In my opinion we havn`t had a true leader or captain at the club since Mike Gregory, its something i gave an opinion on whilst discussing a similar subject on another thread. Its a subject that deserves its own thread as i think its something we need to address.

Being a captain is a highly skilled role in any team, its not just about making a player captain that gives 101% every week. A captain must be a player that other players respect and look up too and when he speaks the other players stand up and take notice, the majority of great captains down the years in RL have been very vocal as players.

A prime example of a player that gave 100% every week and lead by example was Bob Jackson yet he wouldn`t have made a great captain as Bob was very quiet by nature and he preferred to just get on with things, its not just about leading by example with ball in hand along and being tough in defence, its a highly skilled role being a captain and your either a natural or your not.

I look at our squad and i don`t see one player that would make an ideal captain, Morley is a player that only knows one way to play and thats by giving 100% in each game, that doesn`t make him a natural captain though and to me he isn`t vocal enough to be a leader. Take Gorden Tallis and Andy Farrell as examples, both those had the skill of being able to communicate with stern words and both were very vocal and came across as natural and very respected leaders.

To me Mozza doesn`t come across as a natural leader as he seems a bit reserved when it comes to a vocal dressing down when the situation calls, the likes of Lee Briers wouldn`t come across the type of person you would respect getting a verbal dressing down from, a captain to me is a skilled role and i don`t think we have a natural in our club like Leeds have in Sinfield and Saints have in Cunningham just to use 2 examples from over here as leaders that drive their teams.

We need a modern day Mike Gregory, someone who is respected in the game and isn`t affraid to bark out the orders where most importantly the players take note and listen, to be honest i don`t think many would take Monaghan serious as a captain after all the facial blaming he has done in the past, you know the look i mean where he stares at someone who has made a mistake as if to say your cr@p you are and i`m too good for all this.

Its something i would make a priority ASAP, all great sides what ever the sport have great leaders and its something we need to get right.

You are rather overstating the role of Captain. Really the most important role for the Captain is to make sure the message of the game planning from the coaching staff is communicated on the field on game day, almost like a coaching mouthpiece.

The other aspects (giving 100%, being vocal on the field etc etc) should be responsibilities of EVERY player.

And if there is any 'dressing down' to be done that sould be done by the coaching staff. The team should remain as a unit with all players as equals.

poll, anyone?

isn't he a premiership referee why would we want him as our captain,I would want Sinfield if he was ever available

I'm not sure who I'd make captain but I agreee that it's sometrhing that needs looking at. Morley doesn't come across as a leader and doesn't seem to rip into the players or try and lift them after conceding a try or making a mistake. All though players may not have taken to Briers having a go at them at least he was vocal.

Monas?






im serious

I don't think you can go out and hand pick a captain to 'buy'.
It all depends on his interaction within the squad environment, IMO.

Greg Mackey was a great captain.

I agree with Mark's comment, I feel the captain's role is overrated by fans. For me, all he has to do is give the effort and be a role model off the field. It's pretty much something you expect from all players, I don't think you can blame Mozza for the others not having the same fire in their bellies (not said that for years!).

Watching us the other day, I seen Briers smacking booty, King patting backs and communicating well, it's something you expect from all of the lads, not just one or two.

Good teams have lots of leaders. Bit old fashioned to think we need one in particular although I understand Rob's point.