Quote: Exeter Rhino "The Sky commentators pointed out the high number of tries Leeds had already conceded to opposition props and hookers this season (i.e. soft middle on goal-line defence), as well as highlighting that some of the tries we are letting in are the kind you would expect from Championship teams. Patience yes (especially with Watkins), but these are not the defensive hallmarks of a mid-table team.'"
Wakey have been referred to as a team of misfits but sometimes I think that this could apply to us, especially in the forwards. Our middle defence is taking a pounding as we continue to play (arguably) a pack of back rowers with no sizeable props. They may not be world beaters but Fifita, King, Hirst, Kopczak are all big props with Pauli Pauli and Arona as options as well and they all contributed.
Similarly I think that the second half no show at Saints was due to their middle forwards stepping up their game and we couldn't match it.
Meanwhile we have Merrin who looked far better at loose forward against Salford along with Peteru, Cuthbertson and even Singleton who would all arguably be better suited to back row positions as well. I can't remember which match it was but I do recall Singleton having a spell at loose forward last season where he had a bit more freedom to run wide of the centre ruck and looked better for it. I'm a big fan of Stevie Ward but to play him at loose forward is asking for trouble as in my opinion the current game has no place for smaller ball playing loose forwards. Harry Pinner would get mullered whilst strolling around trying to sell his dummies these days! As for Sutty, I really want him to succeed having come through our academy and statistically it looks like he is doing okay (30 tackles and 70 metres against Wakey) but so far he does not look the part in the second row and if I was an opposition fan then I would not see him as a threat at all.
I respect others' opinions about the halves and shoring up the wide defence but for me it all has to start with fixing our problems in the middle. I really hope that we can keep the current academy crop together and look forward to seeing a young, hungry, formidable and BIG pack in 4/5 years time.