I must admit the decision to start burrow at hooker amazed me. Burrow comming off the bench as an impact player is the right choice for me and was a master stroke last year by our coach. If we start Burrow from the kick off then he must play scrum half and if this is the case I would start Sinfield at hooker for the first twenty minutes if the coach does not see Mcshane as a starter. As for our starting front row our coach got it totally wrong also. Peacock, Bailey and Burrow is faf far two light weight and we struggled to get any go forward against the Hull KR pack. Our go forward came when Kylie and Griffin came on and they constantly punch holes and made the hard yards. Over all it was a good hit out for a first game, but we only looked comfortable when Burrow moved to scrum half and we opened up in the last quarter.

I thought Burrow played well in that position but I really think McShane should of been starting Hooker.

It has been said that Burrow wasn't happy starting on the bench. So why don't they just put Sinny at Loose Forward, Burrow as Scrum Half and Mcshane as hooker???

I envy yours....he's not even at the club anymore

It could be said that having JP and Bailey on from the start made it easier for Griffin and Kylie to make holes in KR`s defence.
Both JP and Bailey in my opinion are not impact players and therefore if they came on after 20/25 minutes what would their inclusion bring?
For me I feel McDermott made the right choice with our props.
Burrow at starting hooker was the wrong choice and McShane should have started or like others have said maybe Sinfield to hooker from the start with Burrow and McGuire at HB.

No it didn't work, having lost a great hooker who more often than not allied with Bailey dominated the ruck area. We start Burrow who's natural instinct and size makes him cover out wide leaving holes down the middle, Bailey was running himself ragged trying to shore up the ruck defence. Robbie has proved time and time again he is the best 7 and we seem to gel better when he plays that role. Mcshane should have the hooking role and see where he goes, personaly I think he will come good but only game time will improve him or show he has not quiet got it. Could be the coach thinks that he would not be ready for Manly and trying other options who can say whats in Brians mind?.
For what its worth I to think that Brian got the starting props right but would have liked to see Moore being tested after pre season efforts but how to fit him in, glad its not me.

Absolutely agree. On all counts.

I would like to see Moore on the bench too (at the expense of the admittedly seemingly much improved Hauraki I think).

Sad not to see Clarkson starting, but he would be a waste of a bench spot and can't see who he would displace in the JJB/Delaney/Ablett back three combination at the moment.

fancy Hauraki to have a big year this time around. clarkson would be in every time for me

Who would you leave out to accommodate Clarkson Tad?
I agree he is a top player but feel that Ablett JJB and Delaney deserve their place at the moment.#
Also think Hauraki is a better impact player than Clarkson.
If JJB is injured Clarkson will come in to replace him against Wigan.

I just hope starting Burrow at hooker is nothing to do with making sure he's on the field at the start. Burrow is either scrum half or bench player.

As for McShane, he's signed a long-term deal hasn't he? Suggests the club - BM included - think he's got significant potential. Overplaying from dummy half is something that a lot of young hookers do, probably because it works in the juniors. Buderus didn't become a good hooker overnight.

Probably because it gets complicated on the last play when your first choice tactical kicker is also expected to be in at dummy half.

Are McGuire and Burrow's long kicking game up to the task?

__________

That was Burrow's fourth start at hooker having previously done so for coach Powell (2003) and twice for coach Smith (2004)

On friday night Tvoc Mags' long kicking game wasn't the best imo but saying that his short attacking kicks were spot on.

I've always classed McGuire's (and to a slightly lesser extent Burrow's) long kicking game in the 'hit it and hope' category. Sinfield's however is one of the best in the comp and I'd be uncomfortable to lose it with a shift into dummy-half just as I am on those rare occasions he gets caught in possession on the fifth.

I'll also add when watching Mcshane on numerous occasions his long kicking game is also very effective and has also brought us multiple 40/20's.

Well I hope we sort something out before next Friday !!!

Agreed, I know Burrow doesn't like it but he has much more impact from the bench. He needs to be getting the ball at first receiver with space to run, not stuck at the ptb. You can never fault Rob for effort or commitment but he aint an 80 min hooker at this level. Also why 'waste' a sub spot (a back would have been useful last night) on a player who isn't going to feature?!?