Liddle was very very good when he came on and for mine has to start next week. The speed of our attack completely changed when he replaced Mbye. We can't afford to start behind on the scoreboard next week against quality opposition. The issue with Mbye starting and Liddle off the bench is that it's a fine tactic if Mbye was a defensively solid hooker. Unfortunately he's not a good defender, especially in the middle, so the tactic doesn't work. I don't mind Mbye as a player in our top 30 squad, I think he's good to have around the club and is more than capable of filling positions if mass injuries occur. But in my view his role in the top 17 is completely void. He doesn't add spark at hooker if he were to come on off the bench, but he's not a good starting hooker either as he gets dominated through the middle when we're defending. Some will then argue his role is as a utility, but Bird can already provide utility value in the team if need be, covering every position Mbye can minus hooker, but you'd be bringing another hooker into the team if you were to drop Mbye anyway, so it doesn't matter. If you wanted to play the first 20 of a game the way it's been designed for Mbye to play, wouldn't you play Muhlesson who's a solid defender? I just don't think Mbye has a role to play in that 17.
