I thought Bailey was the new Kirke. Nothing of note, but steady in defence. His greatest asset of quick play the balls seems to be something else he has lost now. A player with reduced confidence maybe. Sad to see. I have never rated him as a prop but thought he brought enough to warrant his bench spot. Wish he had been selected more as a second rower where I think he would have been a better player. ... But on present showings I too would not mind Kirke being selected ahead of him. Ughhh !
For me though Mulhern should be easing his way ahead of both of them

I would not have Ryan Bailey in my team for Wigan on Saturday.

Hardaker
Briscoe Watkins Moon Hall
Sutcliffe McGuire
Leuluai Sinfield Peacock
Ablett Achurch
S Ward

R Ward Delaney Clarkson Singleton

I would like to see that EXACT same team ...but for the game after next.

It might be too much pressure to bring in the young lad against Wigan.

He left the theatrics at home and got on with his job in his sole stint.

Bailey seems to have lost his 'natural enthusiasm' for the game. Maybe it is time for a change???

Personally, I have always liked his mall or nothing style, even if it gets him into trouble on occasions.

Was the job to perform the same role Kirke does?

He didn't even reach that standard last night.

i wouldn't go that far.

He made 8 drives in his sole stint with a healthy metre average and contributed a tackle bust.... does that compare to Kirke?

The same number of tackle busts as Kylie, but Kylie had less drives in more game time and bailey has a better metre average than Singleton.

So depends how you judge this. And depends what you want to see. (i wont bring JP into this cross reference, no freaks allowed!)

For me, on the Leeds props, JP and Kylie were the outstanding pair. Kylie is looking very fresh and he's had no break stops over Easter. So he's defying logic a bit. His trading blows with the Tigers pack was very enjoyable to watch.

I appreciated the contribution from all our players last night. Briscoe did some nice stuff after his dodgy start. Sutcliffe keeps impressing off the bench and Clarkson's running into some form on the back of a block of games rather than being the dropped one every other week.

Compares like for like. He fell behind him though on the number of tackles, hence the not up to that standard comment.

You keep mentioning sole stint. I haven't seen the tv recording so unsure if correct, but it appeared he came on about the 15 minute mark, and he didn't go off until around 55/60 minute mark. He played more than half of that match, which again is the Kirke sort of game time, rather than the spells others do.

There was a complete change in the way we used Kylie and Singleton last night also. None of the various stints of limited time, but more of less stints and more time on.

If like for like isn't like for like, for sure.

How many games they both played this year? A similar number? Bails maybe a few more?

One has contributed 75 drives the other 28. Guess which is which?

He usually comes on at 15 mins for Kylie and went off early in 2nd half, just missing the reappearnce for last 10/15 mins. So one stint.

So let me get this correct. The talk was of last nights game, you realise that actually what has being said is correct, so instead you now mention the season as a whole so far?

What were Kirkes stats against Saints anyone have them? that would be a reasonable comparison. I see Kirkes game stats for Bulls, Wakey, etc, they would match up to Bailey last night but with better defence, but that would be an unfair comparison as not top sides.

Nobody mentioned any comparisons on the season, it is quite clearly about last night. Previous games for Bailey there is no comparison for me, but last night was quite clear, Bailey was a poor imitation and the worst prop on the field for both sides.

Hero worship shouldn't really extend to ignorance.

You compared Bailey's contribution to Kirke's contribution. But Kirke wasn't playing against Castleford. So overall contributions is where debate has gone. Whether you like it or not.

Don't presume my thoughts.

Actually what I said was that Bailey's performance last night was the same job as Kirke normally does. However, he couldn't match up to Kirkes tackling.

You were the one who brought out stats showing 8 drives, but missed off the tackles. I just said that is like for like what Kirke does.

Just a quick note, Robbie Ward along with Elliot Minchella, Ash Handley and George Milton are all in England Academy's 20 man squad for a game against France which take place next Friday just before Magic weekend so he won't be making the Leeds squad for next weekend.

Bails tackling numbers were down on his average / usual defensive work against Cas. Do you think Kirke is a better defender?