Our left flank was Brierley, Worrincey, Gardner and Shaw.

None of those are known for defence, and Worrincey and Shaw are very poor tacklers.

Brierley, Goulden, Gardner McGilvaray/Clay looks much better for me.

yep

Has he had chance to prove himself?? I think I'mright in saying that we're the third club he has played for THIS season alone, I know for a fact that we are the second new club he has played for which would be difficult for anybody as the defence structures are different at different clubs for example, Wire could go man for man whilst Leigh play slide defence, Cas put the centre inside and put half back outside etc, etc. It takes time for a player to get used to a teams system, made more difficult for Shaw because he didn't have pre-season with us like say Jamie Ellis did last season.

But no, maybe you're right. Maybe Shaw is a bad player, unworthy of being paid for it. I mean your rugby knowledge must be superior to that of Tony Smith and Ian Millward......

Harsh, everyone's entitled to an opinion. If every time anyone had one you could refer to the proffessionals that hire the players with the guarantee that they 'know more than you'

True, I apologise. However, I find it quite irratating now that in sport, the fans seem to jump the gun far too quickly without giving people a chance. As you very rightly say, everybody is entitled to their opinion the same as everybody is entitled to time to prove themselves.

Agree with you on this point.

I'll hold my hands up and admit I got on Tommy Gallaghers back when he'd not had a club and had spent that time eating cheeseburgers, but now we're missing him while he's ill. He's been one of our best players, so I stand corrected on that one.

Maybe a bit harsh, but LG has hardly been what you'd call 'constructive' in his assesment of Shaw thus far.....here's a selection of his 'measured and considered' critiques

Everybody seems to have overlooked that we need a reliable,regular goal kicker. In our two tv games against Yorkshire "thugs", we have been outweighed and lacked physical presence - perhaps its team selection, or we need a couple of big aggressive packmen.

Very good point.

It's not just shaw's defence that is getting slated but also worrincy's on the terraces, we always seem to make someone the scapegoat when things not going right !! Both these 2 need to be given time without the constant moaning about their terrible defence, I agree both have been suspect so far but they are not in their own. I was at fev last night and I didn't come away thinking Christ them 2 cost us the game with their terrible defence !! I thought the whole team defended pathetically and the one bad thing that stuck in my head last night was our awful kicking game ( mainly Duffy ) apart from one great kick in the 1st 10 mins ( the reverse one ) not one more kick all night turned the full back or found the deck.

How on earth can you have a valid opinion about a game you never saw & there wasn't radio coverage either? We was poor in defence all over the park and let a few soft try's in & was clueless in attack especiallly when attacking their line. Duffy needs reverting back to 9 & rotated where he's been used very effectively over the past few years with Nico & move Beswick to 13. We need to be more focused when defending & read the play & Hoppy & Spencer should of been more alert when defending our own try line that try from Kain was soft. Our MOM was Littler & is as consistant as ever. Walt my opinion of Shaw is based on the matches he's collectively played in for us he's good in attack but poor in defence (watch the Batley game) He didn't cost us the game it was a collective effort on that one but I've not seen anything that makes me think he can tackle at all & we have better players that are deserving of their place & McNally deserves his place too after his performances.

Has Shaw tried it on with your wife? You certainly have it in for him!

"Yorkshire thugs " get real fella. Your club deserves better.

None of which I disagree with - although I can have a 'valid opinion' on your vitriol surrounding Shaw's performances to date! The result, by all accounts (yours included), was a collective shambles....so to single out one player seems harsh. Maybe Shaw is not going to be a Leigh legend.....but to compare his tackling to that of a 7 year old, and to say he is not fit to wear the shirt........is he really, hand on heart, THAT bad?? Surely one of his coaches at some point during the years - and before the Batley game - would have spotted how bad he was, and advised him on another career choice by now??

We, all of us, have opinions on who are our best 17, and the best places to play them - but we have a paper-thin squad, and uncertainty seems to surround the contractual arrangements for DC's (whether or not we HAVE to play them when fit and available) - so maybe (and I throw this in as a thought to mull over) PR is trying out all his options, and combinations early season, to try and hit on his 'ideal' team, based on what 'constrains' his selection each week.....and as the season unfolds, the best players for each position will eventually fall into place, and he's looking at 'the long game' - being in a position to still be competitive come the business end of the season.....and maybe that 17 could contain a role for Shaw where his defence does not appear as suspect 'cos we've given him time, and worked on his tackling technique (maybe Jimmy T giving him a masterclass?), and he no longer plays on a 'defensively weak' side of the team (the problem we always seemed to have on Nanyn's 'flank'!!) - and maybe, just maybe, we get to see in him what Tony Smith can see??

Just cut the lad some slack is all I'm suggesting!