Most can see what Bailey brings to the table (if limited); most can't see what Kirke does that others could do ( [iat least[/i ) just as easily. His presence is incidental to those victories, as it is to the defeats at Wembley.

Tell me please what Kirke offers over Ali ?

Tell me what Kirke offers over Amor ?

I'm willing to be educated

Fitness and the ability to usually finish a game without limping off springs to mind .

Not surprising though is it when he only plays ten minutes and makes a couple of ineffective drives

I'm probably not the best person to educate you. But if you ever get the chance to speak to our previous 2 Grand Final winning coaches, be sure to ask them what Kirke offers.

I dread to think

Kirke should not be compared to Ali. Completely different players, playing different positions.

Kirke over Amor? A decent track record of being steady & reliable. He's not there to make huge meters. he's there to be a body in defence (usually for a short time whilst peacock is off). A job he does pretty well. People (rightly) criticise his work in attack, but seem to forget that defence is arguably a more important part to the game

But what does Ali offer now? He is a pale imitation of the 2007 version, and if this season had been his first at the club, he wouldn't get a second season, thats for sure.

He's been probably our best ever overseas player, and will leave with our very best wishes, but McDermott's job is to win on Saturday. Based upon what I've seen this year, I can't see Ali contributing to that goal.

Seriously...I give up.

If you (and others) can consider Kirke a better option than even "the pale imitation of the 2007 version Ali" who is still more than capable of better fulfilling the impact prop role , then I can do no more than despair at my apparent myopia.

Probably depends (yet again) on how fit Ali is. If he is, and is raring to go even for 15-20 minutes, I'd have him in the squad ahead of Hauraki. I suspect his general fitness is probably behind his non-selection recently, rather than anything tactical.

As for Kirke, right now I don't see anyone in the squad who would do a better job as a prop in the GF - i.e. solid, likely to not make mistakes. Ali is not a prop. His strength is running out wide at centres, not straight at opposition forwards. Even if he was fit, I wouldn't ask him to play that role.

I think Lauitiiti has in the past and could still fulfil the role Kirke is currently being tasked with if asked to do so and offer more energy, urgency and threat while he's out there.

I've seen no evidence this season that Lauitiiti would be unable to cover the 10 to 15 minute spell Leeds are requiring to re-charge Peacock's duracells.

If you can't or won't see that Ali has transformed from a huge asset into a liability, then seriously...I give up.

Quite. I suspect even I could manage those 5 hit ups over 80 mins we'll see Saturday,