If you were picking on current form you woul omit Kylie who has been on the wain for some time and this season is not cutting the mustard. I do hope that his form will returm.

If as you suggested we had a fully fit squad then Kirke would revert to 2nd row so Cross would still make the team.

It's a 'movement' rather than a fan club, please.

Cross on the field is brain dead. Unsubtle cheap shots on opponents, sloppy hands hitting his own players, going in head first with everything, getting dazed and confused, technically in rugby terms awful.

End of.

At the start of the season Leuluai would have been the first name down on my team-sheet when considering the prop positions (with Peacock unavailable) and his form pre the pectoral injury sustained V the Harlequins justified that selection IMO.

His form after the three week lay-off has been less impressive although his defensive stats have actually improved, possibly as a result of holding back on the impact side of the collision.



A fully fit pack with Leuluai, Peacock, Bailey, Burgess, Buderus, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Lauitiiti and Sinfield available would see Kirke/Hauraki/Clarkson/Cross fighting it out with McShane for the final place on the bench.

You mean like the "Tea Party Movement"?

Your decription of Cross would fit most props. And BB how you can talk about cheap shots when it is the raison d'etre of your idol.

But I said on current form and so Leuluai would be out. You wouldn't pick him ahead of Kirke on current form as we need tacklers. As big Ali has not been fit for a couple of seasons he would be one of those fighting it out for a bench spotn and not inked in.

As he was injured last week (and so has no current form) I guess I'll have to concede that non-point.



I'd pick a fit Leuluai to play prop over a fit Kirke to play that position every day of the week.




As I appear to have prefaced the comment with 'a fully fit pack' I think I've covered Lauitiiti's availability for selection. I had nine forwards available (including Lauitiiti) and that left the other five fighting it out for the final position on the bench.

I would pick Leuluai all day long ahead of Kirke. Fully fit team he wouldnt even get on the bench.

Poor lad...he's not yet in his thirties though (the age at which some enlightened posters have declared 'props' reach their peak

)

Me too. I believe we miss leuluai more than people realise.

Kirks is rubbish.

Wide of the mark again.

I appreciate the niggle and annoyance factor of TMFMISL of course, but we can do without average at best props who get banned for no advantage. Come on, wise up.

The SL season is 27 games - my maths tells me 27/9 = 3 i.e. a third of the season?

There is no guarantee of play offs and the CC is outside of the remit.

The problem with Kylie is for every one tackle he makes he misses 3/4 and leaves gaps - plus the number of times he is incapable of even getting in the line!!

Dont have any stats but from just watching I dont think he misses 3 out of every 4 tackles. He isnt the fittest, he is a impact prop, not built to doing long minutes like a Peacock style player,

Stats would not tell you that as a missed tackle involves contact with the player - Kylie seldom makes contact - suggest if he plays tonight make a point of watching - you will be surprised!!

from memory I dont agree, however I am working tonight so wont be able to watch. I shall pay close attention at the Bradford game and get back to you with either a smug told you so look, or a tail between the legs "You were right.

All I will say is my son who is far more interested in nuances of the game notices this a lot - I have started to watch and I can honestly say I seen in a set of six 4 failed attempts where he has failed to make any kind of contact - no wonder he is tired perhaps he should use his energy more wisely?

If Kylie broke both his legs I would still play him before Kirke.

Well thats just silly.

At Kirke's request no doubt.

I'd play Kylie Minogue before Kirke.

Excellent work!

Its just as well we don't pick the team then isn't it. Once again Kirke gets a bashing.

If we had a fully fit squad....blah blah blah.
Kirke only plays because he's the only one fit

All complete rubbish. Kirke may not make hits like Kylie or meters like Peacock, but he's damn near always available, unlike some of the softcocks who get repeatedly injured. Maybe its because he does naff all in a game? I think if three successive coaches have picked him consistently, I would say he is doing enough in games to satisfy them. He does a good job IMO. Never close to being a full international, but comes on, has decent defence, and takes on a few drives. I don't see the problem. probably better value than plenty in the squad.

Exactly the same as Senior. he may not be the best in the squad, but he's the only one this season who hasn't got injured, and has been pretty much injury free over his Leeds career.

OK so we should have a team full of over the hill and distinctly average players who are durable due to their lack of involvement in the game? - that sounds like a plan.

Agreed.