Me too. I had thought that the presence of Buderus would do little for McShane's development. Happily, I was wrong; he seems to have learned quite a bit and, for me, now has the makings of a very good hooker.

I miss Jim Fallon

G1, my reading skills are fine thanks, I guess we'll just never agree.......
Disko = past
Buderus = present
McShane = future

I'm pretty happy with that

How has he shown he's a failed half back? He's played the odd game here an there in the academy at half back but I'm pretty sure hooker has been his 1st position since we signed him.

These days a hooker's role is more like a 2nd half back anyway.

I miss Bobbie Goulding. The last good out & out scrum half we had (Andy Gregory doesn't count). Shame for Leeds that he smashed up Dougie's car...

He joined the club as a halfback and didn't make it in that area. He's making a good fist of being an attacking hooker, but his defence (although improved) still leaves a fair bit to be desired.

With regard to hooker being a second halfback, Buderus doesn't play like that, nor does Roby, who are the best two hookers in SL. It's team dependant, and Leeds already play 1, 6, 7 and 13 as ball players.

Shallow much?

I'd prefer to see a well knitted team play together, for eachother and try their hardest to beat the opposition. Perhaps I'm just a bit too ideolistic

I don't think Buderus' impact upon the team sometimes isn't rated enough, that said, I don't see anything much more than the quality Diskin provided when with us. To compare Diskin at Bradford and Buderus now is ridiculous. I think the combination of Buderus and McShane is better than Buderus and Diskin because they have a contrasting game style which complements eachother well.

I don't think we've seen particularly good value for money with Buderus should he be on a huge wage, however nobody does know what wage he is on so we can't really comment.

True he did but Leeds always identified him as a Hooker when playing him in the Academy sides, That doesn't make a player 'FAILED' in that position it means the club feel the players potential is better suited in another position.
Defence still leaves a fair bit to be desired He's only missed six in Super League this Season:

Paul McShane: Tackles 152 (6 Missed)
Danny Buderus: Tackles 319 (21 Missed)
Matt Diskin: Tackles 374 (18 Missed)

Does that make Matt Diskin the best defensive Hooker we had at Leeds

McShane is new teams haven't yet worked how to nullify him, he comes on as an impact player when the forwards are less fresh. The proof of the pudding will come over the next two years - oh and he has worked with an ex Aussie hooker for the last three seasons

Are you seriously suggesting Diskin's passing from the floor is as good as Buderus? not even you believe that.

We will never agree - when I go to a game I want to be entertained, I want to see elite players doing elite things - if the team wins great. My frustration this year is not about winning it is the abject quality of the play.

I used to really enjoy watching Iestyn because he could stuff that would simply defy belief - I would rather the Saints semi in 2007 loss than a win a low quality game like some of the wins this season any day

Agree regarding the buderus vs diskin debate.


However I do to games to be entertained and see special players do special things, but also a team without superstars can be great to watch when they click.

I would rather win a crap semi final desplay rather than lose a great classic semi final

That's what makes the value argument particularly laughable for me. And I guess whether he has lived up to expectations depends on what your expectations were really. If you believe he walked on water when he played in the NRL then you'll probably be disappointed. I'll just content myself that I enjoy watching Buderus play week in week out.

Bored of this now.