I actually felt for Chris Riley when he lost the ball over the line as you could see that he was distraught, he wasn`t the reason that we didn`t win the game as it was the fact that we wasn`t good enough over the 80 minutes that lost us the game in being out scored by 5 tries to 3 and failing to capitalise on a lot of posession.

All players make mistakes and it happens to the best of them, its how you bounce back from a mistake that makes you a better player. I`m sure in a similar situation again that Chris Riley would have a stronger protection on the ball because a defender in that situation will always try and dislodge the ball just like Colum Halpenny did to Pat Richards last year in that controversial Wakefield v Wigan game.

Its all a learning experience for a young kid just like it was for Kevin Penny after the mistake he made at Leeds which lead to a try but he has bounced back from that and they will both become more wise with experience.

Harrison with fewer minutes and King to second row? I actually can't remember neither.

I do think Reilly has been our most consistent player so far this season.

I am always flabergasted by people's readiness to move in form, key players out of position.

It is simple:

Atkins is one of, if not the, best centre in the league.
Riley is a natural and in form winger and was the best player on the field against saint helens.

Atkins shouldn't be played ahead of riley on the wing and ratchford shouln't be player ahead of atkins in the centres.

I remember this game the OP refers to. Bloody gutted that day. Drank myself into a hole that night outside the castle. Oh how the times have changed! (not the drinking though!)

I think with King leaving he does now make the first choice 13, last year I don't think he did. Ratchford for me, should not be near the 3/4 positions unless we have injuries. In a fully fit squad, he should be on the bench with 3 forwards, Higham misses out, Ratch/Myler to sub for Monas (if required). Obviously Smith trusts Riley to let the King go and let him fill the huge void, especially defensively, he left.

And Riles came back in because Bridge was playing in the back row on some occasions.

Of course he wasn't in our strongest 13 last year, Tony Smith didn't think so either thats why he got loaned out to Harlequins.

That was a good move because Riley is easily good enough to be a starting SL winger so it meant he kept his hand in first team action and when he came back at the end of the season he was ready to hit the ground running with us in the playoffs.

The big difference between him and Penny is when Penny lost form and went out of the team and away on loan he didn't take those opportunities, Riley did.

For me Riley has never been in my first 13 (or 17 for that matter) with Evans getting a wing spot ahead of him this year. However Riley, has he has done in past seasons, will probably end-up playing in more games than he misses over the course of the season.