So you never watched Allan Langer or Andrew Johns or Sean Long or Ben Hornby or Chris Sandow? Precisely WHAT do you think those guys are/were shouting about in the time immediately between the ref shouting "hold" and the ptb?

Jesting aside, Mathers for all his flaws was a major contributor in our improved defence, I think it's preferential to have your FB calling the shots if you're relying on one guy, but at Wire as most people know Briers does most of the shouting and organising at 6 with a defensive position at centre.
Briers was always a shouter but I'm sure he learned an awful lot from Alfie, I think though it's ideal to have 2, one in the line and the FB to iron out the gaps from behind.

That's good. But I didn't mention Lomax's individual defence.



I guess that's your theory. But Wellens' abilities to organise the defence aren't conditional upon his fitness/speed/age. Unless he had laryngitis and [icouldn't speak[/i the team would have received the same level of instruction they did during trophy-winning seasons (perhaps better given his greater experience).



That's good. But ...

I think you're mistaken. The halves make no contribution to the defensive pattern in the modern game.

I didn't say they had no contribution, it is each and every plays responsibility to ensure the defensive line is set. However, you was saying it was mainly Lomax's role which is nonsense.

If anything the Full Back has a far greater responsibility than the scrum half so aim your suggestions at Paul Wellens, after all he's in the optimum position to see everything going on.

Yes Lomax has a responsibility to ensure the line around him is set, but it's not his responsibility to set the entire line. Each individual player must be held accountable for being able to know where they need to be. The scrum half defends in wider channels than they used to, they physically can't organise the entire line, it's impossible doing that from the centre position.

And I know East Hull is a bit rough, but these aren't 'military strategists' they are Rugby League players.

Conceding 36 points against a team without recognisd halfbacks should probably ring a few alarm bells.

Correct
Royce has got his work cut out with his defence in the next 6 games: I would only be confident against Bradford at this stage.
Catalan
Huddesfield
Hull
Bulls
Leeds
Wire

You said:



You still haven't explained why Langer, Johns, Sandow, Hornby etc. are often described as (outstanding) organisers of the defence in the NRL. If your theory is true and the burden is shared equally then why is it these players are singled out with the label whilst centres, wingers, stand-offs are not.



The fullback has an excellent view, but only in one plane of direction. Just like the fans stuck behind the sticks he has zero perception perpendicular to that plane. Which is why one player (usually the scrum half - but not always) must assume that role.



Who said anything about organising the ENTIRE defence? I can't understand why you think it's impossible for a player to be anything other than responsible for [ihis part[/i of the defence or [iall[/i of it. There's nothing whatsoever in between.

Maybe they are excellent organisers of the defence around them, they're still not responsible for the other side of the field.

Because you said it is Lomax's fault we were conceding tries due to his lack of organisation. Lomax defends on the right whilst a lot of points are scored down our left through Meli and Foster's wing. That can't possibly be Lomax's job to organise them, even someone with the loudest of voices can't organise the other side of the field with the crowd noise.

The Full Back's job is to shout the retreating defenders from the tackle into holes and plug the gaps. Whether he can only see perpendicular to the plane is irrelevant because the defense sets a line on the referee across the plane. The issue in defensive lines isn't in setting it straight, professional clubs will get this right with ease, the issue is leaving gaps. Nobody is in a better position than the full back to see that. What are you defining the plane as? The defensive line or the Full Back's line of sight?

With regards to the entire defence, you said it was Lomax's fault we're conceding so many points. When a lot of our points are conceded down the left channel how could that possibly be his fault when eh defends on the right? Have you ever tried to organise a defence when you can barely hear yourself think? It's not easy and would be impossible to give directions to the other side of the field.

I see no reason to chance my prediction, given the outcome at Hull KR. Same reason I saw no reason to change my prediction that Warrington would be the team to beat in 2012 , after their draw to Hull FC.

I still reckon we'll beat them all, bar wire (that's a 50/50 call for mine.)