Sitili vs Butcher

[BUDDY]

I have no doubt that Butcher is a far better defender than Sitili.
But many have said that Sitili is a great attacker.
He had a great game against the wooden spooners but since then he has been very average.
Did he look good against a very average defending team and that is what some are holding onto?
Have teams worked him out?
Has he become lazy?
Or is he gassed like a few others?

These are the stats since that Broncos game.
Sitili has had more than double the time on the field but Butcher has more than doubled every attacking stat below.
Make your own mind up.

			SITILI				BUTCHER
VS	MINUTES	RUNS	RUN METRES	POST CONTACT METRES	MINUTES	RUNS	RUN METRES	POST CONTACT METRES
RAIDERS	80	4	27	8	36	12	118	44
KNIGHTS	80	3	27	12	46	13	102	39
SHARKS	80	6	50	17	31	10	97	28
SOUTHS	73	6	49	25	19	2	25	11
PANTHERS	30	2	20	10	29	7	60	30
TOTAL:	343	21	173	72	161	44	402	152

[BenCumminsIsACheat]

Whilst I am probably the biggest Nat Butcher fan on here, Sitili's stats just look low because he's been playing on the right 2nd row recently where the ball doesn't go out often.
It would be a better comparison to see Sitili vs Butcher when both playing in that reserve middle role. However, Butcher is a much better defender, arguably out best in the GF last year.

For me, I'd like to see Butcher come into the side for Sitili, and if Robbo insists on replacing Crichton on the right, Aubo is a better choice than Sitili just because of his defence

[Johnny Tobin]

A month ago my vote was 100% for Sitili.

Now it's for Butch.

I think the long season without break (really his first) has taken a toll on Sitili.

[dice]

Sitili cost us another try last weekend. We cannot afford to have him in the defensive line. I would have Maubs and Butcher ahead of him.

[Bondicigar]

He has gone off tthe boil since he has been starting.
At this stage of his career he is much better suited coming off the bench , with his ability to play ethier side of the ruck and his biggest asset being his tackle busting he poses a threat to tiring defenders.
I think we will see him at his best again on Friday night .

[zac]

i don't feel strongly either way. despite the stats i think sitili offers more with ball in hand and over that period his tackle efficiency was over the 90% mark so he's doing okay on that front.

it depends how robbo wants to juggle things - maybe jwh and tauks come off at different times from their first stint and sitili comes on for a rampaging cameo in the middle.

if robbo is looking for boyd and angus to play the full 80 on their edges then sitili's the guy who can briefly come on and bust a game open.

[roosterproud]

give satilli a break this week. rolled his ankle by himself during the game then wanted some studs inserted in his head. a rest will do him well.

[gragra]

I dont think Robbo can have both sitilli and SBW on the bench ...so SBWs fitness or 'defence' decision will prevail ...

[Steakface]

Butch for me. He is only going to get better.

As time goes on, i'm seeking Sitili more as Takarangi MK2. A freak of an athlete who is a weapon on the edge in attack, but is a liability in other areas.

[ConGa]

Butcher for starting/defence, Stitli start from bench for impact and probably fresh to defence as well

[The Skeez]

I think Sonny can bring Sitili into play. Sonny would attract 3 players and get Sitili one on one with half. George Williams could be in for a long night. Wighton is probably up to the defending him though.

[QWERTY]

There’s no problem with our attack. It’s our defence which has been the issue. Therefore I’d rather see butcher replace tuponiua

[King Salvo]

Both could be on the bench as SBW to me is about 50% fit and maybe too much of a gamble to play him when either Butcher or Sitilli can play more minutes

[NorthChook]

These finals are different, very attack orientated rather than defence - it seems with the new rules that it may come down to the team that can win the 'tryfest' will win the game, rather than the usual winner of the arm wrestle.

For that reason I think stick with Sitili

[BUDDY]

These finals are different, very attack orientated rather than defence - it seems with the new rules that it may come down to the team that can win the 'tryfest' will win the game, rather than the usual winner of the arm wrestle.

For that reason I think stick with Sitili

If we are relying on Sitili for our try fest we are in trouble.
Have you seen our backline? He has done nothing in attack for a few weeks. His game against the Broncos was a long time ago.
Plus we have enough forwards who add to our attack.
If we can get back to the way we were defending prior to the Souths game we should easily score enough points with our strike power.