BrisbaneRhino wrote:
We struggled because Cuthbertson wasn't playing? Isn't it more a case of we struggled because we're generally rubbish, just as in most games this season, with or without him?
He was dropped for the most important match of the year bar none. That speaks volumes for what Sinfield and Lowes think of his contributions since they've taken over. He's our most experienced prop by far, and the player we ought to be able to look to for on-field leadership - hard runs and leading the way in defence. The reality is he provides no leadership by example in the tough stuff. Having a beard doesn't actually make a prop IMO. And yes, I think assuming a 35-year old will somehow be good when he isn't much cop at 33 is crazy.
I think you are very much missing the point with this agenda you seem to have against the player.
I repeat what I posted whilst at the match yesterday. We had an awful lot of territory at the game, but at no point did we actually look like scoring. We badly missed his attacking threat in that regard. We do not have have the replacemetns to come in and fill that role, and as a result we struglled. Yesterday could have very easily have been a loss, and that my friend would have been a direct result of not having that attacking threat.
His replacment ysterday was Thomson. He missed 9 tackles in that game, which is 20% of what Cuthbertson has missed the entire season. His metres per carry were a yard less than what Cuthbertson has averaged the entire season. You see where I am going with this?
Now, all the things you say could well be true, and at the same time can very much be put at the door of plenty of other players also, but if you do not have a replacement who can give you what the player does, then for me it is stupid to drop. His perfomrances also are absolutely nowhere near as bad as you are making out in anycase, not when in comparison to others. But does that make his two year deal worthwhile or justified? no it doesn't but that is for a later date, not right now.
