Riddell is averaging more metres per carry than Higham, which I'm sure you would not have believed if I hadn't shown you.

So he must be doing something, but obviously you are blinkered to it.

He is making less mistakes and and conceding less penalties.

BTW I'm comparing him to Higham because that is who he has replaced.

What is it they say about statistics? If you select the statistics you can prove or disprove anything. You could say Higham makes more tackles, makes more tackle busts and clean breaks, scores and assists in more tries than Riddel. You could also ay Higham makes more errors and concedes more penalties. If you are not biased you would say the comparison is pointless because 1 player has played 80 minutes x 3 in the worst team in SL whereas another has played 40 minutes x 4 in a better team in SL. Maybe throw the flawed statistics away and trust your eyes and decide that Riddel was outplayed by Randall and Leuluai and by every other hooker he has faced or played with since his arrival.

Or alternatively, you could wait a few more weeks and give him a chance to shake off his injury before passing judgement.

By the way, I agree - he's been very, very disappointing. But three games in is too early to write off a man who had quite a decent rep in the NRL.

Just been talking to my mate who lives in Australia and supports the Parramatta Eels. I have just been explaining how Piggy is doing over here for us and his words where 'He picked up a back injury last season with Parra but once fully fit will become a great player for us' supposedly he was extremely sad to see Piggy leave the club and rates him very highly.

Piggy is a class player.

Was also the first (and possibly only) player to go over to Shaun Ainscough after he missed a tackle in the first half.

Playing with an injury isn't helping him. Once fit, he should be a good signing.

How do you know?

How do I know what? That he is a class player having watched him for a number of years in the NRL, or that he went over to Ainscough right in front of him after he missed a tackle?

Is he playing with an injury?

Or is that some convenient story made up to cover his performances?

I certainly haven't seen any reports regarding his carrying of any sort of injury.

If you can point me to one, then maybe it would help my understanding of why this guy just looks crap to me.

Go ahead.

The club are not going to tell everyone how many were aware of the shoulder problem Fielden had until he went in and had an op on it at the end of the season or the foot problem he had at the end of last season until he had the operation.

He may be doing all the things you say in the post above, but I am certain that is more down to a statistical anomaly than anything else.

He still dropped the ball on 3 (Maybe more) occasions on Saturday, and yet, according to the SL stats he has still only made 1 error this season.

He may be averaging more metres per carry than Higham, if you believe the stats, but he is making less metres per game.

You can make these stats say whatever you like, but I remain to be convinced that this guy is any good.

Sorry mate, I don't do conspiracy theories.

He is either injured or he isn't.

What happens when he puts in a good performance? Will he not be injured?

And then when he puts in a bad performance? He's injured, but we can't tell anyone.

Nonsense.

Most players carry knocks or other problems going into a game. You will find when they are asked any problems a lot of players say no even if they have. Hock played on Saturday with a hip problem the one he picked up the week before.

Also on Riddell I don't remember him dropping the ball on loads of occasions on Saturday Smith did on the play of the ball Fielden did in a tackle Lockers did twice once with the try line beckoning and a few others did will watch it again later to see if i can see all his dropped balls but was down at the Stoop and have watched my recording at home but will have another look see if i can see them.

Ive also heard Riddell is carrying an injury.