why is everybody moving atkins, a international centre, to the wing just to accomadate a new signing, who's preffered position is stand off?

agree about grix, the unnoticed one of the team, very under rated.

Hodgson
Evans
Bridge
Atkins
Monas
Briers
myler
morley
Monas
carvell
Waterhouse
Westwood
Harrison

P Wood
Solomona
Hill
Ratchford / Higham

I think they are moving Atkins to the wing because he's quicker.

yes hes quicker, but hes not a winger, leave him where he is.

j monas has to play wing for me, at centre he is wasted, he may not be the fastest wingers in the league but hes one of the best finishers.
also leave grix at loose as mark said hes been outstanding this season there. atkins and ratchford at centre and williams/ riley on the other wing, bridge possibly at centre or interchange with ratchford

I'm a little puzzled with this "love in" all of a sudden, for Grix

Yes, he's done well this season, but he had to.
When he burst onto our scene 5 or 6 years ago, I thought 'good stuff...this lad looks like he's got a bit of class'.
Since then, he's been treading water, or, surprise surprise, injured.
He's basically had to "pull his finger out", otherwise he'd've been cast aside.
Don't get me wrong, I have no axe to grind with him, but I don't get this "amazing" bit. He's done his job, efficiently. No more than that. Let's not get carried away with the superlatives.
He's a good, versatile, SQUAD player. I'm happy to have him in our squad, but, our starting XIII shouldn't include him.


One thing our starting XIII needs, is PROPER wingers, with winger's pace (as was shown on Saturday).

we sound like moaning stains supporters with this "we need faster wingers" stuff.

We have excellent wingers who have helped us score the most points, by a long way, this season.

But one of them won't be here next season.

yeah but we still have classy players that will play on the wing.

King is a centre that doesn't have this stupid amount of pace people are now begging for.

It really feels like a gut reaction from some people.

People who can play wing + who could do a full length effort:

Atkins
Evans
Williams (I am sure of it)
Maybe Ratchford
Riley
plus we have a few, I am reliably informed, in the academy that may be able to step up.

There are more than enough options there.

Evan
Ratchford
Atkins (if not in the centres)
and if he keeps learning -Williams
also have more to offer than just speed.

We aren't even losing our fastest winger with matt king. He was an elusive and crafty winger that can catch a highball and may be able to power over... who does that remind me of ...

Good, let's moan then.

Yes, we do have excellent wingers this season, but not with pace

Monaghan's effort on Sat was painfull to watch
I just don't get Williams, I don't see what he brings to the side

Let's get Riley back.
True, he does have his faults (over-running his centre, for one - sort this out Smith, don't just cast a proven try scorer aside), but he is quick.

A winger needs to be quick.

Opinions eh, who'd 'ave 'em

After watching williams chase sharp in the defeat to hull i will never be convinced of this electric pace he is alleged to possess. Riley is certainly quick, but he has had his confidence severely knocked (a la penny). I always though bridge was seriously quick, but even he has lost a yard or two since he came back from his injuries this season. Evans is probably our quickest and if he and atkins were at centre then we have enough pace there to compensate for our lack of it on the wings.

I felt like I was screaming on a donkey at the grand national when he got that ball. That should have been a try; no doubt.

This is the second time we have been disappointed with a wingers pace this season and I can see where the seeds of doubt have come from.

However, as i have said we have wingers with pace. I think even Williams has more pace than what we saw last week. (I think chasing down the Try line to get back into a game against Wigan, in the CC, would inspire more gusto than chasing a Hull player with 20 yards in a game you are almost destined to lose)

However, I remember hearing (as i was unable to attend) that Joel was able to chase down a Hull KR player who had the gap on him.

I am sure the players have bad days and good days and on another day maybe Joel would have reached fifth gear faster but we are forgetting that try that Joel scored at Huddersfield or the several against Leeds that required herculean effort and skill.

We have wingers who have pace, just some have had a few bad days. It isn't like we have Meli and Gardner as wingers. Perspective is in order.

I agree to a certain extent with Riley's attacking ability. However, i have my heart in my mouth every time he jumps out of the line in defence. He creates major gaps that shouldn't be there. You do not see that from Wigan, or even saints. Plus that running ahead of the centre is very annoying. These are basics for a winger. Protect the line and to support the centre. He fails on both and I can see why Tony Smith feels he doesn't have the time for him. I personally would give him time and schooling and another chance.