You can't be professional on the pitch if you're overdoing certain activities off the pitch.

The number 9 shirt is there 4 Houghtons takin imo as Berrigan is a liability. He's got a bad rep off the field & his attitude on is generally poor & not what you would expect from one of any clubs premier players. Compare him to Vella, Brett Hodgeson or Gidley & u'll see how a clubs number one overseas signing should behave on & off the field. Berrigan should of been binned in the King, Thackeray, Lee clearout imo.
Remember no player is bigger than the club

I dont want to comment on Berro's off field antics but i hope he gets his on field game together. With Houghton progressing well are there many better pairs of hookers in a SL team?

Berrigan is far better than Houghton and i personally wouldn't have DH in the 17 most weeks.

Not on last season performances.

One thing I have to agree on is that if Berrigan is on form, he can play a full 80 minutes. is there any point in having Houghton on the bench.

i dont think he can effectively anymore. i'd have houghton off the bench every game.

Maybe, I guess it would depnd if he is injury free this year.

Some games I though he took Berrigan off for the sake of it.

I would be tempted to have him on all game, even if it meant playing him in the backrow.

i just dont think its needed anymore, his shoulders will be a problem for the rest of his career so we should protect him. i think we could get him out for every game but if he plays 80 he could end up missing a few.

You are joking, I hope.

Players are ambassadors for their respective clubs and need to be above reproach, more so the high profile, experienced players. Clubs are not strong enough with some players, so if they are of that nature they seem to get away with it. I wished my own club had been stronger and 'sacked' certain individuals over off field incidents.

Its not as black and white for me, it should be down to who we are playing against but i expect DH to be on the bench more game than not.

Why single out him, there are loads of players in the SL and NL who have transgressed.

I reckon Houghton will give great go forward to a dominating team late in both halfs. Lets hope his pack dominate and he is able to show his undoubted talents.

Yup, and more importantly than Houghton, lets hope Berro shows us what he's worth behind the same dominant pack.