What's Webb's level of fitness? I'm not convinced he's been right for some time.

Has Webb ever played at 6 for us? Perhaps the Cas game from a couple of years ago where we played all our kids?

Webb has started 105 - 1st grade games for Leeds.

103 - Full-Back
2 - Scrum Half



The Castleford game (28th June 200icon_cool.gif was one of the two he's started at scrum-half (stand-off was Danny Allan) and the other match was V Blackpool (7th May 2010) where Webb helped himself to a handful of tries.

Blackpool this year he played either 6 or 7 but the premise is the same.

He scored 5 tries. Granted the opposition was beyond weak but at least he was in the right place at the right time to score them. You can only play who's put in front of you and he did his job pretty well.

He only played half back for about 20 minutes didn't he? someone got injured I think, but can't remember team, which meant he went back to fullback.

Thanks TVOC and RR...so where does the notion he can or should play 6 for us for half of next season come from?

He's superman, he can play anywhere.

appart from prop he ain't ugly enough!

Where does the notion come from that he can't or shouldn't? That's what you need to be asking yourself my friend! 4) McShane with Buderus playing 80 (or getting spelled for a forward and letting the half backs in at Dummy Half)
5) Buderus has played Half Back on an occasion or two IIRC (never for Leeds), with McShane at Hooker.
6) One of the U20s. Not sure who's our resident 6 if I'm honest, but nobody has set me on fire watching them last season.

Some of those are just me covering all the bases (like suggesting Buderus for example) but IMO I think it boils down to option 1 or 2.

Two key questions...
Who would you rather see at Full Back for half the season? Webb or BJB
Who would you rather see at Loose for half the season? Sinfield or Clarkson

My argument for having Webb at 6, isn't as much about Webb's qualities as a 6. It's more about having Sinfield at 6, would mean we'd have Clarkson at Loose for half the season. As good as the kid is, he isn't a ball playing Loose in the same way Sinfield is so the whole dynamic of the team could suffer. Putting Webb at 6, means we'd have BJB at Full Back, which I would feel much more comfortable with.

It's all opinion, and now you know mine!

I think those who are opting for Webb at Stand Off myself included.
See him as a similar type poacher to Danny Mags and would be in the right place at the right time.
He also has a good cut out pass to the wings should it be needed.
He would not organise the team round the park same as Mags that role would be down to Sinfield still playing at LF.
We have an able deputy in BJB at Full Back and Smith who could swap with BJB if needs be.
Whilst Sinny has done a job at Stand Off I feel we lack the fire power and poaching instincts of a Danny Mags type player in the halves.
My worry is if we lose one of our wingers we will be forced to play Watkins there which leaves us short on the bench IMO.

Agree with most of that.

Just the last line.

If you count Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, JJB & Ablett as our "Forward Shoo-ins" that leaves;
Lauitiiti
Cross
Bailey
Kirke
Burgess
Clarkson
Pitts
McShane

That's 8 "First Team" player vying for the 4 bench spots. I can't see how an injured winger (and consequently Watkins/Bishop/Hardaker/Coady replacing said winger) would leave our bench short??

He has the right skillset. Good passing game, can spot an opportunity, supports well

He can kick too. Granted not to the degree of Sinfield (who can!!?) or Burrow but if he ended up with the ball in his hand on the last, he'd be able to at least put a decent attempt in.

I also think the opportunistic element to the 6 position would suit his fitness level. There's a hell of a lot of running involved in the Full Back role so any glimmer of lack of pace or tiredness is amplified making you look slower than you actually are (see Mr. P. Wellens).

With 6, you can choose when to do the running. You're like a coiled spring so when the gap is available the fitness levels are still high enough to pounce. If Webb can find the gaps and be as supportive as he is whilst playing FB, just think how good he'll be at it if he's a lot fresher running from the halves.

The flip side is that you have much less defence to sap your energy than most other players in general

my concern is: is webb up to the demands of defending in the line for 80 mins. his defencive contribution is the least due to his position as a full back. im not convinced his body is upto it.