Leo Barry

[originalswan]

I have been thinking of this for a while and thought I'd run it past my fellow R&Ws - Rather than playing Leo Barry on our opponents number 1 forward, why don't we use him as the loose man in the backline? - ala Wirrpanda from the Eagles. I'm sure we'd have enough talls to cover their forwards, such as Richards, C. Bolton & Roberts-Thomson (possibly even Grundy who was a backman in his junior days) when he gets back.

I just keep thinking of that mark in the '05 Grand Final and think that if he was loose and possibly plugging the hole in front of our opponents forwards he would be unleashed to play his "natural" game.

[Matt79]

Good thought.

I hope today they play C. Bolton on Richo, Richards on their second tall and allow Leo to run off the half back line, like Tadgh. I fear Richo might monster Leo if he starts on him, particularly with the new hands in the back rule.

[graystar]

When will Leo do something unusual like kick it rather than try and run inside?

[NMWBloods]

He needs to retire.

[Matt79]

He needs to retire.

Very harsh assessment mate.

Today, I thought he played very well not being our number one fullback. I think those days may be behind him or at least when playing on the 'monster' full forwards, IE Lynch, Richo, Pav etc.

Played well as more a half back flanker today. IMO he still has plenty to add to our side.

[Xie Shan]

Something of an enigma today, despite losing pace he can actually be quite evasive with his unpredictable kamikaze runs when they come off.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Retire? more great advice from you mate Leo might not be FB material these days, and in most sides he never would have been a FB, but i can still see him linking up with Tadhg, coming off the HBF. He's still a real important part of our team IMO.

[NMWBloods]

Retire? more great advice from you mate

I'm sorry to have a different view to you...

[Pommie Swannie]

He needs to retire.

Can't argue with well-argued logic like that!

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I'm sorry to have a different view to you...

and everyone else...

[KirksSocks]

Did alright.

[Nico]

Leo played better as the wore on, but why wouldn't he when he didn't have a man all day. He actually did a couple of sensible things in the last Q.

I truly believe he has a vision problem, you know one of those quirks people have that they can never overcome. By vision I mean the ability to spot someone up the field. I reckon it just looks like a jumble of bodies to him, just like someone with Dyslexia who only sees jumbled symbols on a page.

Why else would he be 5-10 metres clear on his left foot, someone is well clear to that side yet he simply ignores them and runs back into the play, supposedly to find a "loose " man or switch play to the other side of the ground. I defies logic but he does it time and again. Just when the ground opens up for us he decides he will close it down again with his attempted rugby side step or piroet.

He kicks a long way so why doesn't he spot up a forward on a lead or kick it over the pack so one of ours can run onto the footy.

[ScottH]

Pretty accurate Nico.
Being away from Richo, was obviously a load of his shoulders.

He also punched twice in the last qtr, when he could've easily marked both.

The day he learns to run in a relatively straight line he'll be much better.

[NMWBloods]

and everyone else...

Having a different view is a crime now...?

I don't think he's adding a great deal. Can't really play on the big guys now. His run from the back line is never straight, often crazy, makes it difficult for the rest of the team. Disposal mixed. Decision making questionable. If he becomes a half back flanker again, we should look for someone else who could deliver more value.

[NMWBloods]

Can't argue with well-argued logic like that!

I don't think you understand 'argument' or 'logic'...