So even Berrigan dropped the one your saying, does that not say maybe the kicking was of a high skill level? I seem to remember a few sycastic cheers when he caught one, I am sure booing and cheering in that way is really condusive to helping a player with low confidence in a certain area of his game. after those games how many did he drop, he only made 7 errors all season

Exactly well said.

I think the main reason some have a problem with Motu is that they liked Briscoe so much, so I suppose its understandable.I would of liked to have kept Briscoe but he went so Motu/Hall/Bryne it is

The one Berrigan dropped should have been Motu's ball, Berrigan went to catch it because Motu had already dropped 2.

Full back is increasingly becoming the most difficult position to occupy on the pitch. The kicking techniques that are in place now mean it is very difficult to position correctly. Trying to set your body when trying to take a spiral bomb, for example, is near impossible and thats why you see full backs moving all over the place to take them.



I think full backs deserve more recognition than they do get when they collect a bomb these days

So you're just going to ignore the statistics because they disagree with your argument?



OK then.

What stats have I ignored? I saw with my own eyes Motu Tony drop a number of bombs.

The stats I posted earlier that showed Tony as making fewer mistakes than Byrne.



Tony dropped a couple of bombs in the first two or three games. After that he was no worse than anyone else.



Even the never-to-be-criticised Briscoe dropped the odd bomb.

Hardly a fair comparison when we're 2 games into the season.

[url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2008&hp1=1138&hs2=2008&hp2=1207&stat=tries&season=2009OK then - the whole of last season.[/url



You'll notice that Tony missed 10 tackles in 14 games and Byrne missed 32 in 18 games. You'll also notice that Tony came up with 7 errors in 14 games and Byrne came up with 17 errors in 18 games.



Now - which would you say looked the safest?

As Disraeli said "Lies, damn lies and statistics."





Byrne only played 5 games at full back last season, the rest were on the wing or centre so we're not comparing like for like.



I don't really care enough about it to argue the point. I like Motu as a player, I just don't think he's a good full back, just a personal thing, plenty of people agree with me, but I guess just as many will disagree. I'm quite happy at the moment to have Byrne playing at full back, Motu will have to win his place back IMO which is the way it should be, no one should guaranteed a spot in the team.

Putting stats to one side i think Motu has got an unfair reputation of not been safe under the high ball based on one game early last year. He has taken numerous bombs safely since and doesnt get the praise.

Unfortunately many people only see what they want to see.

As long as you're going to admit that your opinion is entirely irrational and not based on fact that's fine with me.

Still puts the $hits up you though........Watch both Bryne and Tony on a bomb...1 watches the ball into his arms all the way and actually catches it better...other 1 one watches but turns to a side in case of dropping the thing.

Correct, Dave.



He made a couple of errors early in that Quins game at the start of last season but actually after that had a decent game, unlike most of his team mates and despite some idiots in the crowd getting on his back.

So fans are idiots for moaning he has dropped a couple.

It wasn't just moaning though, was it.

They are entitled to boo him or sarcastically cheer him when he catches the ball, and I am entitled to call them idiots for doing so.

I have never booed a player,i admit to slagging him off on here and would do it again and im big enough to admit that he got better and better...as for cheering..i did..so thats me a idiot then....

Which is the technique taught to all good fullbacks just in case!

Its taken a while but admitting that is the first step to beating it!!

Its true though, the coaching manuals say so!

The Motu coaching manual?

The proper manuals saying how to take a high ball, arms out fingers pointing up in the air, eye on the ball, twist backward when you take it incase it slips out. (the ball that is)