It would be a risk yes, and there's only one person who knows whether he can do the 80. I think he can but that he wouldn't be quite as effective in the latter stages. Although his career at Newcastle suggests he can (remember he's 32 he's not an OAP). I personally don't agree that we should leave Diskin out, but, incidentally, I also think that the coaching staffs concerns over whether Diskin could manage 80 minutes these days led to the signing of Buderus, hence the 2 hooker policy.

Whether Buderus is capable of doing the full eighty is a complete red herring.

Diskin was the only recognised hooker in the club prior to Buderus' arrival and he didn't have to play the full eighty either so why should Buderus if they go with a big bench when players are available?

The only question is how to fill the 10 to 20 minute rest either hooker (whether Buderus or Diskin) may benefit from during the game. With Webb, Smith, Burrow and Sinfield all with past experience of doing just that it's not a difficult problem to solve.

Will Coach McClennan have the troops available or the cojones to make the call though, should he see it that way.

Does McClennan have some Spanish blood in him then ??

Absolutely salient points: but we already know what the answer is. Diskin is unfortunately, apparently bullet proof against non-selection. He will play regardless.

Its surprising to see that you think Buderus and Disco are so similar. There are some obvious similarities given they play in the same position, both have two legs, both have two arms and both where a Rhinos jersey but there are also many differences which is why they do in fact compliment each other.

Buderus is a far more direct player (none of crabbing that Disco does) and he has a much better eye for that killer pass than Disco. Disco has more bulk and is able to step up into more 2nd row/prop positions and hold his own to a degree.

You also say that were Buderus to leave tomorrow we would cope. I would agree with this (no player is bigger than the team) but its not fair to single Buderus out on this point. We would be ok if anyone of the team left.

I hope it wouldn't be belittling to suggest I can hardly imagine Buderus saying to Diskin " I like your new hairstyle" or Diskin saying to Buderus " I like your antipodean accent, wish I had it"......don't even think they actually complement each other : )

Seriously though you're right....for some reason Buderus gets more than his fair share of invective ( maybe because of his perceived more than fair share of the wages.....but that's not his fault is it ? )

Time to rest Diskin and play Buderus. If fit I would also play JJB, Clarkson and Ambler in preference to Kirke, Diskin and Ali against Wigan

do you have any evidence to prove that he wouldn't?

Nope. Thought not.

Lets see?

He was brought to the club specifically to play in a rotation system

He has had several injuries over his 2 seasons here, more than average, suggesting his body is feeling the strain of so many years at the very highest level

He has not played 80 minutes in a game for the club to date

The coaching staff have consistently spelled him, often making his second spell less than 20 minutes of the second half, even when us mere speccies think he could have been introduced earlier

I would suspect that shows that those who have all the facts, the coaching staff, believe he is not an 80 minute player. The club switched to a 2 hooker system a couple of years ago and they are going to stick with that for the play offs, irrespective of any crackpot theories espoused on here.

I think that the styles of Buderus and Diskin are not that different, just that DB does things better.

Also I’ve not singled Duberus out for special treatment – this is a thread specifically created for discussing said player. While on this point though do you think we've not missed JP this last couple of weeks?

Like I thought. No proof.

All you have listed there are your opinions, the coaches opinions and some events from the last 18 months.

Whilst this shows he is not completing 80 minutes on a regular basis it is jot proof he couldn't. Not at all.

Injuries are no sign of age, especially the ones he has had.

It would be my guess the main reason db has not played 80 minutes is because of the presence of diskin. With the squad threadbare for most of the season why would a player of diskins calibre be left out?

On a regular basis? He hasn't done it at all in 2 years. If he had, and had performed well, that might be evidence that he could fulfill that role.



You don't say.

Maybe because the Buderus/Diskin combination is the way this Head Coach has decided to play for the previous season, this one and the next one.

Would you like it a bit more specific, I'll fill in the gaps for you. Of course Buderus could complete 80 minutes on the field, but he is far more effective sharing the role with Diskin given the workload of the Dummy Half role. You may have noticed that other super league clubs also operate in game rotation at Dummy Half? Its not a new concept.

So, are you joining Juan Cornetto in suggesting that on Sunday Leeds have Buderus play the 80 with no specialist back up on the bench?

At this point I would have to say no. However during the last 2 seasons I believe it should certainly have occurred. Right now with the injuries we have it would be criminal to leave out diskin.

On arriving in England buderus was an 80 minute hooker. The fact he has not been given the chance to continue that is not his fault.

My original point still stands. Until buderus has completed 80 minutes for let's say 3 games in a row no one can say he either physically couldn't do it or if he could, that he would not be effective.

If you ask me, some of the coaches decisions around the interchange timings of the hookers have been bewildering. The people I watch the games with and people in my local are all of the same opinion.

Yet you lot hang around the WMC and the coaches get paid to coach the team.

I'll trust the coaches rather than a load of blokes huddled round a bottle of Whyte and Mackay thanks.

I take the point about this being a Buderus thread (made the same point myself earlier), just pointing out it isn't exclusive to Buderus.

As for JP - how can you not miss a player like that? He's one of the few that we do struggle to replace as there really is nobody else in the squad who does what he does (not just taking the ball up) I also reackon if you spoke to Buderus (and Diskin) that they would say there job is easier when he is on the pitch as he sets a better platform.