Quins away last year, but proffesional players will have a bad one every now and again. But, his effort should never be questioned.

There are different kinds of effort. Last season he was overweight and out of condition and that reflected in the way he played.

This season he has obviously worked harder (put in the effort) to get in better shape and it has certainly improved his performance.

Personally think hendo has done exactly what Sam Obst did. Got played in the reserve squad, took it on the chin, and returned as a better player.

Well strictly speaking his recent exit from 1st team was down to a trip back home. May be same effect but not necessarily JK choice.

I think the break will have done him good (from a fitness point of view - I'm sure he'd rather not have taken the trip)

Hendo is a great defensive player but I find his inabilty to pass a down fall in his attack although he would probably run into a wall if u told him to as he never seems to give up.

He's been very good all year and although he wasn't dropped he seems to have kicked off where he left before the news his dad passed on.

A player like macgillavray in my eyes does alot of hard work and doesn't seem to be noticed for it

Mainly because his brain would take longer to process that those shiny red things are in fact bricks. By which time, he's hit the wall.

Funny as that is, I think you are mixing up bravery and competitiveness with brain power.
It may help bravery to be stupid but I don't think that applies to Hendo. His brothers have the same attitude and none of them is thick.

And if he went through the wall and scored the winning try would you still try and belittle him?

Played well, but has only played well in rare patches in my opinion - simply lacks skill. I would be fairly dissapointed if we renewed his contract, given the fact (I presume) he is on the new quota.

No, I'd patronise him, and tell him what a clever boy he'd been.

As I understand it, he wouldn't be on the quota but I'm willing to be challenged on that.
That he proved his case last year.

Thats a fair opinion of the player. Everybody and their dog comes on here commending players for putting their bodies' on the line, and imo Hendo is up there with the best for that, as you say he is not the most skillfull at the club but every game he puts in 100% commitment and endeavour and as a result of this is worth a bit more than some peoples' idea of a joke.

Really

No patronizing him

If he counts on the quota then a nope, if he dosent then he's a good stop gap on the cheap.

However if were looking to improve we should be moving these players on.