Quote: morrisseyisawire "This may be true but the problem is, without dual-reg or reserve footy how are the likes of Johnson, Kibula and Doro going to kick on and improve? The only exposure they are going to get is via the subs bench.
The Leeds game was a golden opportunity to give Doro, Kibula, Thewlis, Dean etc. some game time but instead we got Akuola getting banned, Patton throwing the ball to nobody in particular and J Clark making less headway than a pork pie salesman in a synagogue.'"
It's a very good question MIAW, I agree regarding the Leeds game. Thewlis and Dean should have played for me too, maybe doro. Thing is I don't think thewlis or Dean significantly weaken us but I think kibula definitely does and I'm sort of torn on whether doro does too. Johnson got a bit of game time and went OK again. He's the most ready from them and deserved the spot more than the other 2.
Someone also mentioned not playing Robson because he is off and I do kind of agree there too, longstaff has done really well when he has played and was unlucky to miss out against Leeds. Longstaff has done more to earn another place in the team than doro and a lot more than kibula. Overall I personally think the first team has to be run on a system of merit rather than giving lads a game because there isn't a reserve grade and there I suppose is the reason that Robson played against Leeds and didn't miss out.
Akuola is a very frustrating player if he could play with his maximum intensity for 40 minutes rather than 4 and then keep his discipline then he would be a good prop to have in the squad. Unfortunately those are both massive ifs.