I genuinally feel sorry for the lad but taking into account his general performances from last year and this years friendlies, he isn't playing well enough to deserve the fullback spot next Sunday...But I suppose we have no option until Roberts gets a run out?

He seems very low on confidence, nervous and jittery through out the 80 minutes and he often gets caught in two minds when it comes to dealing with attacking kicks before juggling with the ball before knocking it out of play.

His positioning is probably the most worrying...In fact Pat Richards had to scream at him once when a Leigh player was in position to place an attacking kick under the posts and he was very late to respond.

Another thing what we really missed last year and today was a full back that links up with play and is the end of an attacking move or on the shoulder of a player when they have made a break. I hardly ever see that from Mathers....And it shows when you get one try in twenty League appearances. Sorry, but for a fullback that is appauling.

I appreciated that last year Mathers was coming back from a career threatening injury but I didn't see his game consistantly improve as he played more games and his first couple of performances in 2009 show no improvement, no confidence and no sign that he'll ever play for Wigan at the level that we expect.

I don't like ''bagging'' players, but the fullback is a key position that we're not able to exploit. I just can't see any evidence that Mathers will play to the minimum standard that we expect...Can you?

Roberts will be our full back next week

He was never a good player to start with. 14 tries in a dominant Leeds team and for 1 season. Roberts once fit and Pryce is ready will play fullback

Ok Brian

I think he deserves a chance personally, for his attitude and application if nothing else. Plus I think its daft to make an assessment on players at this stage. I'd give him 6-8 games and then re-assess.

I dont like the stick that he gets and I love his enthusiasm, he will get his chance this year but Im sure everyone will agree if he doesnt perform in his 1st 5 games he will have to be dropped, his defence could loose us games if he carries on from last season.

I personally think hes a great lad he always tries to encourag the team and he loves playing, but results matter and we have to put the best team we can out, and if he is not included in that, then so be it.

I actually agree with you on that, although i am not sure highlighting the number of tries he scored is a good way to judge performance.

I'm basing my opinion on last season and the first three games of 2009.

I'd say the best game I've seen him in was against the Widnes friendly last season but I've seen no consistant improvement.

I'm willing to give him a chance and hopes that he proves me wrong for his sake and the clubs, but I now see playing Mathers as a risk. I don't think we can afford to take risks especially when we know we've got players who can potentially play fullback at a much better standard.

its hard with mathers, i understand hes had his fair share of injuries, he didnt have a full pre season last year and i thought at the back end of last season he wa coming in to his own. he does bring alot of enthusiasm to the team. hes a good support player, personally i think hes reacting a little slow to an oppurtunity

Sadly not.

You can see he is low on confidence and that can't be helped by the fans giving him a hard time.

Amos or Pat should be ahead of Richie in the pecking order at the moment imo.

I see him as a squad player, a second choice for full back who fills an important role when we have injuries/ need back up.

Mathers will play FB next week. Hes going to get a chance otherwise why would Wigan renew his contract?

I don't think he is, Stu.

I don't think we saw enough support play from him last season and is probably why he scored just one try through out the season.

same reason they renewed Phelps' they did not know Roberts was going to become available.

I think he will get a chance, but to be honest i do not expect too much, he has never convinced me that he is a good player. He reminds me of Dodgy Hodgy in so many ways regards his body language, he simply never looks confident and lets things get on top of him which sends him into a spiral of poor poor performance.

I hope and do think that he will get a run early doors but unless he has a great start to the season i feel his confidence will be shot and we will not see too much more of him in 09 and nothing of him beyond that.