In the absence of JP for the first half of the season we really will need Burgess to do what he does best. ie: take us over the gain line and put us on the front foot.

Neither Bailey or Kirke (as a possible prop) are noted for a good go forward game so we will need young Luke to have more game time this year.

Time for Kirke to stand up and drive his legs rather than falling in the tackle.

Time for Burgess to learn how to catch and sort his lateral movement out if he wants to play NRL.

Fortunately that's something measured during the Regular Rounds by Opta.

Looking at Leeds' props/used in that role (at some point) 2010:

Greg Eastwood - 7.58
Jamie Peacock - 7.48
Kylie Leuluai - 7.41
Kyle Amor - 7.32

Luke Burgess - 6.61
Ryan Bailey - 6.24
Ian Kirke - 6.09
Luke Ambler - 6.06

Make of those what you will.

tvoc wrote


Well this is only taking the averages over last season alone and given that it was a poor season for Burgess and it was a good one for Bailey (I seem to remember you were flying a kite for your hero to be considered for international duty) your man was still down 6% in go forward.

However if you compare the performance for the seasons since Burgess came into the side (2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010) You get the following averages:

Luke Burgess 7.07
Ryan Bailey 6.42

Which is a whole 10% better in average metres per carry and Burgess is also 16% better than Bailey in metres made per game which means his go forward performance average is a "significantly better" than Bailey or Kirke

Which is the point I was making ie: for Burgess to do what he does best. We do need him to have a good season this year and also your man BB

Interesting stats, though meters per carry or total carrys are not always indicative of the quality of a carry

True. But unless the player only ever comes on as a sub against weak opposition then the stats taken over a whole season or several seasons you do get a pretty good idea as they must even out.

I am surprised you are still having this argument. Bailey is never going to be a meter maker as long as he has an hole in his botty. His game is all about something else.

With that in mind, as you have already put previously, until Peacock returns Burgess is a far more important player to the first team for the very reason of making yards.

Who is arguing?

People can debate without having a tantrum you know, naming no names of course.

Another sweeping statement.

You could argue that Leeds need to focus more on the defensive side, as they let in far too many points last season (cheap scores at that). Rolled into this handling errors and silly penalties gifting field position and again putting pressure on our line.

Strong defence is the platform, then you can worry about scoring.

Sort the defence out and generally you have very little to worry about.

Oh and for the record, this isn't arguing this is just a counter view, if that's ok with you?

Gotcha - the poster with more holes than Jean Charles de Menezes.

The issue with Burgess isn't "missed" tackles, it's not even getting close to putting in a tackle because he lacks lateral movement and has feet of concrete.