Board index ‹ Super League ‹ Leeds Rhinos - southstander.com ‹ Rhinos Vs Wildcats 18th June 2012

I was speaking to a friend post match who is a Wkefield fan. His view is Ali is better quality than he has seen before and the Wakefield players aren't good enough to read him.

How many offloads did he put out on monday that hit the floor before being collected by a Wakey player? Other than JJB, who has different qualities, Ali is still better than anything we have in the 2nd row. I'd have liked to see him doing those offloads for us, with McGuire or Burrow on the end of them. A large part of our success was our offload game, taught primarily by TS. We regularly led the league in offloads.

We don't seem to have any forwards who have that skill right now.

G1 wrote:

I was speaking to a friend post match who is a Wkefield fan. His view is Ali is better quality than he has seen before and the Wakefield players aren't good enough to read him.

How many offloads did he put out on monday that hit the floor before being collected by a Wakey player? Other than JJB, who has different qualities, Ali is still better than anything we have in the 2nd row. I'd have liked to see him doing those offloads for us, with McGuire or Burrow on the end of them. A large part of our success was our offload game, taught primarily by TS. We regularly led the league in offloads.

We don't seem to have any forwards who have that skill right now.

Ali played some decent minutes against us, ok he looked like he had. But he was easily the biggest threat on the fringes. Even when the off-load wasn't on he made some hearty metres, with a simple head down drive.

It's the second phase that isn't there which is a huge problem. We seem to be relying on a Burrow break in mid-field, or half a scamper, to get things going. We have some threats out wide in the centres and wing, they just need looking after with some quality ball.

Re-sign Ali?

Middleton_Loiner wrote:

Re-sign Ali?

Replace him better.

But I'd have Ali's threat now (even if he's our 10 minute cameo player) over some of the averageness in our likely 17/19. We are crying out for a threat.

Had GH know that Ali would of stayed this injury free in 2012 i'm sure he would of kept him, that was always the issue never his ability.

Lauitiiti still managed to play in 21 of 35 (2010) and 21 of 36 (2011) so I'm not altogether surprised he's played in the high percentage of games I think he has this season.

Pleased for him that he got to end his Headingley career on a high at Old Trafford (while also reaching a personal milestone - 200 Leeds Appearances.) I doubt he'd have got to do that had he stayed any longer, although I imagine his presence around the club could only have helped.

tvoc wrote:

Lauitiiti still managed to play in 21 of 35 (2010) and 21 of 36 (2011) so I'm not altogether surprised he's played in the high percentage of games I think he has this season.

Pleased for him that he got to end his Headingley career on a high at Old Trafford (while also reaching a personal milestone - 200 Leeds Appearances.) I doubt he'd have got to do that had he stayed any longer, although I imagine his presence around the club could only have helped.

And if I remember correctly he was held up over the line with only a couple of minutes to go. Would have been an extra special moment for him had he scored the last try in a winning grand final on his last and 200th appearance for the club!

As a game it was a shocker, in fact walking away from the ground for some reason I felt embarrassed - Leeds have gone beyond backwards, buy hey ho, we've had a damn good run!!

G1 wrote:

I was speaking to a friend post match who is a Wkefield fan. His view is Ali is better quality than he has seen before and the Wakefield players aren't good enough to read him.

How many offloads did he put out on monday that hit the floor before being collected by a Wakey player? Other than JJB, who has different qualities, Ali is still better than anything we have in the 2nd row. I'd have liked to see him doing those offloads for us, with McGuire or Burrow on the end of them. A large part of our success was our offload game, taught primarily by TS. We regularly led the league in offloads.

We don't seem to have any forwards who have that skill right now.

At the risk of knowingly repeating myself and incurring the wrath of the Southstander gestapo I have to question the wisdom of allowing Ali and Amor to represent Wakefield while Leeds consider Kirke/Hauraki and Moore/Griffin to be the better options to retain/sign.

nantwichexile wrote:

At the risk of knowingly repeating myself and incurring the wrath of the Southstander gestapo I have to question the wisdom of allowing Ali and Amor to represent Wakefield while Leeds consider Kirke/Hauraki and Moore/Griffin to be the better options to retain/sign.

I can certainly see your point regarding Amor would be a better addition to our front row than most of what we have. Strange decision not to keep him.

I think I can understand the rationale in getting rid of ALI. I think the issue is not replacing Ali with like for like (or as close as) the last few years his injury record was not good and I can understand why they didn't renew him.

Hauraki is a puzzle to me. He doesn't do anything well. Doesn't run the ball up hard and do the dirty stuff but equally is nowhere near the ability of ALI regarding flair. A complete waste of time and a poor signing