In 2016 Matty Russell carried the ball further than any other back in Super League and was in second best carrier (to Chris Hill) of all. We have to give him some credit that he is indeed an elusive and explosive runner.

Perhaps because that's all he has got. A scoot from the PTB, that's it.

It's a shame its not the wingers primary objective to make yards off of a scoot. If that was the case he'd be the best winger in the world. As it happens though... Its's not and he's cack.

Doesn't that just sum up our 2017 in one paragraph. We value wingers as "ball returners" rather pacey, elusive, try scorers.

Brian Bevan and Dessie would have been sent to Rochdale for sure.

And how many tries did he score from these elusive and explosive runs?

He's also ranked 14th in the whole league for runs from DH. Ahead of some team's starting hookers.

But he's not a hooker. He's a winger, and should be judged on that.

It's like excusing a prop who can't tackle because he kicked the most drop goals, or a fullback who can't catch because he makes a mean chicken madras.

Here's another 2016 stat -
Lineham 72% try-rate in 22 games
Penny 70% try-rate in 20 games
Russell - 29% try-rate in 31 games

League Express as us as Baptiste signed and NoseyParker in the other paper is all over the Charnley rumour,he also mentions Baptiste.

Is he relaible?

What about a Tongan second-row who makes a mean Chicken Tikka Masila?

*I think Russell played predominantly at Full Back. So not really appropriate.

I thought this might happen. I personally don't think Russell is a winger. But he has some strengths as a rugby player. Teams quite often put two hookers on the pitch e.g. Hodgson/Baptiste, Dwyer/Clark and Papua New Guinea (last Saturday). He could be a loose forward as they seem to have a variety of rolls in the modern game. He runs as strongly as anyone and there are many times in a game when you just want someone to make some tough yards. I'd love a new winger but wouldn't dish the crap out on Matty Russell as much as some on the forum.

Yes, fair point about playing FB. I forgot he was supposed to be on the wing, but played FB to cover for injuries to Ratch then Sandow.

I completely agree that the Russell-bashing on here is a bit over the top. I actually think he's been coached/told to play that way over the past couple of seasons, so doesn't 100% deserve the rap he's got. Our other wingers, including the likes of Chris Riley used to also have to make similar central yards from the ruck early in the tackle count. It's just that Russell has been pretty damn good at performing this task, but all the other elements of wing play let him down.

He is no winger unfortunately. However, I disagree with moving him forward. We have far better back-rowers in our 13 + squad than him. I don't think he could do a better job there than who we already have.

He's possibly a victim of TS. I genuinely believe he was signed as our long term FB, so Ratch could play 6. But because of our halfback shambles and Ratch ultimately nailing the 1 shirt, he's been shunted on the wing to "do a job".

Had he been kept consistently at FB, and thusly allowed to improve his FB play from there, I imagine no one would be complaining about Russell today.

Like I said, an unfortunate victim of TS.

Is who reliable

He is a full back, but since the bad head injury he sustained he has not had the confidance at full back. His ball return is a million times better than ratchford and on most defensive aspects they are similar russel is not likely to chime into the line as ratchford does or be the 3rd pivot but they are different styles of full backs and can both be used at fb over a season

Wing is a tough position to play the margins are fine and the consequences of a missed tackle dropped ball can be huge and hard to recover from they need to be afforded a little leeway in how harsh we judge them. To say russel cannot catch is not true and also over emphasise the potential weakness. Yes he has dropped balls more than we would like but do has bully slater zack hardaker Tompkins shall etc but if you say he cannot catch enough people will start to believe it!!!


We need a new winger because we need competition for places to improve our squad depth and to add a proven big game Finisher who if we get that one chance to win a game we want that chance to fall to them. Russel does not fall into that category.

Whilst it has been noticed that Russell is quite good at scooting from dummy half ,it is worth noting that Australia gained a lot of ground from scooting from DH & used resulting field position to keep England on the back foot for a lot of Saturday's game. A better kicking game & a few dodgy reffing decisions did the rest.