I have no issue with the refs giving penalties for the offences lauaki has committed this year that i've seen. There's not a single one i think they've given based on his aggressive style rather than the actual offence.

I think there's a risk here that Lauaki gets defended for his style and the refs get blamed when the realitiy is Laukai is to blame more than them for his style.

I agree that the ref shouldnt pick Lauaki out as he did. However, i also think Lauaki has major problems with his style and technique which need to be addressed. Those aren't the refs fault but Lauaki seems to be largely blame free for some on here.

and also over cooked by some too!!

Lauaki is the type of player we have needed for a long time. Sure he wont put the 30-40 tackles a game stint in but he has good hands and asks questions of the opposition. He is a target for the hand-wringers on here but gives no more penalties away than most other players in our team. Some cry out for an X factor then cry out when we get one. His treatment by Silverwood in the last derby game was a disgrace and it seems referees have let things snowball from there but that comes as no real surprise. I hope he can get through this spell and continue to attract the attention of the opposition in defence - something I'm sure his team mates are only to willing to take advantage of.

Possibly because he's no more to blame than pretty much any other player of his type? Certainly what his penalty stats seem to suggest at any rate.

And to think the amount of stick i got on here when i said he cant tackle, a penalty machine and lazy He has a coupleof good runs a game.

Isnt the arguement that people think the ref is picking on him for those penalties and he hasnt even given those away?

It's ok he'll bump someone off in the derby and he'll be a hero again just like he was after the 1st game of your season

If he did that every game he would be a hero. He doesnt though.

No. There may be one or two that were harsh - I'm not sure he deserved the treatment he got in the Derby for example - but the main argument is that his game is being stifled because he is being over-careful due to the pre-emptive warnings he receives from refs.

Does that mean he deserves to be criticised - because he doesn't break the line every game ?

I just wish he were as good as Manu, and why the hell do we switch tickle around to accomodate him when he comes on and then not bother to give him the ball anyway

He was signed as an impact prop/2nd row. In the majority of games that he plays does he give us impact? If he doesnt then he is open to criticism. I dont think he does.

So should the coach tell him to deal with it and stop been over careful rather than feeling sorry for himself?