Thank goodness. That'll win us some trophies.

We really need to stop trotting this nonsense out. Les had bags of potential in his first year, including at least one miracle pass that led directly to a try and some stunning tackles. The only people who thought he was terrible in his first year were people from other clubs who hardly saw him play who were eager to tell us what a waste of money he was.

Somehow this has become everyone who is sh[ii[/it for a year deserves another chance because Les was sh[ii[/it for a year. The flaw in the argument is that Les was never sh[ii[/it.

He was at Halifax, in the rain. And on several other occasions. However, he had also shown the world what he could do in the test series. Quite a lot of Bulls fans did have a downer on him after that Halifax game though, in fairness.

Probably the same lot that think Herbert and Donno are any good.

It isn't always matter of not being good for people to get the knives out, as we well know. There were quite a few who had a down on Les early on to be honest. He burst onto the scene in NZ because he was a big bloke and everyone thought was going to be RL's answer to Jonah Lomu. He came to us after a long time out with a bad injury and the club got slammed, by Bradford fans who thought it was a 'risk', for that on the boards (plus ça change) and in truth he was a bit naive defensively, particularly under the high ball.

Most of that has little to do with his ability, but to do with people, he took a bit of time to get fully up to speed and then, as now, some had no patience.

Basically, some people are tragic and bitter oxygen thieves who seem to attend sports games in order to feel marginally better about themselves by abusing some bloke who they have decided isn't up to it. And unsurprisingly, their judgement is suspect.

Just watching him versus Manly today. Started off at right centre and then switched to left after Junior Sau was stretchered off. I had read some comments that he is actually better on the left, impressed me again today so far.

He has just sent up a try for his winger by making a break down the blindside, busting a tackle with his very effective fend. Hope he brings this form over to SL next year.

Another Cook Islander

Would Lulia get a game on today's performances in the ?