I wasn't there on Saturday so I can't comment. but I posted on another thread about Riddell that he gets more criticism than most. I think it's because he isn't living up to peoples unrealistic expectations of him. Hardly anyone on here watches NRL regularly enough to form a conclusive and accurate opinion of any player over there yet most assumed, me included, that we were signing a great player. In reality we've signed a hooker who's never played for Aus, never played State of Origin and only made 2 appearances in City v Country. If we become realistic with our expectations, then he's looking to be a good player for us.

Look at the stats on the SL site compared to McIllorum and you'll see that Piggy is a lot better player in every department yet people are keen to praise McIllorum and slag off "[iThe Fat Waster[/i"

This is the bare bones of it. It isn't working (evidently) so chances have to be made.

But surely those changes have to include keeping our best players in their best positions. For me that means Riddell and Tommy at hooker.

I'd be tempted to give Ainscough a game on the right and see what he can do with the 2 passes a game that Roberts gets.

Probably turn out to be the top try scorer in SL. Oh yeah he already did that after playing fewer games.

Fickle!!!

It was Tim Smith for Australia after his masterclas vs Salford!

Don't talk cack.

Too be fair it was only 1 idiot.

Smith should miss out.

Its already been said about getting someone to cover him. There are a lot of half backs who stay out wide in defence or have a player covering him in defence to help him out. As said before Bailey and Gleeson have been doing this, but with O'Loughlin missing on saturday Bailey was doing more work in midfield than over to the sides. And since Gleeson's come and tightened up the right defence Smith has looked a better player because people haven't been picking up on his defensive errors as much, and the focus has been on his attacking skills.

What gets me is that everyone jumps on his back as soon as a mistake is made down the our right side of defence. On saturday Roberts missed a tackle which led to 1 of their tries and someone at the side of me was turning red he was that angry shouting "Smith go home" Then later on the ball got spread from celtics left over to their right for another of their tries and Smith again gets blamed this time for not tackling as soon as the ball was played!

I know he's not great in defence, but there are other players on the team especially on Saturday that are making mistakes and missing way too many tackles. You can't pin the blame solely on Smith.

People go on about Smiths passes.
He's made six telling passes in all.
Thats six times more passes than yards he's run since we signed him.
Can,t lick sams boots.