He gets targeted by the opposition all the time, im not saying he misses many takles but he is usually dominated in the tackle.

Personally I'm not bothered as long as he tackles them, gets them down and doesnt give away a penalty.

I haven't watched him closely this year - but last year I think it was weeks before he missed any tackles at all. Checking back - he made 698 tackles all season and missed 23 in 24 appearances.



Stats aren't everything but I think they support him being pretty good defensively.



For interest, in 2006 Richard Swain made 721 tackles and missed 27 in 20 appearances.

That should be the minimum required. Whilst he does speed us up in attack when he comes on we are also weaker down the middle in defence. He is an impact hooker IMO, certainly at this stage in his developement anyway.

I would prefer we lined up like:

1. Tansey

2. Calderwood

3. Berrigan / Turner (or Briscoe / Hall)

4. Yeaman

5. Raynor

6. R Horne/Rooney

7. Long

8. Cusack

9. Lee / Berrigan

10. O'Meley

11. Burnett

12. Fitzgibbon

13. Washy



14. Houghton

15. Manu

16. Moa

17. Lauaki



No room for Tickle, G Horne, Radford, Thacks, King, Maloney or Dowes.

Development opportunities for Hall and Briscoe to support the backs.



Dont think we'll keep Tony on.



The team above is what i'd go with, cant see Agar moving Berro from 9 though and doubt we will bring in Rooney.





Do we need to recruit more?

Its not just about the number of tackles and how many are missed. He makes a lot of takles because the opposition target him knowing that they will get a fast PTB.

Well - I can't disagree because I haven't seen that but I will watch out for it.



If players are falling into him and deliberately going to ground then that should be a surrender call from the ref to let the defense set themselves. Probably many of his tackles are marker tackles in whcih case it matters less how quick they get up because without the tackle we'd be in a worse situation. If he's failing to hold them up on a one-to-one then that is probably true of practically any SL player - one-to-one it is very hard to dominate a tackle when you have to stop the man and the ball and let your team get back into line. If he's not dominating the tackle when joined by other players then it's not all his fault. Anyway, it might be that you're absolutely right and that's why Agar bring him on as late as possible. He is, let's not forget, only 21 years old and playing in a very physically demanding pivotal role. His player profile on the FC site says "The young star possesses a good technical ability and understanding of the game well beyond his years and has been hailed by former FC teammate Adam Dykes as one of the England stars of the future."

Berrigan at 6 and Long at 7 for me.

Houghton and Lee working great at hooker.



Richard Horne? Why don't we use him where we need him for now. He's not been in the best of form has he.



But we deffo shouldn't be finished on the signing front. If we don't sign a world class centre, there is no point in signing one as we have Tom Briscoe. The only reason we need one is so he can learn off them. He is the future. Why get an average duffer in when we can put him in and do just as good a job?



FB also needs sorting. Tansey isn't exactly a world beater is he? And I think we signed him as utility (ala Todd Byrne).

1. Tansey

2. Calderwood

3. Berrigan

4. Yeaman

5. Raynor

6. Horne

7. Long

8. Cusack

9. Lee

10. O'Meley

11. Burnett

12. Fitzgibbon

13. Washbrook



14. Houghton

15. Manu

16. Lauaki

17. Moa



18. T. Briscoe

19. Hall

20. Dowes

21. Whiting

22. Maloney

23. Hodgson

24. J. Briscoe??

25. Cordoba??



TBH I wouldn't be too disappointed if we don't sign anyone else, however we could do with someone who can play 6/7. Rooney would do this.

I can't beleive people are suggesting not putting Berrigan to Centre because we don't move the ball wide. Its the not moving the ball wide that needs addressing. The try Berrigan scored at weekend struck me as a typical Centres try in a Centres position.



Tansey

Calderwood

Berrigan

Yeaman

Raynor

R.Horne

Long

O'Meeley

Lee

Luaki

Fitzgibbon

Tickle

Whiting



Cusack

Moa

Manu

Houghton

And don't forget Hall - please God we don't forget Hall.

Berrigan took the ball at first receiver and was just to the left of the posts, nothing like a centre's try. It's okay playing him but when he gets 2/3 passes all game he will be wasted. If we start to get the ball wider when Longy comes then it's an option. Personally I would like to see Berrigan in the halves with Long and Horne at centre, might be worth a look.



Also in your side there was no Washy, now I can't believe Washbrook would not be in everyone's 17.