Atkins' poor performances arent all his fault. While I agree that he doesnt seem to know how to pass and that on sunday he bombed several opportunities, he also isn't being given the ball in an attacking situation as a whole. Instead Ryan get the ball with 2 or 3 defenders in front. ATM Brough is playing the majority of the time on the right. When Brough plays on the left Atkins does play better. In short Atkins is better running at gaps and taking passes rather than creating. Also Brough needs to play on the left hand side because he does have one of the best passes off his right hand in super league.

OK Ryan

lol. Fair point. Im not his biggest fan but just think we should play to the teams strengths. He had his best performances when Solomona was here because he put him through gaps, as would Brough.

The comparison between Ryan Atkins and Jason Demetriou is an interesting one.

As a centre, JD wasn't actually that good at passing himself and was more renowned for his tackle breaking and strong running. He's become our talisman and strong fan favourite and rightly so because he's demonstrated on the pitch that he would run through brick walls for the team.

Let's not forget that we got Jason in his mid-to late 20s when he had already learned his craft at various other clubs.

I agree with an earlier post that Ryan suffers from high expectations as a result of his form very early in his Trinity career.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was sure Ryan and the coaches would be working on a way to get Ryan more involved and I think we saw that against Castleford. He ventured into the middle of the field and took more drives than I've seen him do in any other game and at times he made yardage up the middle when other players were struggling.

I don't question his attitude or its commitment but I do think he is fighting get the right balance into his game. His obvious strength is his power game and that is what got him noticed internationally. His weakness is his perceived handling ability and his involvement in the or lack of it.

I would hate to see him compromise his strengths but he needs to find a way to balance his game with the other skills.

It goes without saying that he would be a much more difficult proposition for the defence if they were in two minds about whether he was going to run over them, step around them or draw them in and pass to his Winger.

Whatever we think about Ryan, whether or not he is a good centre or a bad one or whether he's the second rower masquerading as a three-quarter. One thing is for sure he is a threat to the opposition and one of our go-to players so let's get off his back and let him develop.

He spent most of the afternoon trying to run over Shenton to prove how big and hard he is compared to Shenton.
Somebody get him a video of Neil Fox, Mal Meninga, Matt Gidley, Sid Hynes, Les Dyl, Keith Smith.
In amongst that lot you'll see pace and power and the ability to put a winger away.

Agreed

He has made 1 try assist all year!!!!!! for a thats poor, fergy made a break in the second half ,was looking for Atkins for support, where was he? 2 yards directly behind him wtf is that all about!!!!. Blew that certain try with not passing, but there again he would have thrown it into burger bar if he had tried. !!!! Don't think he can read the game like most players, when he has the ball he looks good and strong, but doesn't do enough to go looking for work.

Posted March.
So no change in Atkins play then 4 months later.

why does it? Total tosh!!! The use of certain words that you do not approve of in no way detracts from the form or relevance of any views I may have that you do or do not agree with!!

The use of that particular word suggests to me that you are more criticising Atkins the person rather than Atkins the player. I would also add that your use of that word just confirmed what the rest of your post had already told me.

people are fickle and quick to criticise, often in the aftermath of a poor performance/result. there is some merit in the criticism of his ability to put his winger away and him not having the 'craft' of a natural centre but a lot of the rest is just reactionary nonsense imo

how can you criticise a persons personality you haven't met?
My criticism is of his efforts or lack of them for trinity, which I am entitled to wether you like it or not.

Indeed. His poor judgement in the passing department aside he didn't have that bad a game in comparison to some.

I cannot see how that word could be used to describe/rate someones rugby playing ability or their effort on the pitch.