You are comparing Russell to Hodgson who had no equal in terms of positional sense. Shame Smith and him fell out as he could be here now teaching Russell how to be a more complete player.

PS Russell is on of the leading players in SL for metres gained and tackle busts. But don't let that bother you Duckie they are only facts.

I'm not letting anything bother me. I haven't dished him? Did I not just compare him to the great Jason Robinson??
I just said we need to play him to his strengths and positional defence at FB is not one of them!
Running the ball at acting hb and being up with the play against tired defences is very likely where the chunk of your stat comes from.

Russell needs minor tweeks to his game that is all, nothing major.

1. Our kicking game was poor all night and has been all season

2. MMonaghans hopeful looping pass to hair Charnley

so you'd put a player, who's the same size if not smaller than riley on the wing, after we ditched riley and replaced him with someone 3-4 inches bigger

I actually think he'd do well on the wing, in a Justin Carney mould.

I had no problem with Riles. He made a comedy out of us last month. I've said it before that Atkins form has played a pretty hefty price on Riley and Penny.

Besides that yes I would. If we have to rely on a 6ft 4" winger coz all we have in attack is a kick to the corner were in trouble.

If you find a fews minutes to watch Russell on Utube you'll see a video of him as he played res grade in Oz, he played wing in almost every scene of him, mainly left but occasionally right. It shows him at his devastating best running from dummy half.

He is wasted at FB. We need him up with the play, whilst his defence and positioning is ropy.

An easy fix for this season would be a straight swap Matty for Rhys.
Not perfect but it'll get Matty up with the play to utilise his quick play and solid up our last line in defence with Rhys. With Rhys if he gets space from deep he has a great stride, pace, upper body strength and the occasional hand off too, to put us back on the front foot.

Indeed. We need to stop trying to fit players into the tactics and make the tactics fit the players.

Was a bit unsure about him earlier this season but his performance last night was on the whole, excellent.

i was somewhat livid that bentham didn't give a penalty to russell, i think it was 10 15 minutes from the end when he broke into their twenty riding some tackles, and 3 count them three wigan players tackled him all around the head, two slaps in the face seperately, third fella coming in to unscrew his lid.

add it to the 'Bentham missed that' list....its quite a long list.

Certain players (yes Sideshow Bob O'Loughlin looking at you) seem immune to being penalised.