webb isn't particularly safe but I'd take him over motu, horne or briscoe at the back

jimmy5b - I know what you mean, and I agree - but...



Dowes (and Cusack) are used for a different purpose. They're not there for impact - that's for King, Thackray and Moa. What I'm asking is "do any of those give us enough impact?

king has the heart,but no longer the ability(injury prone),and moa simply is at best a championship prop,while thackray has been our one prop capable of breaking the line,and deserves at least a year.dowes and cusack are one dimensional and opposing teams have them in their back pockets from the off,but thacks provides the angle which teams are wary of,and can struggle to contain.

Agree with you and it's not just FB where we have consistently been worse than the Aussies it's more or less every position on the park. The point I was making was that FBs get talked about as requiring 'modern' skills or playing in a 'modern' way when infact the top ones have had the same attributes for donkey's years.

I do think that this year Dowes has given us more than in previous years. He's taking the ball up stronger and faster and making some hard yards throughout his entire game-time. Thacks might be the better of the impact props for the reason you give although I think King has shown some real aggression when fit (I thought his spell against Rovers was outstanding). Cusack has been better this season than last (if boring) and always gives us a quick play-the-ball compared to many other players we have. Moa - I still haven't decided - I'm finding it hard to judge him because of the way he has been spelled from the bench. I also think that Maloney has done quite well when given the chance. The thing is, much of my judgement is relative to last year when we were poor across the park and I'm just not sure if any of them are good enough for us for next year. I really hope that they can bring us home this season with great play that shuts me and other doubters up.

that was the plan originally but somehow it went pear shaped.

I think that you have answered your own question. Cusack, Dowes and King should all go if we are to compete with the best. I would give Thackray another year and see what we get from him and I would also keep both Moa and Maloney as they are almost certainly cheap and both, IMO, have some potential to be good forwards. We need to be in the hunt for two big props (aswell as Lauaki) and we will have a pack to match anyone's.

I agree with that, but I think whereas it used to only be the top fullbacks that had those attributes, with them being seen as a luxury/bonus more than anything, it really is a requirement now that they are an attacking threat. Or it should be, anyway.



I'm interested to see what we do with Tansey actually, as he has the potential to play that role and do well there. I think he may well suffer from being seen as a 'utility player' though, because he's got additional skills that weren't previously/aren't associated with being a fullback in this country.

I do guess its easier for the Ozzies to have a not so safe full back









Would disagree on Radlinski though, i thought he was a very good attacking player and before him Graham Steadman, Steve Hampson and Joe Lydon all very good going forward too

Oh, the deadwood stage is rolling over the plains,

with curtains flapping and driver slapping the reins,

Beautiful sky,

Wonderful day,

whip crack away,whip crack away.





Oh the deadwood stage is heading over the hill,

to take away the useless and the dill,

Radford,Thorman, are on their way,

whip crack away ,whip crack away.



Oh the deadwood stage is coming over the crest,

To take away Byrne ,Tony and the rest

of the crap, they are taking today,

whip crack away,whip crack away.









(I thank you.)

Bart , may well take over from the other Cowboy song.

That killed the thread then!!