Rob Burrow?

Wane got it wrong last time around. He elected to attempt to go around Leeds and it didn't work. This time around, with limited resources, he kept the game plan simple. Tough down the middle, good kicks and tackle and get 'up and that them' as quickly as possible. It worked well.

As soon as McIlorum came back on McDermott should have instructed Clarkson to start a fight with him to get both sent off. Leeds would have had a 2 man advantage.
McIlorum is very average with the ball in hand but pretty devastating without it.

Bounce back?

We could probably be worse on Friday against Hull and still win comfortably!

I have to say when he threw that forward pass when we were 25m or so (if i remember rightly) - i think that was when i shouted the most at the TV the whole game. Stevie Ward didn't really offer anything either, but i have to say it felt like Clarkson offered nothing, other than being a physical body on the pitch. Admittedly i do not appreciate all the nuances and subtleties that many of you on here do, having watched many more games (and for much longer than me). But that forward pass did feel like it was a right momentum-halter, coming when it did.

I watched all 7 games at the weekend (kinda started flicking over through the Cas/Wakey Hudds/Bulls games though) and Radford must be close to the sack....along with Mr Harris at Salford.

Radford probably knows this as well.

On the one hand you got to say over the last few weeks Clarkson has done ok at filling in at a difficult time. He did throw one forward but even the best hookers do and having him out there at the start provides us with a solid tackler in the middle compared to if we start with Burrow.

Problem is he never really looks more than 'ok'. Neither does he look like he's going out there with a point to prove or to take his chance to become a regular starter once everyone is fit. Contrast to Achurch in a similar situation several weeks back, he's come in and played with a 'this is my opportunity' style IMO.

I have to say that Wane did remind me / carry himself around like Donkey Kong on the sidelines both during and after the game. It would have been interesting to see what he'd have done if any barrels had gone rolling by...

Remember Pearson took over and promised big things and was trying to take it to GH and Hull fans were flocking over here like dogs with two d*cks......wonder where they've gone?

Yeah, true. I am probably being a bit simplistic in my views. I guess you saying about him only ever being 'ok' is sort of what i am getting at. I know that when i watched the games more casually (ie. sometimes, rather than religiously) i never saw what Ablett or Bailey in particular contributed. Having had a season ticket for 18 months though, i now can see that Ablett is important and that he does offer something. My opinion on Bailey hasn't really altered greatly - sometimes he does offer something that i can see and appreciate, though the last few weeks in particular he hasn't made a positive impression on me.

Clarkson has consistently had a similar impression on me. Kirke did until recently, where i have to say (suprisingly) i have seen and understood why he is involved in the squad - having seen him bash a couple of opponents and also to make some metres having been tackled. But Clarkson has always been a bit 'meh'.

Achurch a 6-7 weeks ago; again i saw why he was now in the team as he looked strong, made metres and was a challenge for the opposition to stop. But the last 2 / 3 games i haven't seen that from him any more.

As i acknowledge, i probably don't see all the minute but significant things they do that a lot of you talk about (very informatively, from my POV) after matches. But also, i have come to see and appreciate Ablett in the last year (having considered him 'pointless' at first) and have seen the contribution and what Kirke and Achurch offer in flashes, and Sutcliffe last season too.

So i am getting better at noticing things! Maybe though having a 'fresher view' i can see some things more clearly than some of you as i am not hyper-analysing all the minute details as much.

Have you looked at his defence over last few games that he has worked on? I would suggest it would be worthwhile.

His defence has improved massively over last few weeks, and he is doing a hell of a lot of work. As much as Delaney, and in truth, those runs you talk of he is actually doing at Delaney level also.

He used to be quite a good looking, or at least noticably human, man when he was at Leeds.

Amazing what an extra 20 years in Wigan can do to a person.

Still resembles an Ape though. Just a younger one, where they have that softer bouncier hair.

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