I dont think Diskin is outstanding, but his workrate alone would have seen him start if I picked the England team.

Newton would have been my first choice had he not been injured.

Like you I dont like playing people out of position.

I actually missed the word pace out between Burrows and can...

The slight difference here is that Sinfield and Burrow do this for Leeds so its not entirely alien to them. Leeds only have Diskin (until Buderus comes in 09) so Sinfield and Burrow will easily be able to slot into a hooking role during the game.

Also look at Australia's side, Tate and Monaghan are not wingers but will still play very well in that position.

I'd prefer people like Alker for work rate than Diskin.

Thing is the Aussies can do it and get away with it. We generally cant imo.

And because Burrow and Sinfield have been forced to cover 9 for Leeds doesnt mean they should act as in that role for GB when there are other specialist hookers out there in the SL. Annoys me a little bit as im sure you gather!

Would you have had Higham on the bench in place of McGuire then Dave?

My point is they will be doing a job that they do for their clubs most weeks so they might not be out and out hookers but it still enabled Leeds to win the GF



Imo the only hookers anywhere near good enough for Eng are Roby, Cunnungham and Newton. Possibly Higham and Diskin aswell. However KC is retired, Newton is injured and TS decided that Higham/Diskin were not required. There is no one else out there imo.

Also remember that TS worked with Burrow, Diskin, McGuire and Sinfield at Leeds and used to interchange them at hooker so he knows his players and their capabilities better than anyone else.

I did gather btw, I am debating with ''most argumentative poster of the year'' afterall

No comparison, that why Diskin plays for Leeds and Alker for Salford.

Alker was a decent player about three years ago, and should have moved to a bigger club or the NRL (where he had an offer). He now doesnt look the player he once was.

Most Salford fans think he may end up at LF as he is too slow for hooker now.

Yes, im a 100% behind having 2 specialist hookers in the 17 unless one can play 80 mins like Berrigan!



FWIW ideally i would have Roby on the bench and start with a more solid hooker but we dont have one. Would still prefer Roby on the bench with Higham starting though.

Leeds would be a better team with a 2nd hooker. Therefore, not sure how the options used above make GB a good team when the option of a 2nd hooker is there!

Maybe so. I'd rather we had taken Tommy Lee to play 9 than use Sinfield and Burrow!!

Hock needs to use his Brain more, if he did he would be one the best backrowers in the game.

Hocks biggest attribute is his unpredictability. Maybe this is due to that fact the he doesn't even know what he is doing (lack of brain).

When we look at the Aussie team we see how good their players are etc and admit that they have strength in depth and are pretty fantastic. Do you think they look at any of our players and think the same thing? Would the Aussies be scared of Hock for example?

Roby gets alot of game time for Saints anyway so i dont think playing 80 mins is beyond his capabilities.

They would fear his offloading game no question about it.

Didnt say it was beyond his capabilities, however theres a difference between what someone is capable of and how you get the best value out of someone. Roby IMO should be a 40 min impact hooker in 2 bursts of 20. (2nd half of each half)

I cant stand coaches that seem to feel as though they have to rotate hookers at set times. Its as though no matter how well they are going they will get taken off its the same for props. Its what last season Agar was doing which showed his lack of experience and naivity IMO.

Think they need to be flexible to the situation but they must have an ideal approach too. Roby could be having a great game and get interchanged at half time but if he has played at 120% because he knew he would play 20 mins rather than at 90% for 30 mins then no one should have an issue with sticking to a game plan.

The fact of the matter going back to my previous point is that we seem to be happy as an international team to accept players playing in certain roles because they can rather than taking the approach of player specialist players in roles which adds the best value to that role.

Maybe. I just a lot of people get excited about GB players like Hock who in comparison to their Oz or even NZ opposition players arent a patch on them IMO. His offloading game that you mention can also be our downfall as previously highlighted.

I don't think the aussies would fear any english players but they would certainly highlight him as a potential threat. That said I don't think the majority of the england squad should fear them. Peacock, Morley and Graham certainly don't

So you advocate playing the only scrum half in the squad at hooker?

they can rest for shore. mason's not in the team

...........

dont think theres balance in the squad in any position!

I do indeed hence my post earlier.

Dont envisage Roby spending much time off the field though.