You don't see the first thump on Brown which was out of order but part of life if you are a prop forward. Having a head like a pea on a stick doesn't make you fair game. Snotting O'D was the only thing to do. Most of us who have left school have seen a lot worse with no red card. See Mason v Fielden.

Paul Sculthorpe belted him a few years back on TV.



As for signing him he'd lead the defensive line which we're crying out for but I'd hope we'd be looking for someone who runs it in harder than bailey.

Brian McDermott never ran the ball in really hard.

Aye I saw it but like you say it's all part of the game. And I couldn't agree more I think Nathen Brown was talking out of his @rse saying the referees weren't looking after his players properly. Take some old Origin games for example, lots of cheeky hits in tackles and when they brawled they did it properly, the refs didn't have to show any cards and it made for some of the best rugby games ever played.

I'm not sure what to make of NB's comments. He is an outstanding coach, no doubt, but has made these threats before & I am still to see Hudds forwards physically terrorise their opponenets, despite having some acknowledged handy lads. Unless he is using reverse psychology & setting the RFL panel up for when one of his forwards does finally sort someone out & he will say I warned you this would happen as my star players are getting no protection.

In the absence of young Stuart Fielden, Anderson and Big Joe I think we need someone who does.

I would say that scruton and hargreaves do that job. Even Lynch to an extent.

Scruton has been poor this season but at his best is the nearest. Hargreaves and Lynch work hard but do not hit the defensive line hard enough or from deep enough. This isn't a major criticism, although I've always felt Lynch was over rated, they're just not that type of prop. Koppy, the same. What we're badly missing is a Leulaui (of 3 years ago), a Morley, a Crabtree, an O'Meley. A player who the defence have to set themselves for and whilst make fewer carries than a Lynch, actually have more impact on the game as they get their team onto the attack.

we did try and sign Palea'aesina so it's not for lack of trying on our part. Those types of props aren't massively available either.

problem with scruton IMO is he tries to make the big hits every single time.When it comes off great but more often he bounces off and someone else has to cover. If he was a bit more selective about putting the hits in and only did it when it was likely to come and made sure he made the tackle the rest of the time then he'd be a lot more effective.

Tbh after seeing him this year think we had a lucky escape there. imagine our current situation with scruton out for a while and one off our remaining three main props only capable of 10 min stints?.

I agree. They don't grow on trees but hopefully the attempt to sign Feka signals an acknowledgement that we're woefully short of real bite in the pack.