A year ago ...

Quote: JWP "I can't be bothered trawling through old threads, and I'm going to generalise opinion here a tad, but I reckon twelve months back we'd have had some pretty different views on members of our squad, for example.

Monaghan End 2008 - If he wants to go home let him go. He doesn't look happy, his body language is bad, here for the money, blah blah.

Monaghan Now - Arguably best hooker in SL. Arguably the most important player in our squad, a little bit similar to Cameron Smith for Australia, everything good starts from him, be it if he goes himself or gets us off in the right direction.

Harrison End 2008 - Not sure what he is, needs to kick on. Had plenty of issues off field this year, big year for him next year. One of a number of players after a bench spot, 'demoted' in the squad numbers and folk like Blythe have probably jumped him.

Harrison Now - Up there with the best prospects in SL, integral to what we do, incredible workrate, just seems to get better & better. Can't leave him out.

King End 2008 - Again, let him go, duck egg. Shoots out of the line, can't defend, blunt in attack, waste of money.

King Now - Good player, solid. Happy to keep him, had his best game for us when it mattered and will continue to be a big player.

Cooper End 2008 - Who? Needs to get fit, too much puppy fat. Will be lucky to get a game next year, 6th choice prop ehind Moz, Carvell, Wood, Rau & Picks.]

Cooper Now - For me, our best young player this year. I don't think there's many better props than him kicking around in SL. Never gets taken backwards, fantastic leg drive, has the lot, an offload, pace, strength, he's durable, just looks an immense propsect. Massive part of our 17 now.

Bridge End 2008 - Gulp, god knows. Scrapheap ? Injury prone, won't get near our 17. If he does get fit, what is he ? Attitude problems. [Clearly, as I love him, I never thought all of this, did I Rob ?]

Bridge Now - England centre, 25 apps, up there with the best right centres in the competition. Again, cemented into out first 13, and arguably showing form that minimises the loss of Martin Gleeson.

There'll be more, clearly, I've used these as an example. Thing is, there's a reason for each of these, what I mean is, events trigger things, such as Higham breaking his arm, sort of forcing Monas to hooker. Rauhihi losing his fitness, Wood getting injured giving Cooper a run. Gleeson not fitting into Che's plans so right centre opened up for him and he grasped it.

Who do we see prospering in 2010, generally it's other folks misfortune that opens doors for others, I wonder who'll be the players who kick on or change perceptions in 2010, or simply come from nowhere ??.'"

The way the game is now played, hooker has become important than the scrum-half. If were Monas, I would be far happier to take on the role were he can be far more influential close to the ruck. He seems to read the play far better from this position. I just hope we can start to speed our play the ball up.