Haha, good one :p

According to Rugby Leaue World we are in talks with 20 year old Leeds Carnegie Winger David Doherty [urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Doherty[/url

Doherty has been realised by Sale Sharks, who were nearly relegated last year. i'd much prefer us to use Williams and Penny instead. Surely the loss of Hicks would free up wages?

Think loose forward should be a priority, followed by a winger. Riley isn't up to it imho, so Hicks will leave a massive hole next season. Could move Atkins there, with King and Bridge in the centres?

Wow, 46 tries in 78 SL games (inc 21 in 20 this season) = not good enough for you. You set high standards!

Indeed I am fussy. I want Warrington to win Super League in the next couple of seasons.

Riley's try count speaks for itself, but the amount of tries a winger scores, doesn't necessarily relate to the quality of the player. Riley has scored a load of tries because Warrington have had plenty of ball, generated by a dominant pack, and the likes of Briers, Bridge, Solomona, King have been able to work space for for Riley to score.

Like most wingers, most of his tries are simple walk ins, which most Superleague wingers would score. the same goes for Hall, Gardener. What sets a decent winger apart from a quality winger isn't simply the amount of tries they score.

Riley is a willing player, and I do like him, but there are fundemental problems. He'd too small. When you are that size, you have to be exceptional ball in hand. The step and change of pace of a Robinson, or Burrow.

Riley is quick, but not rapid, but has no real ability to beat a man, especially on the outside. He lacks confidence in his pace, and rarely shows it to full effect. Added to that, his lack of height makes him vulnerable to a good kicking game, plus his tacking can be weak. Both were exposed against Leeds.

To be fair, ball in hand he played as well as I have seen against Leeds, and seemed to regularly make yardage, when returning kicks etc, so maybe there is hope he can improve. For me though, he won't be good enough for a top 4 team, and quality opposition should be able to exploit his weaknesses.

I would agree with that Clutch. I think it's a fair assessment. In an ideal world you would want two 25 year old Chris Hicks' on either wing but they dont grow on trees and thats the problem.. there isnt an abundance of talent off quota in this country especially wingers and centres so until that changes, you will see the likes of Riley on the wings.

Riley is a good try scoring winger and I do like him but he is prone to the odd mistake. I'd still say him and Bridge on one wing with Atkins and King on the other.

It's taken me a while, but finally i have found an extremely good post on rlfans. Congratulations young man(or woman).

I'd be looking at Rhys Evans to step up to first grade next season.

Great post and absolutely spot on but I dont think the addition of a quality winger will make any difference to our title aspirations....

However when was the last time Chris Hicks Burned his opposite winger ..? or went 80 metres for a score....? top of my head i'm struggling for examples....

I would wager at Warrington under Smith its an absolute crime to take an opposition winger on the outside and be bundled into touch.
Riley doesnt have the pace to do this on most occasions but the one or two occasions you'd back a winger to go for it he cuts inside as ordinary wingers do.
and on watching the supposed fastest man at the club Rhys Williams his very first instinct was to cut inside even ten yards away from the touch line

the notion of us having an exciting winger that can score from anywhare is a pipe dream Smith wants a percentage game. he would rather have a winger that can make hard yards from his own goal line on tackle one then finish of with a two yard stroll in at the end of the set.....

that said its not a bad game plan...I just dont see the need in the current team set up to pay big bucks for a world class winger.
We can replace 'good' with 'okay' and it wont make any difference...see Ade Gardners trophy cabinet as an example...

rhys williams faster than kevin penny?