But we pick certain players whose main ability is defence, we often play a mobile prop at 13 - so they are not being overworked. Without the burden of having to tackle around the ruck Burrow has the freedom to run play like a 7 when at 9. Sinfield is not a running 6 and therefore has energy to make extra tackles. Despite the numbers on their backs in general play Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow still play as a 13, 6 & 7 with Burrow going into acting half at the breakdown.




Sinfield does not run like a 6 and is able to do some of Burrow's tackling and Burrow in turn does some of Sinfield's attacking - so it works.

It's not just a question of whether Sinfield runs a lot at 6 or not (again Briers, he wasn't much of a runner in his latter years but Wire would try keep him as fresh for attack whilst opposition would try tire him out). He is still key to attack and is heavily involved regardless of his style.....and an increased defensive workload can't help him do as well in attack as possible. From what I've seen I don't think Burrow does do any of Sinfield's attacking, simply just his own. Whereas it's clear that Burrow's workload is reduced in defence I don't see Sinfield have a reduced role in attack to compensate (nor should we). Sinfield is basically performing 1 & a half roles.....the attack and defence of his own position, and the defence of Burrow's position when at nine.

You say it works, but only just and not convincing enough at times. For three who've been together so long (Sinfield, Burrow & McGuire) they have looked like new teammates unsure about what the other is doing at times. What I've seen work is Aiton adding balance to the team and it look better on the WHOLE even if the individual isn't as talented/exciting attacking as Burrow, he can bring out more in those around him. The same with Lunt and Buderus.

As for the prop at 13, it's a tactic used throughout RL nowadays and would be there regardless of Burrow at hooker or not, and even before when you had a more traditional Loose they could defend just as well so it isn't a big difference defensively. More so it's attack wise for carrying the ball in......but with the distribution at dummy half not as crisp it takes an edge of that tactic.

The same statement was made by two posters - you said they were wrong.

While you may now consider it to be trivia to examine whose statement is supported by the facts (at least those according to Opta) others may be interested to examine the numbers behind the statements.

So why not answer the questions already asked, namely:

1) All games or just the regular rounds ?

2) Which players belong to which sub-set ? (Forward and Backs)

3) How have you treated the players who have started in both the forwards and the backs this season ?

4) How have you allocated the totals from the players who started on the bench ?

_________

If you are confident enough to tell someone 'they are wrong' why not allow the conclusion you've drawn to be tested?

Burrow....has the pace of a back and the tackling ability up the middle channel of....ahem! a back. His passing off the ground from dummy half lacks precision of a hooker and bears comparison to a player from the backs not used to this skill.

let's start him in the forwards !!!!

Good to hear Jamie Peacock mention Paul, he has almost become a forgotten man along with JJB. Hopefully he will have time to play himself into form before the semi final.

they'll both be back and playing in that semi final without a doubt,both have been missed massively lately along with rob burrow

Have to agree with that, let's not forget the Rhinos are missing some top drawer talent and arguably the inspiration (along with Hardaker) behind our good run at the start of the season, in the form of Paul Aiton.

I've not been a fan of Burrow at 9 because of the mess it makes of our defensive structure, although somehow or other this season we've seemed to work that out.

However watching the Leigh game, our hookers at dummy half did something other than pass straight from the play-the-ball precisely once (when Robbie Ward scored a neat try).

Never mind running from dummy half, neither Ward or Clarkson even took a step off the mark, faked one way then went the other, or anything else hookers do to put doubt in the opposition defence. I don't think Clarkson has done it once in the half dozen games he's had there.

And then we wonder why the opposition line is so fast up on us, or why by the time our halves have the ball they've been shut down. I used to think that Burrow's distribution didn't help for this but by god this is worse.

Sinfield has the ability to play what's in front of him at acting-half and not be as predictable as the other options. He's got to play there until Burrow or Aiton are back, because if he's at stand-off with Clarkson/Ward there he's never going to get decent ball anyway.

Not sure JJB has missed at all - I am unsure what improvement he will make on Achurch and Ablett? One of the reason the defence has been so much better is because it doesn't have JJB jumping out of the line and leaving his team mates woefully exposed.

If he does return let's hope he has a better game than he did in his last CC semi final he played in!!

Agreed. If Achurch isn't out for too long, then with him and Ablett starting and Stevie Ward as your substitute back rower (the other bench spots taken by 2 props and either Burrow/Aiton) then I can't see putting JJB back in the 17 as correct.

Much could also depend on Stevie Ward. Had a good game against Leigh by the sounds of it but had some dips too in some games when he's not looked physically developed enough yet.

Been a big fan of JJB over the years, but agree with these points. Generally, I think we lack some dynamism in the back row and Achurch has a lot to prove for me. Plenty of steady eddies and grafters, but other than when Ablett plays at SR / 13, we've not had any flair since Big Ali left.

You may want to watch a replay of the Hardaker try. Really clever running from dummy half by Ward, spotting the late retreat from the marker before slipping a perfectly timed pass to JP.

Just watched the highlights and you're right. So that's twice. Both in the last ten minutes and both resulting in tries. Point stands about how much more dangerous an attack is if it doesn't just mechanically pass from dummy-half. If Ward can do this, the great. But prior to the last ten minutes, either through orders or nerves, he was more conservative.

A dummy half also needs a quick play the ball to be able to threaten out of that position.

Something Leeds generate on woefully few occasions. We must have some of the slowest PTBs in the competition on average, so rarely do our forwards win the collision and land on their front.

I agree with most of your post and ordinarily I'd agree with this point. The problem with Sinfield at acting half is that we have so few kicking options at present, what with Burrow and McGuire out. Moving him to acting half would further screw up our kicking game (such as it is).