Very impressed with his summarising on Radio Manchester today.

worthy of his own thread though.
very impressed by him this season.
very likely to push for international honours if he keeps going on as he is doing.

I'll be honest, I thought he was rubbish last year when I watched him but he's looked very good this year.

Been great so far this year and I thought he went quite well last year too!

I'd hate to be guy holding the tackle bag in training against him.

Laithwaite played 24 games for us last season - that was essentially his first full year. I don't think there are too many players that can simply slot into a first team role as they need to gain the necessary experience and learn from their mistakes. So hopefully we will see even more of him this year as he continues to develop and learn from the likes of Westwood and Grix. For someone who has only played 34 games for us though, he seems to have been around for ages and is a first choice pick for the BR. Several people have mentioned his tackling but if I am greedy I would have to say I would also like to see him making those angled runs that break the defensive line. I am pretty sure he learned that during his period with Leigh. Great temperament as well, never seems to lose his rag.

From a Salford point of view and only watching him occasionally I've got to say he's never impressed me. if anything I've often wondered how on earth he gets in your team. Just my opinion though.

There are two sides to a game of rugby and although in attack, let's be honest, people notice attack more, he isn't anything spectacular I'll admit.

but

his defence is fantastic, his engine is huge and if you run at him you're going to ground.

A modern day Gary Sanderson
He's never going to get too many MoMs, but he wont let us down.
Got a little silly, towards the end of Friday's game, but a good performance noontheless.

It's performances like Laithwaite's that lay the foundations for our halves to capitalise on.

Don't think you can blame him for being handed the ball on the last play twice in the last ten minutes. At 18/12 points (can't remember which) up at that point that ball should have been dead in the corner and any half worth his salt would have done exactly that.

He wasn't rubbish, and you are wrong.

He'll never set the league on fire as far as scoring goes. But work rate wise, he'll be up there with the likes of Roby. I can see why visiting fans would be unimpressed. I done this, gone to a game, watched your own players, and missed a lot of what the home team are doing, work rate wise. But, this lad James Laithwaite, when you watch him week in week out, has class written all over him. Absolute quality the lad is. End off, no argument, future captain.

Like your avatar. Are you really in Italy?

I guess we learned not to give him the ball on the last Boy oh boy can he tackle, I agree he is a Sanderson like machine.

The signs have always been there that he is a good player. He is one of those players that will just keep on getting better and better as well hopefully.

he has firmly established himself in the starting 13 now i think.

His defence is very impressive and he will only get better, the amount of youngsters we have now is a testament to the work done at academy level.

Was great to see him have a solid season last year and is now kicking on this year. If it wasn't for his injuries he would have broke through a lot sooner.