Plus, the hooker and/or scrum half usually create something in attack, but Burrow seems to be so confused as to what role he is playing, he just picks it up and runs into a line of defence, or passes it so slowly that we have to stand still to receive it. He needs a hooker on the field for at least a spell so he can do what he does best.

Hooker tackling comparisons:

Michael McIlorum - 23
Josh Hodgson - 31.5
Ian Henderson - 34
Heath l'Estrange - 25
James Roby - 38
Shaun Lunt - 30
Michael Monaghan - 32
Paul Aiton - 38.5
Danny Houghton - 41
Jon Clarke - 22
Chad Randall - 26.5
Wayne Godwin - 27
Daryl Clark - 41
Rob Burrow - 8.5

I know that is part of it, but we played the same way pretty much last year but with Lunt coming off the bench instead of McShane (and not in place of Burrow but with him staying on). Last year and in 2011 we tried to 'hide/limit' the trio of Sinfield/McGuire/Burrow in defence when all 3 were on the pitch. This year I think Sinfield is being asked/taken it upon himself to tackle more in defence than the previous 2 years......it's worked kinda with our defence being the best it's been under McDermott.....but I don't think it's a coincedence that the attack has suffered at the same time.
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Burrow, for what he brings to the hooking role (darting runs) we only scored the 1 try in the 1st 10 mins that we dominated against Bradford and it wasn't one we wouldn't have scored without him on. The whole point of Burrow is running at tired defenders.........well they aren't going to be that tired in the first 20 mins so why not introduce him off the bench after that, not only are the defenders getting slower but Burrow is fresh as well.

First 20-30 mins, a traditional hooker to ultilize Peacock, Leuluai, Bailey, Delaney, JJB the best with good passing from dummy half......then after that when the players from the bench come on and who (going by the stats) aren't encouraged/asked/wanted to carry the ball as much then bring on Burrow who doesn't then have to pass as much from dummy half to the 'back-up' forwards and can do his running from the PTB.

The difference is Lunt was trusted with game time. Even when mcshane is on the bench he doesn't get the minutes and one mistake he is off never to be seen again.

I agree with the second part would like to see us use a proper hooker with burrow off the bench.

I agree with the above.
I'd like us at least to try starting with McShane & then bring Burrow on, as we did (I think) many times last year when Lunt was here.
Alternatively & this is from left field why not try Ward as starting hooker, at least he can tackle & as a playmaker he should also have a good passing game.

I'm not sure Burrow did start as sub to Lunt very often, if at all, although i'm not certain. Burrow was used from the bench more the season before to good effect.

You may be right, Burrow did start many games at half back then move to hooker.
Maybe we should revert to this & start with Burrow & Sinfiled with Mags on the bench or heaven forbid, Burrow at 7, Mags at 6 & Sir Kev at 13 with Ablett in the second row & Ward at Centre?
The permutations are endless, as are my ramblings.

I think your right he was used more off the bench in buderus last season, and to good effect

He sees plenty of ball. This is a poor excuse. Danny has not played well at all consistently for quite some time.

As for Burrow, McDermott appeared to have latched onto a useful tactic by starting him at 9 and moving him to 7 when Lunt came on last year. However, it is clear that McDermott has no faith whatsoever in McShane.

What 40/20? Why are you even debating something that (technically) didn't happen.



Correct.

30 yards would be pushing it but he could be expected to be roughly half that distance at that point in the tackle count where the opposition are contained in their own half. That enables him to move forward to join the defensive line if the ball goes to his side or retreat to head off a midfield break or attempted 40/20. The Leeds wingers do this most of the time in that type of situation, indeed there was an example of even Vickery doing this around the 31st minute IIRC.

A well placed kick can still be difficult to defend though especially one before the last tackle option.
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He did this on three occasions in 2012 - Bradford (MM - Won 37-22), Wigan (Home Lost 8-50) and Hull (Home Won 21-6)

That good effect in 2011 culminating in his unanimous winning of the Harry Sunderland award in the Grand Final while playing alongside a quality hooker - not in the place of one.

Looking at Burrow and McShane's Opta averages from this season makes interesting reading for those inclined to do such a thing - I'm guessing that wouldn't include anyone on the Leeds coaching staff.

Even Lunt had games were he struggled to get on. Against Saints at home he was an unused sub and in the playoff game against Wakey he (and Clarkson) only got brought on for the first time at the 70mins mark. When he did get good minutes (the next 3 playoff games) he played a crucial part.

I don't think we would've won either of the last 2 Playoff series with only the starting hooker playing, both times a 2nd hooker of the bench has been key.....so I think we need to find an option that works, and it might well IMO have to be different to previous options......

2011 = Traditional hooker starting (Buderus) then joined by Burrow
2012 = Burrow starting then joined by traditional hooker (Lunt)
2013 = Traditional hooker starting (McShane) then REPLACED by Burrow ????

IMO you want your potential gamebreakers on the pitch for as many minutes as possible. Having any of McGuire, Burrow or Sinfield spend significant minutes on the bench damages Leeds's chances of winning.

We will have to try something the three you mentioned are not getting any younger .

Hope to see singleton get some game time. And hope it's mistake free so he does not get pulled off never to be seen again. How is it our senior players can make errors but keep getting picked but any mistakes from the younger players and they are gone ! We need to start integrating our younger players or we will find ourselves rebuilding our front row and 6/7/9 all at once .