Prepared for a surprise. It's a quiet night and our lass is out.

During the timeframe you mention the forwards made the following carries whilst Kirke was on the pitch:

Kirke: 2 carries (I agree with the official stats on this viewing)
Griffin 5 carries
Pitts/Clarkson 2 carries (Pitts was subbed by Clarkson during the 18 min)
Delaney 3 carries
Ablett 2 carries

However, the key indicator for me is the other bench prop, Griffin. Griffin was already on the field, having subbed Kylie, when Kirke was introduced so not as fresh but still made 5 carries, about what you'd expect from a front rower.

I was hoping someone might rise to the challenge. Disappointed it was you - I can't afford your rates.



From my notes taken when clarifying the Kirke carry involvement from the previous page Kirke made three.

Specifically:

1 - From the re-start after the Watkins score, McGuire collects and hands the ball on to Kirke (29:25) for the hit-up. Eddie Hemmings says 'Peacock again', Eddie Hemmings is wrong, Peacock wasn't even on the field having been replaced by Kirke.

2 - On the next Leeds set of possession, Kirke takes the hit up on the 3rd drive from a Sinfield pass (31:46)

3 - At the start of the second half, Kirke takes the 2nd hit up (no clock on screen but let's call it 40:10)

__________

Without checking Griffin's involvement particularly, I did note that for one of his carries over this period (39:45) he appeared to be part of a set passing play on the 1st tackle after a penalty.

His options appeared to be either 1) to hit Kirke with a flat ball in front of the line (Graham style) having committed defenders expecting the drive or 2) out the back where McGuire and Webb were running the backfield option.

As it happened Griffin did neither and took the tackle. Kirke's run on that occassion was part of the set play but he get's no recognition from Opta (fair enough they are not measuring dummy/support runs) or the bean counters on here ...... but Griffin does get credit for the drive despite only succeeded in shutting the play down.

That's only one example on one play as to why regurgitating Opta stats maybe fun (if probably inaccurate) but as I think we both agree can't ever replace the mark one eyeball and an understanding of what is happening out on the field.

Like Eddie I credited Kirke's 1st carry to Peacock so I am back to 3. Unlike Kirke I am all over the place.

SS.com should sponsor Kirke to wear one of those GPS tracking devices worn by unsavoury types when he plays. That way we could have a live 'Kirke watch' during every game.

Watching grass grow would be more entertaining.

Only kidding, 'Kirke-Watching' Kirke hiding in the middle of the field trying not to touch the ball does achieve .........

And sometimes even when he does advance the ball, Opta - Eddie Hemmings - and even some usually knowledgeable Leeds fans, chalk up another carry to Jamie Peacock. Having said that I'm not sure where Opta have placed the credit as they once gave Kirke a 40/20 that belonged to Rob Burrow and gave a farewell conversion success to Danny Buderus - although the Buderus goal has since been ammended looking at this: www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/stat ... eason=2012 Mistaking Peacock for Kirke - perhaps but Burrow for Kirke ..... really ..... come on.

And sometimes even when he does advance the ball, Opta - Eddie Hemmings - and even some usually knowledgeable Leeds fans, chalk up another carry to Jamie Peacock. Having said that I'm not sure where Opta have placed the credit as they once gave Kirke a 40/20 that belonged to Rob Burrow and gave a farewell conversion success to Danny Buderus - although the Buderus goal has since been ammended looking at this: www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/stat ... eason=2012 Mistaking Peacock for Kirke - perhaps but Burrow for Kirke ..... really ..... come on.

Quote tvoc="tvoc"And sometimes even when he does advance the ball, Opta - Eddie Hemmings - and even some usually knowledgeable Leeds fans, chalk up another carry to Jamie Peacock. Having said that I'm not sure where Opta have placed the credit as they once gave Kirke a 40/20 that belonged to Rob Burrow and gave a farewell conversion success to Danny Buderus - although the Buderus goal has since been ammended looking at this: www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/stat ... eason=2012 Mistaking Peacock for Kirke - perhaps but Burrow for Kirke ..... really ..... come on.'" Kirkes 40/20 was for 40 drives in 20 games

Quote tvoc="tvoc"And sometimes even when he does advance the ball, Opta - Eddie Hemmings - and even some usually knowledgeable Leeds fans, chalk up another carry to Jamie Peacock. Having said that I'm not sure where Opta have placed the credit as they once gave Kirke a 40/20 that belonged to Rob Burrow and gave a farewell conversion success to Danny Buderus - although the Buderus goal has since been ammended looking at this: www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/stat ... eason=2012 Mistaking Peacock for Kirke - perhaps but Burrow for Kirke ..... really ..... come on.'" Kirkes 40/20 was for 40 drives in 20 games

Wrong way round. 40 games and 20 drives. I checked with Opta.

I just saw that RU refs actually do wear those! You can track their bat$h1t decision all over the pitch electronically (although my reffing is always fair and correct).

What a miserable set of so called supporters we have - Ian Kirke has got how many Grand Final Winners rings ?

He won't be a high earner and is no where near as bad as made out on here.

The coaches make the decisions to play him (the same coaches who have won four out of five Grand Finals). Go figure.

Get off his back

Good first post this. I'm really getting pretty bored with the Kirke-kicking tendency that seems to pervade every thread on this board. Kirke does a job. It may not be spectacular but it's clearly the job that he's been asked to do and he's clearly done it to the satisfaction of at least three championship-winning coaches.

I've done jobbies that lasted longer than Kirke.