Cause Briers doesn't go looking for fights like Tomkins?

Riley made a huge blunder last week that led to a try. He made a blunder (maybe too hash a word) this week for a try, but people want him at 1 instead of Mathers.

IMO any fullback would have struggled the other night in those conditions. Our kicking game wasn;t good enough to trouble their fb.

Where have you seen the rties JWP, are they online anywhere yet?

I saw the tries before the Quins game yesterday, SKY+'d it. Saw them a few times, a few times too many in truth.

Exactly, Riley is just as error prone as Mathers, but without the leadership. He might be marginally more likely to make a break, but he's hardly Billy Slater. I actually think, of all our players Bridge would be the most effective offensive fullback that we have at the club, as a third pivot. I was struggling to work out who was where by the back end of Friday night, with each change I got marginally more confused, but there was at least one play that sticks in my head that he ended up in that role and it got me thinking, but that aside, I think he's the best right centre we have, so just stick him back there.

Once we get 'fully fit' (do you ever), I think we need to get back to :

Atkins, King, Bridge, Hicks, Mathers. Riley will be 18th man most weeks.

Bridge had been ill and had hardly trained. Smith talks about it on Guardian website. rlHererl

It's like reading the Wigan boards from a year or so!

Very true!!! imo though if Mathers had been our fullback this season we woudn't be sitting at the top of the table. Not necesserily because of his defence and under the high ball, but the threat a quality fullback offers going forward.

I'll alaways love Richie Mathers for the comedy value of his attempt on Jon Wilkin at Cardiff the other year. Gettting laughed at by a fellow pro must be tough to take.

He isn't good enough for Warrington, just like he wasn't good enough for Wigan. Smith seems to like him though and long may that continue.

I am not a Mathers knocker and when he came on loan to us in 2002, he looked like ha could develop into a world beater and so did Leeds and the Gold Coast However, he does make at least one or two big mistakes per game, as well as dropping the ball on Friday, Eastmond went staraight past him for his first try, would expect more form our last line of defence.

I also agree that Rilley also makes mistakes but he is still a young lad and could be said to be still work in progress and their is alot about Rilleys game i do like.

I am beginning to loose confidence in Mathers

So why do we get all the young lads who make mistakes


Why do Saints have Eastmond and Wigan Tomkins who stand up yet our youngsters dont

Ben Harrison.

Genetic testing from an early age.

I'm quoting your comment to afford you the opportunity to review, and, consider what you have written.

Eastmond and Tomkins always look dangerous - our youngsters dont

he obviously isn't the fullback to take us forward as a team.. i think everyone can agree on that one (or maybe not)

Cant see him being first choice next season... only so far 'organisation' skills can get you.

Poor defence, poor handling of kicks.. and some poor/strange passes this season as well.

not really what you expect from a fullback.

Can we have a little perspective please? Bearing in mind at the time of his signing we didn't have a fullback who could actually play, who had a horrendous run of injuries, to acquiring an experienced player in this position, it was an absolute no-brainer.

Can we improve on him as a player? Definitely. Is it an absolute priority? No. We have his replacement already here, he just needs time.

Ask yourself this question: Is it more important to focus energies on signing a long term replacement for Mathers or Briers?