Up until leaving the field, Delaney was the stand out performer for Leeds IMO.

Good yards after contact, always winning the collision and generating a quick play the ball. Defending closer to the middle where players are more likely to try and run at you rather than around you suits his tackling style - he's much more effective hitting front on rather than side on.

What stands out for me with Buderus is his decision making, which is ahead of every other hooker in SL in my opinion. Very rarely takes the wrong option, reserves his scoots from acting half for when it's truly on and is quick to read what's happening in front of him.

Another tidy 80 minutes from Jones-Bishop too. Often with inexperienced players you're going to get mistakes to go along with moments of quality, particularly when they are in exposed positions like wing or full back. He's an instinctive runner with ball in hand but his effort to get back and bring down Tom Briscoe having packed at loose forward was the highlight play of the night for mine. May want to spend a little time in training working on getting underneath ball carriers close to the line though.

Little mention as well for the much maligned Ian Kirke. Not sure what the stats are going to show but I thought second half in particular he put his hand up on both sides of the game - carried well and defendly solidly, a couple of shuddering efforts on Craig Fitzgibbon in particular.

Leeds against Hull:

Brent Webb-Looked good again, linked well before injury.

Ben Jones-Bishop-Takes his chances! Great run on-to the King Kev flick. Reads the game ever so well. Looks the part.

Ryan Hall-Solid as always. His positioning seems a bit more clued up, but he hasn't been tested much in this area much yet.

Keith Senior-Ran strong, had a field day against Long.

Kallum Watkins-Saw another depth to him. Didn't get a great amount of space to weave his magic, but he was more than willing to cart the ball up, which is good to see.

Brett Delaney-Delaney looking effective in second row? Who would have suggested that? Me! Had his most effective game IMO, just one sloppy spill of the ball. But worked hard and looked to be enjoying himself before the injury.

Rob Burrow-Has come back to life, running at the line more, great distribution. Good kicking game again.

Kevin Sinfield-Kept the flow of what Leeds did well. And what about 'that flick'? A monumental level of skill - just deviated the ball to BJB. Sheer class. Always looked for an attacking option.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan-Great start to the season. Great tempo of charges, needs to make sure he's hitting the straps down the flanks though, but looks for work, which is great.

Carl Ablett-Had more of an impact than last week, shame about the knock.

Danny Buderus-Class. Knows when to run, knows when to wait. Another fine contribution.

Kylie Leuluai-Some huge hits, improved on last weeks game. Good impact considering he was on extended game time.

Luke Burgess-Another poweful performance. His first stint caught my eye.

Lee Smith-Shows the depth we have even with injuries, you can bring on Lee Smith. Webb's injury could have foxed some teams but the re-jig with BJB and Smith worked a treat. Smith didn't let anyone down.

Chris Clarkson-Sniffs stuff out and was solid.

Ian Kirke-Seemed to take the ball up a little more than usual but was dealt with quite easily.

Weller Hauraki-Nice debut score, nice to seem him get a run out and get to grips with our plays etc. Will give us plenty of options as the season moves on.

As for Hull - we dealt with their pack easily again. Whiting put a shift in, great determination in sticking BJB in the corner rather than the easy score under the sticks. Also saved a few trys. Long was awful, he didn't want to defend that right flank, was to blame for a few scores for failing to look to tackle or tracking back. He used to dictate a game, a spent force it looks like.

Kirke's stats:

23 tackles (+ 1 missed)
12 carries for 93m
Conceded 1 pen

Edit: I take back what I wrote last week about his go forward

Yes. I'd also question bluey's coaching decisions, especially when we had more fit bodies in the second half of the season. His selection was dictated by injuries at times.

I'm sure they did compliment each other. I'm sure they are both fine, upstanding pillars of society. After all that is what a believist supporter like me should think! 

What was the time when Delaney went off?

11 carries for 99 metres @ 9 m/c isnt bad going at all. Plus he'd already made 20 tackles by the time he went off. I think we have found a top 2nd row forward here.

Hall again was solid with 137 metres. Most of these come from driving the ball up to help out the forwards too.

Leuluai and Burgess making 114 & 111 metres each is good to see. And Kirke making 93 (shhh... dont let G1 find out) Shows that we have the forward power to cope without Peacock who did, to be fair, carry our pack for the last 2 years.

I'd guess it was about 50 minutes. Not that they are required, because it was clearly evident to the naked eye, but these stats back up what an outstanding shift he put in

I'd guess it was about 50 minutes. Not that they are required, because it was clearly evident to the naked eye, but these stats back up what an outstanding shift he put in

Yeah deffinately. He looked class everytime he got the ball and I had a feeling he would be pushing 100.

Forgive me, given the precise context of the quote 'average antipodean' I think I may be overstating Donald's ability. I would equally describe Delaney (at centre) in those same terms incidentally.

They add little to SL, they block opportunities for rising Academy players, they hold this game back.

Is it any wonder Britain struggles on the International stage (especially in the backs) when these types are recruited.

Buderus on the other hand I have no issue with, even at his advanced age. All quality, an inspirational player.

Did anybody else notice the size of Delaney's head when Sky show the team formation at the start of the match??

I think that alone should act as sufficient proof he should be in the pack!

Delaney is a player you craved, bemoaning Leeds inability to scour the NRL for a right centre during the 2009 season, expressing your unhappiness with Academy products Lee Smith, Carl Ablett and Ashley Gibson for the right centre jersey.

Which rising young Academy prospect would have had their career enhanced had the club signed Sam Moa, another signing you praised Hull for making and berated Leeds for not so doing?

How does Buderus playing 80 minutes help Diskin, McShane or Hood?

Let's not try and dress it up TVOC. Your view has nothing to do with "adding to SL" or "blocking Academy players". If they're foreign, they're OK do as long as YOU rate them. If not, it's damaging to the game presumably?

For me, (i.e. if I were the 'YOU' mentioned) that statement can be applied to all players, from all countries, of all ages, in all leagues.

HTH

Why should it?! Where does it say that it has to?!

It's not Buderus' fault he's a class above. 'Leeds Rhinos' sole purpose of existence is to get bums on seats to pay wages and make it's owners money. That's it. Full stop.

A bi-product of that is winning trophies (which in turn gets bums on seats, pays wages & makes money), another bi-product of that is entertaining people (which in turn gets bums on seats, pays wages & makes money).

If McShane was better than Buderus, it would be noticed. He'd be utterly dominating the U20's week in, week out, and thus earn a bench spot. He would then outshine Buderus when his bench spot turned to a stint on the field, he would then earn a starting spot.


If you were having a conservatory built, you wouldn't give two shiny sh*ts as to whether the senior, master craftsman of a builder spent enough time 'helping' the young apprentice builder to make sure he was good enough to build conservatories in the future. You'd want the best builder, building your conservatory right there and then. End of story.