The reason we don't spread the ball quicker is because of the halves, or the ones pretending to be, for us this season. The problems you allude to is down to them.

I can't ever recall Wilkin or Lomax (not sure why Lomax will be getting the ball at first reciever, considering he is a FB...?) having to skip to get a pass away because of poor distribution. Making things up doesn't increase the strength of your argument.

P.S - sorry for derailing the thread. Although I suppose it is a relevant discussion to the starting 17 vs Aus.

Can't believe people aren't picking Ablett. He's without doubt our best all round back rower at the moment

For me, Ablett needs to be in one of the centres against Australia. Cudjoe and Watkins are both poor defensively and would be exploited. ablett has played enough at centre to know what he is doing on attack, and his defence is very good and realistically would be our best option to stop the powerhouse Aussie centres.

Agreed, in games against Hudds I can't say I have noticed Cudjoe do anything of great importance, but Ablett always seems to pull something out of the bag against us, I'd have him at left .

p.s, it kills me to admit that, as for some reason I really have taken a disliking to Ablett, he has the the most punchable face I've ever seen...

Tomkins

Charnley
Cudjoe
Watkins
Hall

Sinfield
Widdop

Graham
Roby
S. Burgess

Westwood
Farrell

O'Loughlin

G. Burgess
T. Burgess
Mossop
Burrow.

Tomkins
Charnley
Cudjoe
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Chase
Mossop
Roby
Graham
Farrell
Burgess
Sinfield

McIlorum
Hill
G Burgess
Westwood

Tomkins
Charnley
Cudjoe
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Sinfield
Graham
Roby
Hill
Westwood
S Burgess
O'Loughlin

G Burgess
Mossop
Hock
Chase

...and Saints fans will hear nowt against Roby.

Who'da thunkit.

I'd have McIlorum simply for the fact I want some mongrel against the Aussies. I don't care that Roby may be a technically 'better' hooker or can kick better - that's not his job -, and his scoot game has never been as effective against the Aussie defence. He's great at what he does, but that's not enough and has never been so far on the international stage.

What I want is a hooker who can distribute quickly and cleanly, who has perfected the art of drawing at least the first marker (which Micky has in the past 2 years), and who can really get under their skin and p*ss them off. Let's see Smith losing his cool, their props biting back and pushing & shoving at the ruck, and Gallen taking a massive hit off the little hooker he thought he could run over. A bit like Dermott used to.

Others have mentioned Ablett - I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do against the Aussies. He's become a massive danger player for Leeds, and also has that bit of nasty mongrel in him I like. If he targets Slater as keenly as he always targets Tomkins he'll do right by me.

A few have mentioned Ablett almost solely for his 'niggly' side. However he is a very good player and a serious contender IMO for left centre.
You want players that'll show up in big games and not hide. Well he's scored tries in the last 2 GF's, setting up another 2 in the 2012 win for which many thought he was unlucky not to be MOM. He scored crucial tries in the playoff wins vs Wire (2011) & Catalans (2012) both from grubbers through. Also scored in the 2011 CCF and 2012 WCC. All these with the exception of the WCC came from starting left centre.

Also going on form (which many cry out for) he's probably been Leeds' best player as we entered the final month of the season. Immense against Saints and helped create a great try for Moon against Wigan. And it's not just a 'because he's Leeds' thing as I believe Burrow shouldn't be in as I don't think his 'come off the bench against tiring forwards' thing will work vs the Aussies.

He had a very good game when Leeds beat Saints, partly because he was clearly told to run at Hohaia, who is small and a poor defender.
This brings to the table another quality that people don't discuss - the ability to tailor your game to a specific role/task/tactic that your coach asks of you. Ablett show his can focus his attack in a particular way, someone above says he always gives Tomkins a hard time when defending, he obviously doesn't mind putting himself in harms way with a bit of niggle and he appears to like a bit of a sledge - check the footage of when Wilkin missed his drop goal in the playoff game, Albett looks like he's giving him loads after. He's one of the better interviewers I've seen, so isn't daft.

Basically he's a important player for a successful club and will(can) do pretty much whatever the coach asks of him.

Just a question with regards to Burrow. People say that his game wont work against the Aussies. I just wonder why they think that is? Burrow does what he does, yes its very off the cuff and a bit of a gimmick but it does work. He is very very quick off the mark has a great step and is very difficult to tackle because of his size. Why wont that trouble the Aussies? Its not like they face it often in the NRL, its not like their defence is set up to deal with a player like him or they have experience of a player like him or the squad is picked to counter players like him.

I don’t care who you are, whether your Dave Shillington or Shane Webcke, a player like Burrow can make any prop look lead-footed. The best props in the world are built to deal with other big strong guys, they will always struggle with a little nippy guy.

I certainly think we are more likely to beat the Aussie pack with guile and speed/agility than mongrel and niggle.

Can't hurt can it? Roby's not done anything of note on the international stage against Australia.

Agreed. Although I think McIlorum is a better hooker, I would like Burrow to be on the bench against Australia instead of him.

Plus he's an absolute nightmare to tackle without giving a penalty away (and boy will we need the penalties to go our way). Obviously the downside is that his defense is nowhere near that of other hookers, he can't handle the middle, and I doubt he could handle athletic centres (that actually bother to offload, so his good leg tackle will probably be irrelevant). Either way, we lose a defender - so I guess like Hock he's just another risk to put in the team that can go either way.

McIlorum is in good form as well as having the mongrel in him, and does turn up in big games (yes I know I've just jinxed him for tomorrow).

Tbh, in terms of hookers we'll be fine whatever we go for, I won't be complaining.