Yes. Just got back.

I think Riddell was always going to be branded cack because he's an overweight aussie. If he was British he'd probably be a cult hero. I think he's finding his way, his weight doesn't seem to affect his pace of the mark either, he's deceptively quick. Having said that Micky Mac's in great form and looks in good shape so he should get more game time. I just wish he'd cut out the penalties though.

Some people I sit with in the stands hate every signing we make! Every time Pat Richards, Cameron Phelps, Mark Riddell or Amos Roberts took the ball in a chorus of "Come on *player* you lazy get pull yer finger out!" came from behind me. Why do aussie signings have to be twice as good as our home grown players to get our support?

I think thats the problem with the majority of overseas players isn't it.

Somebody mentioned the other day how are overseas signings becoming pointless? how many actually come and preform anymore? i can't think of too many that really come and live up to their reps like Riddell, Monaghan, King etc etc and for every Gidley there seems to be 2 or 3 of this type.

Is it time for us to make our own quota of say 3 players and go totally British outside of that? can we not make ourselves 'the' academy club of Great Britain and plough our money into signing up the best young talent from all over the place?

Get 3 top line overseas players and fill the rest of the squad with British player. Go back to an old fashioned model yet a model that could take us forward.

on tonights performance i would have Riddell over McIllorum next week.

Well we'll watch the game again and comment.

I've been a champion of Mickey Mac for years, but I think his passing and discipline were poor tonight. I don't recall Riddell making those same mistakes, but I may be wrong.

Let's watch the game again and then comment.

nothing to do with his weight. he's just not putting 100% into it, but he's not alone in that.
we've seen what he's capable of in the NRL so why can't he get close to that in a supposedly inferior competition?

That's how I saw it Jonh, but as I said to RB I'll comment further when I eventually see the game again (women )

He's flown around the world to live in a different country, play in a different squad (which is very off form) to a different gameplan in a different competition. It may be an old line but give him time to settle and he'll get back to form before the end of the season (if our fans don't shatter his confidence before then) but even now I don't think he's doing half as bad as people make out. It doesn't help that there's a young Wigan player at his heels, that always gets the fans on an aussie's back (see Roberts v Ainscough, Smith v S.Tomkins, Bailey v J.Tomkins)

I thought e plan was he [iwas[/i going to be a cult hero for us? The character we were sadly lacking in the side etc?



Because they get paid twice as much? Joking aside they don't have to twice as good, they just have to put the effort in and be an obviously good player who adds to the side otherwise why fly them half way round the world in the first place? Fletcher was a good solid pro, Scott Logan was, Pat is and so on. They aren't all duffers but when one is billed (as Riddell was by IL I think) as going to have a big impact on SL and he doesn't, it is hardly surprising if he comes in for some flak. He isn't a young player just starting out but a seasoned pro.

Dave

Interesting the divide in opinion here. Personally I thought Riddell was the better of the two hookers tonight as I have said on another thread.

i'll give him all season mate. he's got going anytime before that so he's got another 4/5 months.
still doesn't change the fact that at the moment he's underperforming. like i said, he's not the only one as is plain to see.

actually i would have thought that would have been the kick up the backside he needs

But tonight he was still better than the hooker he replaced at Wigan.

So that must be a step forward.

Sadly i think while we have Noble at the helm we will never see the best of Riddell.

So we would have been better off keeping Higham then and starting with MM?

Dave