o donnell is a better player than fitz now.

O

If anything, that article has added a bit of fuel to my creeping suspicion that Fitzgibbon is calling more shots than he should. His record is superb and his work rate since being here likewise, but to me that article basically reads as 'the props aren't doing their job well enough so I'm having to help do it for them, but I won't be named at prop'. Maybe if we did name him at prop alongside O'Meley, we would have 2 front rowers charging upfield to allow Westerman to shine.

I'm just not seeing how him playing as a prop at 13 can be sold to us as in the best interests of the team, regardless of how well-intentioned he may be.

Wouldn`t surprise me either,the guy isn`t exactly a shrinking violet.

I must admit, since being named captain I have started to wonder about that side of him from reading his output.

nearly every team in the league plays 3 running forwards in the middle except leeds

Cant agree with that, Berrigan was a more marquee signing due to the fact he was a current SOO and International at the time.

How special has Fitz been? Yes he puts in 100% effort week in week out but is that enough to say he has been the 'biggest signing since Sterling'?

I don't have problem with Fitz calling a few shots, i'd be disappointed if a guy of his stature didn't tbh. We should be expecting that kind of leadership from him. I also don;t have an issue with him talking about taking a drive up for the team when required and leading by example, again that is what I would expect Fitz to do.

My issue is that is pretty much what he is doing a lot of the time so why not just play him in that position and let Westerman play 13? Maybe Fitz is telling Agar he does not want to be moved I don't know. Either way Fitz is a machine and tackles all day long and always puts his hand up every set for a carry and sometimes two per set. It's an honour to watch the bloke play regardless of what position he is but I just wish we would be smarter with it from time to time.

Fitz is easily a bigger signing that Berrigan. The guy is a legend of the game.

Personally I don't think he's the best overseas signing [icurrently[/i at the club, never mind since Sterling. O'Meley has been better, and probably Manu. Fitzgibbon just happens to play in a style that racks up impressive tackle statistics with our current setup.

If we're talking best overseas signing of the past 20 years, for me it's Swain followed by Smith.

Swain, Kearney, Barnett Snr all way better than Fitz and more influential.

Berrigan came over in pretty much the peak of his career were as Fitz didn't. There was alot more hype over the Berrigan signing, the guy was world class in a number of positions, it may not have worked out but he was certainly a bigger signing IMO.

I think there's a difference between having a say and calling the shots. Every player should be encouraged to have input and listened to, and players of Fitzgibbon's stature in particular. However, no player, regardless of ability/playing record/medal collection/tactical insight/whatever, should be making decisions on team selection and/or tactics.

IMO, you make your opinions known, but do the job that is asked of you, whoever you are.

I am not for one minute saying that this definitely is going on BTW, this is just my opinion on how far player influence should go.

Disagree, Fitz is a bigger signing than Berrigan.

I would have Fitz up there with Sterling, Swain and Smith.