Good centres go looking for the ball. They anticipate and back up plays and half-breaks. Yeaman rarely does this. The reason why he looks like he isn't involved is because he often isn't.

He does his fair share in defence and in scooting to give the forwards a break, but that's a world away from the work he'd need to get through in the 2nd row. And lack of weight = lack of power. It's all about momentum.

Bingo. Last centre we had that did that was Sid.

He was very innefective yesterday when running the ball in. He seemed to get dominated pretty much every time

Perfectly summed up. The likes of Leuluai, Evans and Schofield scored loads of tries in the centre of the field by supporting the half breaks of others - anticipating what was going to happen.

Can't remember the last time I left a game thinking how outstanding Yeaman was and how he'd swayed the game in our favour. When was the last time he was MOM either sponsor's or on here ?

A decent player but not top quality and I doubt he would last in the pack because he is a bit too small.

Would it be a fair observation though to say that the game is far more structured now then it was back then? (meaning the outside backs scoot and then stay in position for set moves)

I dont recall games been played at the times of the players you mention restricting certain players through structure.

Why is nothing ever Yeaman's fault? First it was all down to Cooke leaving and now he's 'restricted' by structure? Why do these 'restrictions' not stop other SL centres? Or for that matter Hall when he plays and Briscoe on Yeaman's wing?

Yeaman has huge gaps in the skill set required of a centre, but for some reason he gets away with it when others with fewer flaws get flogged. It's a puzzle.

Think it's a combination of issues, but the main one for me is lack of rugby smarts. We have too many players who just don't have RL brains, although the situation has improved this season.

I guess having a duff or no Scrum Half with the subsequent lack of opportunities may also have discouraged back up play. Maybe we'll eventually adjust now that we have some creativity to feed off.

BDT has a valid point regards the changing structure of the teams compared to yesteryear, hell Steve Evans spent most of his time in the opposition attacking line waiting for the interception!

I am also struggling to remember when for example I have seen Senior pop up on the right hand side for Leeds or Gidley on the left at Saints because players do play down their particular channels nowadays.

That said I do agree about Yeamans lack of 'flair' in the attacking department but I also think defensively he is still one of the best and also an excellent finisher from close in with good ball.

Ahahahaha

And yet I can regularly remember them getting MOM awards and basically winning games for their teams with outstanding displays. I can remember them being on the shoulder of players making half breaks. And I can remember them defending equally as well if not better than Yeaman on a regular basis.

What I can't remember is the last time Yeaman won a MOM award with a 'head and shoulders above everyone else' performance. I can remember both Turner and Whiting doing so even as 'fill-in' centres.

As it happens I think Yeaman is an OK player but no better than that. I don't know why his place in the team appears to be automatic because I don't think his performances warrant it.

Spot on.

I completely agree that Yeaman shouldnt be an automatic choice for selection every game.

I didnt say Yeamo has no faults. Are you not in agreement though that Cooke leaving has hampered Yeamo's service? Are you also not in agreement that the structure of the game is different now? Whats your thoughts on the other SL centres and the service they get from their halves? (Senior for example has Burrow, McGuire and Sinfield giving pretty decent service)