Being our best player in 2017 is no endorsement.

He has been a very good player for us over the 8 years or so we have had him, scoring over 150 tries for us. He does have his limitations with his tackling and passing. He is now 32 and in the normal scheme of things his powers are waning. The question we have to ask is, Is he one of our best two centres now. In my opinion the answer to that is no. I have said he should move to second row, as he has the size on his side. But not on Saturday.

Is he useless? No he isn't.
Is he as influential as he was? Probably not.

He was and arguably the best when he was first switched to right centre.
Every team needs back up and having him fit is a bonus.

However there is no place for him in this 17.

RL's a tough sport and there will be opportunities for a potential renaissance for Atkins, as we've seen with Westwood.
It may be at centre or it may be at second row, all depending on player injuries, form, off field behaviour or not getting on with Price. Who knows what will happen in 2019, but Atkins will play a part in it.
Agree with most posters that his first opportunity won't be on Saturday, unless there's an injury that has yet to come to light.

Wow.
In a handful of days, the level of dislike for Atkins certainly has snowballed. For some on here to question his attributes that just make a BASIC RL player, never mind a bloody good one, is headshaking.

All of a sudden, he's unable to catch, tackle pass etc., and then someone says he's top of the charts for errors. Double wow. There may we'll be a reason for that. He tends to receive the ball at ends of sets, when risks are taken. If you don't take (some) risks, you don't score tries.

You want stats. I'll give you stats
In excess of 200 career tries
In excess of 150 for us, better than 1 in 2 (that's bloody good)
3 tries in CCFs
1 try in a GF

Dragged us to many a late win, and he's crap?
Granted, I don't think he's going to get inducted to the RL Hall of Fame, but in the same breath, he's no Barry Peters.

Totally agree...gives 100% when on the pitch and a very approachable fellow off the pitch...

And how many games have we lost due to him bombing a chance, throwing it into touch, hogging the ball, not passing the ball, dropping off tackles & leaving his winger stranded?

The lad is goo yes but if you look at the picture as a whole. Whilst he has some very good positives and a decent highlight reel, his negatives overshadow them for me.

Harsh pal.
I'd put my house on that we've won far more because of him than lost

Lost count how many times he's had a support runner who he's not passed to or would have finished his break or scored in a better position for a kick and gone on to loose by 4 or 2 points.

Opinion seems divided, a curates egg.

I am sure we are on the look out for the more complete package.

He has Hall and McGilvery potential

Absolute rubbish, was there a 100% guarantee that the winger wouldn't have dropped it been tackled etc. If we're clutching at straws we should not be in the position that a missed opportunity is classes as costing us a try. As pointed out he has most errors as he has been our go to player when things are tough or we're looking to score. King is not our make somtjing happen player