The only coach that's rated Horne above what the fans have was Agar. Horne was still a very good player prior to his neck injury in 2008.

PG is playing separate teams each half today, be interesting to see if its 1st and 2nd team and if so which one Horney plays in.

Can't understand the lack of love for Horney, model pro and always gives everything, its not his fault he isnt Rangi Chase or Scott Dureau.

People are just saying that his form had dipped and doesnt warrant a starting place,being a model pro and gives everything doesnt warrant a team in the team.

I don't think he will be in the 17 without injuries but it shows we have strength in depth with him in the squad.

We might get a view into PG's thinking today.

imo, apart from Holdsworth he was the best of the halves. Another try off one of his kicks iirc.

I actually thought that Seymour looked a lot better today than last year considering where we are with regard to the new season - his kicks were much better which you'd expect if his leg bends in the middle now. I think it's only fair to give players time when they've been playing long term with an injury. We might see a bettter player this year if he can make it past Horne [iet al[/i.

get rid, miles past his best, and has been for some time

Horne? I know it was a first hit out, but i never hardly noticed Horney playing yesterday he was that obscure.

Is it not a case of horses for courses. It's a given that DH plays at 6, he is an out and out organiser, will control the side and be the main kicker, so who is the best player to compliment this style, the running type.

I don't think we've got much choice have we? I would like to see Horne start alongside Holdsworth because I think Seymour is just a worse version of DH and I don't think Heremaia is a half back full stop. RH should compliment DH the best - and that's the main thing for me.

I had this argument with people numerous times last year. It's not that I'm being disrespectful to Richard Horne or I don't appreciate what he's done for my club. But, if we intend to challenge the major players in the competition, then he isn't good enough to warrant a starting position now.

and hasn't been for at least two years

Never understand these threads when, as far as I remember, a fair few on here had him in their top 3 MOM when he started playing at FB.

Can't see him starting in our first 17, however he will be more than sound back up for 1, 6, 7, 9. Would rather have him in the squad than not have him.

for me it's not necessarily Horne's form/ability, he played very well at fullback last season, it's the fact he can't stay fit. The fullback and halves are often the main pivots or playmakers and form the backbone of attacking structure, how can the team find form if one of those can't stay fit for more than 3 weeks in a row.

Then again, it's up to Gentle, and if he feels Horne has earned his place in the squad one week, then I trust him on that.

Horne played 22 out of 30 games last year and 29 out of 31 in 2011, so he played more over the last couple of seasons than Yeaman, Tickle and Whiting.