What sticks in my mind is the first 4 or 5 games of last season where Motu Tony couldnt catch a bomb to save his life. Everytime the ball went up the whole stadium held its breath, closed it's eyes and said a prayer. Some people seem to have very short memories. Motu is good in attack but is weak defensively. ASAIC the first job of a full back is to be the last line of defence, it doesn't matter if you're good in broken play, if we're gonna concede tries because of weak defence all the good work is undone. The game against Wigan was very tight, could have gone either way but 2 try saving tackles from the full back had a massive impact. Byrne everytime for me.

must be if tony has 1

i dont think byrne will get dropped simple as that

why fix whats not damaged

I would play the side that played against Wigan.

Only if you are basing it on squad numbers.

Is Motu or is it because he has no1 on his back?

never rated him!

Byrne wouldn't be getting dropped. He is "covering" our first choice FB until he is fit to resume playing.

What are you baseing it on then.....Byrne doesnt deserve to be dropped.....if i wasnt for him,we wouldnt have won.....he pulled off 2 one on one try saving tackles (and to someone else on here that never happens) and won us the game.....Wigan never put the bomb on him again after he took the 1st couple.

Yes he is. But if Byrne plays like he did on Friday Motu needs to work very hard to get back in the side immediately upon his return. Could be an arguement for him playing a game or 2 in the 21s first for that match fitness. Nice position to be in to not rush him back in.

Bynre stays at FB for me, Motu needs to earn his place back.

Jesus Andy...thats a bloody blinkerd way of looking at it.....Byrnes performance doest warrant Motu returning.

Isn't it great having competition for places

The numbers have nothing to do with it.

Motu is our first choice FB I dont see how anyone can argue with that. If he had been fit on Friday he would have been playing FB. Whether you think he is our best FB or not has nothing to do with it as Agar sees him as our FB so therefore he is our first choice FB. The issue of who is our first choice Centre partnership is less clear.

First choice full back or not he is not guarenteed to come straight back in when the number 2 thats covering for him is playing so well. Lets see how Byrne backs his performance up v Celtic.

No! We need injuries again to stop these discussions!!

I agree he is 1st choice but the performance by Byrne doesnt warrant him being left out for Motus return....ok he doesnt clear the line well but he is safer in other aspects.......I actually like Motu at fullback but he cant walk straight back into the team.

I disagree as I dont think it was that impressive an all-round performance.

Lee Smith has been playing well for Leeds at FB but do you think if Brent Webb was fit next week he wouldn't be straight back in the team?

Motu IMO is a far better player and Byrne having a decent game on Friday doesn't change that. Until Motu suffers a lack of form the position is his IMO.

Id agree if Motu had been playing poorly but the only reason he isn't playing is injury. Motu gives the team more IMO and should take his place back in the team when fit.

Well we have different views on what a display it was.....you may like your fullback dropping bombs and letting balls roll and not making tackles but joining the line and clearing line runs of upto 100mtrs in new world record time

...I like mine to be safe under the bomb,ball on floor ( i know he knocked one on) and pull off try saving tackles like he did friday to win us the game and to get a safe field position on kick returns...he also uses his wingers very well on this score.

Is it even certain that Tony will be available for selection for the weekend?

So does Hall,Washbrook and to a extent Whiting...should they be all brought back in?

Why not?

Say Horne picked up a knock in training and couldn't play on Saturday and Washy fills in and plays well, does that mean Horne cant get back into the team until Washy has a bad game?

We have first choice players in this team. They are players who are important to the team and are the first choice in those positions, people can "cover" those positions but unless the player has been dropped for poor form they should get that place back when fit.

But but but he has healing powers..he is the messiah...

Are they considered "first choice" in any particular position?