TBH I quite like Ian Kirke.....He has his faults I guess, but he is one of those players who isnt going to make the headlines every week, but puts in the work for the team, makes us some yards and as someone mentioned above comes up with some massive hits from time to time like the one on Solomona last night. He is one of those unsung hero type of players, and every side needs a couple of them in the team.

Nah...I can be persuaded....but not here. Lauititi has always offered more....and continues to do so IM(H)O.

His baffling continued first 17 selection still continues to defy logic.

Yeah you're right - shocking selection last night - McDermott out

Surely the choice is between Ali and Hauraki rather than Ali and Kirke? How Ali loses this contest in the eyes of McDermott I just don't understand.

Each to their own opinion I guess, much in the same way as Mac using Burrow consistently off the bench instead of starting him. As I said earlier today in another thread, Mac will do things his way, and given where he has taken us this last few weeks, who are we to question his judgement?

Agree, in fact many of McDermott's decisions in team I totally agree with, especially the benching of Burrow which should have been done years ago. On topic, Kirke is reliable in some respects and deserves his place on the bench out of the players in his position who are available. However Ali should be alongside him...!

I'm sure if you look back far enough we've had similar threads about...

Robbie
Ablett
JJB etc

I'd rather trust the coaches who do the job full time than the weekend 'armchair' coaches on here.

I'd have Kirke in the team for Huraki.

Kirke is more trusted than Ali. Trusted not to throw silly pases or drop balls and certainly not to miss tackles. He is not as imposing but I believe AL is an expensive luxury these days for Leeds.

got to go ali for me if you watch the last 2 games kirke comes on and plays about 10mins then you dont see him again why? and can anyone tell me when he last scored or made a try or broke a tackle also for me ali will get the team going when he comes on look at him in the grand final the other year

Ali would offer so much more than Kirke as an interchange prop and so much more than Hauraki full stop.

I hope he gets his last hurrah but sadly don't think he will.

Ali > Kirke > Hauraki.

I think the phrase is "end of..."

Apart from the opinions of a string of people who are paid to make that decision, and have been pretty successful in doing that.