You know what else isn't a one off? Our starting prop failing to get into double digit hit-ups forcing our back-rowers to do extra grunt work.
Heighington has been average to start this year - his defence is much better but his runs have been uninspiring - but can the Gibbs Appreciation Society give it a break? You guys complain about how Heighington misses tackles, how he'd better playing 60 minutes and so on, but he's covering for the lump of sh*t we've got in the front row whilst also facing extra attention this year after a bit of press last year & in the off-season.
Heighington was lazy around the ruck and in defence in general last year and still is. Rarely is he the bloke to take the first hip up from a kick; all his work is done off the back of a few runs, yet he still gets caught by the markers and makes bugger all metres followed by a very slow play the ball. This hasn't just been happening this year.
Unfortunately, as someone else put it, Heighington seems dumb in attack. I lost count of the amount of times we'd be on an attacking raid and the ball would find it's way to Heighington off a quick ruck, and our attack would go belly up because the markers picked him out.
Heighington needs a break during the game. Unfortuantely, from around the 25th minute mark to the 35th, against the Roosters I counted Heighington's involvement (tackles and hit ups) on one hand. If this doesn't say he's tired and looking for a break, then I don't know what is. Currently, we have two blokes sitting on the bench (sizeable Second Rowers mind you) who play the last 15 minutes. There is not a single person in the world that can convince me that it wouldn't be good for Heighington to have a break when he's obviously tired and bring on a fresh Forward, instead of playing with 15 men for 70 minutes.
I'm not going to comment much on Gibbs because what needs to be said has already been said in this thread - while his attack often leaves much to be desired, his defence (in a defensively horrible team) is crucial.
