I said it last year... we need another hooker... We cant rely on Higham as much as we do.

What about getting Richie Mathers back?

He would not be sulking around quiet he would be going round slapping everyone on the back, geeing them up.

Maybe it's time to let Dwyer have a chance at interchange?

These days, when Higham goes off (invariably to be replaced by Monaghan) the team intensity, momentum and spark drop significantly, alarmingly in fact.

Dwyer at least possesses the kind of acceleration from dummy half that in the modern game often translates into easy yards, penalties and clean breaks. Alas, I fear he is another like O'Brien whose face doesn't quite fit.

It's old fashioned to think of a captain, and single leader in a team. These days it's more about a leadership group; senior players that are well respected, take responsibility and set the example for the younger members. And we have a group that should be capable of that in Westwood, Monas, Higham and probably Grix. Hill is rapidly joining that group as well, you will see him yelling at players when unable to offload because of no backup. So the lack of a single, strong leader is a red herring for me.

We are probably over-analysing the current state of the team, two matches is hardly enough to draw definite conclusions. Add to that extra turbulence because TS is honour bound to play the ex U20 group (Dwyer, Laithwaite, Ormsby, Evans x2, GOB etc) to show once and for all who can do the job. Personally I will be quite happy to get through to the end of the season at 4/5th place, but nailing down exactly which players we can keep, and where we need to buy in for 2014. TS kept some of the older players too long for me. In doing so he guaranteed a good shot at silverware, but at the expense of leaving a big void in the team. We now need to fill that void.

Long term I think we need a hooker that can play the best part of 80 mins. We are rotating the front row and loose forward at the moment which means that Benny and House are doing full stints. In the NRL players like Farrah, Ennis, Smith, Luke, Ballin all play the full game, even in Origin games, meaning they can have 2 front row and 2 back rowers on the bench. Our left edge defense has taken a lot of stick but teams tend to target that side a bit more knowing House, Myler and Atkins will be getting through a load of work and they will crack. The ability to spell Waterhouse may help.

I agree with the posts that say we need another Morley. Someone who can inspire confidence in his colleagues and fear in the opposition. Someone who every one knows has got a big hit in his locker and is prepared to use it. He would not need to be mouthy to lead but he would need the presence and charisma the the likes of Morley exude.
If the pack is taking the team forward and putting the opposition under pressure it is surprising how the form of the backs can improve but I do not see a Morley in the present set up. Hopefully one will emerge but I do not know where from.

It is always difficult when a team loses players of the class of Morley and Briers. They were the senior players and the team leaders. It will take time for other players to take up the mantle, but in time someone will.

Sounds worryingly like the kind of comments that were made about Bradford in 2006.

Wire have enough quality at most positions, what we really need is a player who can produce individual moments of brilliance. A player like Rangi Chase, Danny Brough even a Kyle Eastmond. I'm a big fan of Richie Myler but where is the 20 try, 20 assist man that was at Salford in 2009? So exciting and dangerous. We had more than enough ball at Leeds to win the game but we were very one dimensional in attack and lacked ideas.

Getting ready to be shot down on this one....

Ryan Atkins could make a good on the field captain, he's been around the game long enough, and could help to bring his confidence back, having the onus on motivation of the 13 on the field.

Westwood needs to be left to do what he does throughout the 80
Grix most underrated player in SL but a little too quiet to be captain
Hill give it another season and easily captain material

Atkins at the moment should be nowhere near the team, I suggested giving him a chance to prove the doubters wrong against Leeds but he was so bad it was painful.

I honestly think Hill should be captain he leads from the front and leads by example.

BTW totally agree with your post about Grix, such a cracking player!

The thing that got me at Leeds was watching the team behind the sticks at least 3/4 players put a word in, nobody really took charge. At the minute these is nobody that can do that.

I disagree with the lets throw big money at getting someone in who would be a good captain.

Birdseye ran a tight ship but I don't think he'd make a good 9!

I disagree on Atkins he does not have the mental fortitude to be captain.

I don' know what comments were made about Bradford in 2006. I do know that the club was involved in a great deal of strife at board level which led to hitherto key personnel and backers leaving the club which has since fatally imploded.
At the moment, we still have one of the best administrative set-ups in the game and, most importantly, we still have SM.
As far as I can see, apart from the necessity of team re-building, there is no comparison between the two situations.