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.

Is it a compliment to be described as a modern day Gary Sanderson?

Yeah but you're a Wigan fan who, for some reason unknown to anyone, have created this account to troll Salford fans so not sure how your view is a Salford one.

on laithwaite, we've got some mixed and varied views, but in terms of compare and contrast, on friday night, you had stevie ward in the opposite team, who for 3 years now sky have been banging on about him being heir to sinfield's throne at headingly, he didn't stand out at all on friday, and i can't say i've ever been overly struck by any of his performances against us, or on Sky.

I'm sure he's a good kid though, but him, and to a lesser extent chris clarkson have had these big raps on them for being leeds juniors, but again i couldn't tell you a near outstanding game for either of them. Whilst laithwaite who gets much much less attention has been amazing in defence for us, you've felt sorry for some attackers that he's cut down this year.

If I was walking down the road and a grizzly bear came out of, lets say, a shop or something, I'd quite like to have James Laithwaite with me. Looks like the sort of bloke who could wrestle a grizzly to the ground. Mind you, I'd probably also like to have Kev Penny there for a speedy piggyback too.

I think that Laithwaite is doing just fine.

As Morley's Deckchair alluded to on the Paul Gallen thread and without wishing to damn him with feint praise, we've not exactly missed Trent Waterhouse. Admittedly I was one of his biggest knockers, ooooeeer missus, and I know I just didn't get it, but, there is a satisfaction of producing your own and you would also presume that Laithwaite's transition to a starter has freed up some cap space?