The situation with Dec will be interesting when Brown & Gidley pick up injuries & the Messiah has to rely on the latest scapegoat.I hope Dec tells him to shove his redemption where the sun don't shine.

Looking from the outside what I find strange is Smith dropped Patton for a kid who is a centre. It's one thing to ask an experienced player to move out of position into the halves but to move a kid who has had only a handful of games is poor judgement imo.

On Thursdays performance, if anyone should me made a scapegoat it's Gidley who was truly awful.

Livett can play centre or SO, where he played the bulk of his U19 games. His (personal) preference is however BR. His kicking from hand is probably not as good as Patton, but otherwise you can certainly interchange the two players. And with Patton looking rather ordinary, atm why not.

Patton was excellent for you guys in the reserves game today, probably the only one who looked at all dangerous. Your #8 looked good, too, don't know his name, big guy with a ginger beard...?

Ed Sheeran?

Lee Mitchell ?

There is of course the other shoe that TS is trying to protect the young halfbacks confidence by not selecting him and letting him play in the U19 and as a poster already stated had a good game.

It's a lot easier for senior players to take the criticism that comes along with not winning than a young kid.

He's the same age as George Williams, give or take a few months, I think...George has over 60 games under his belt by now.

What is said behind closed doors could/should be different than what is said to the press and the baying fans. Dangerous precedent saying Patton was dropped for poor performances. If he doesn't do the same for more experienced players (who should be stepping up in times like this), it'll cause issues with the fans, but also the players.

End of day, Declan is playing in the senior side, so no bubble-wrapping should be happening. In Smith's ideal 13, he probably wouldn't start anyway.

Champion of young british half-backs, Garry Schofield slam Super League coaches for dropping Patton & Danny Richardson. www.totalrl.com/schofield-blasts ... halfbacks/

Champion of young british half-backs, Garry Schofield slam Super League coaches for dropping Patton & Danny Richardson. www.totalrl.com/schofield-blasts ... halfbacks/

Quote Smith's Brolly="Smith's Brolly"Champion of young british half-backs, Garry Schofield slam Super League coaches for dropping Patton & Danny Richardson. www.totalrl.com/schofield-blasts ... halfbacks/'" Did Williams not have a spell out of the Wigan team during the early part of last season or was he just injured? Could've swore Wane left him out for a bit but could be wrong.

Quote Smith's Brolly="Smith's Brolly"Champion of young british half-backs, Garry Schofield slam Super League coaches for dropping Patton & Danny Richardson. www.totalrl.com/schofield-blasts ... halfbacks/'" Did Williams not have a spell out of the Wigan team during the early part of last season or was he just injured? Could've swore Wane left him out for a bit but could be wrong.