Do you know, the car analogy has cropped up in my mind too. We have done the equivalent of buying a Bentley to plough fields.

like that one too!

From what I've seen, there are still major question marks over whether he has the necessary distribution skills to play hooker. He has very seldom passed the ball quickly and accurately.

I also can't honestly say off-hand whether his kicking game is any good, which is another option needed at dummy half.

For me, there are still more question marks over his hooking ability than supporting evidence.

A brand new international back that wouldn't receive any service because we'd be lacking in the middle. We have options in the centre. Assuming Yeaman will be playing on one side, any one of Briscoe, Whiting or Turner could play on the other side. Whilst each of those options has its own inherent weakness, all are better than playing Washbrook at hooker.

This gets to the heart of the matter, for me. How many attacks seem to break down when he gets the ball at stand off? To be an effective hooker, you need to be taking the correct attacking options most of the time and execute them well. I don't think Washbrook has the speed of thought, or the accuracy in his passing game to do this.

And this is where i disagree. With limited service Berro received in the centres at the end of the season he showed us what we've missed since the likes of Barnett SNR imo.

If we play Berro 9 and use Whiting in the right centre with Horne and Long in the halves we have exactly the same side and same issues out that we've chosen in 2010. Big changes needed, one of which is Berro to centre.

Finally, some sense on the issue.

Well if that's correct there is something really wrong if it's noticeable over short distances like that, probably more of a case for him to play centre as he won't be effective running out of dummy half.

Then we disagree. For the vast majority of his time here I think he's done all he can barring miracle plays every game.

When given runners he picks the right passes and executes them well, and has set up tries this way. When given quick ptbs he runs from dummy half well and makes breaks, he's gained us ground and set up tries this way. When we've had the opposition penned in he's kicked well from dummy half to keep the pressure on, he's forced repeat sets this way.

The problem lies in the fact that prior to this season we did none of the above on a regular basis. When we did he showed his class.

You must have seen something I did not. He played well, certainly, but we never looked any better in attack because of it.



For a start, Long and Horne hardly played in 2010. Secondly, as spackler has already pointed out, our attacking structure is rubbish. We have no dummy runners, the play the ball is frequently slow and the backing up is non-existant. Moving Berrigan to centre won't solve those issues - particularly if it means playing Washbrook at hooker.

Might not solve the issue but imo will make us a more dangerous team. The only way to solve the issue will be to bring a decent coach in, but dont get me started on that again!!