I've said it until I'm sick of saying it...a Winger is as good as his last pass.
If they ain't getting any or next to naught, they ain't going to look very good.
The last decent player in a centre position was Bridge...and count in one hand off Hiku.

For years we've been saying beef and biff up the front row and get us some passing 3/4's...alas the board don't read our forum.

True for Lineham, false for Russell.

For me I'd go with the following back line for Widnes

1 - Johnson - a full back playing at full back
2 -Lineham
3 - Goodwin
4 - Atkins
5 - Brown - better for defending kicks

Ratchford can be what he is - a utility player, but starting from the bench

I think I’d keep Goodwin and Lineham on the left where they’ve been training, unless that’s what you meant and wrote it down wrong...

Russell in plain and utter e. End of.
He has no endearing qualities, whatsoever.
A waste of time, money and squad number.

I'd rather have Mr Tumble

Yes a good centre can make even an average winger look good. I think that a top quality centre is often overlooked. How many times did Keith senior drag Leeds over the line or put in a big hit to get their defence firing saints, how many times did saints go to Lyons when things were tough in a game?

Russell outside a god wingers centre will do well but never do enough to please everyone.

We can complain about out halves but what options are they being given one option a play, the ball will go to Hughes atkins bmm and currie and majority of the time that will end in play the ball. Hoping bmm and currie can improve in moving the ball on this year.

It would be interesting to know how many times Tom lineham n matt Russell got the ball on the wing rather than taking first run or scooting from dummy half will be alarmingly low. So would a replacement for atkins be better than finding a replacement for Russell in the short term and let Russells contract run out.?

That's it Dezzie....

Constant calling of Brown and now and Ratchford...all trying their best behind a lightweight pack.
Wingers constantly ripped for not getting the ball in a good attacking position.

We are desperate for a heavy prop...we've too many 2nd rowers, prop coverts. We need a man that'll drag the attention of 3 or 4 defenders like a Morley or Carvell, who can get himself into a quick ptb situation. Then Clark and the backs with have a field day.

What woyld I do?...
I'd ship out a backrower on loan, thanks Ben but Leigh need you more than we do and bring in Taylor.

Westwood as opposed to Currie I presume?

Westwood as opposed to Currie & Ben Murdoch-Masila I presume?

My criticism of Russell is

1) Lack of pace.
2) Defensive brain farts.
3) Inability to cope with a moving ball.

He’s a championship player at best, and we have a few of them at the moment, see Tom Lineham also.

I started this thread to be convinced that he has a place. It's clear I'm not alone in my thoughts towards his selection, which poses another question. Why does he keep getting a game? Prell and Brown are both options yet Russell keeps getting picked