FWIW those who are defending Mathers are deluding themselves.

I have never seen a player turn from villain to hero and then back again as often as Mathers. He's likeable and he tries he really does, but that's not enough - at his age he needs to be better he's a senior player now.

The truth is with his experience he should be better than he is. He rarely starts a game switched on, his concentration is dreadful especially for a a F/B. A position I fully agree is the most exposed, but his lapses in concentration are his fault, no one elses. He's also slow, not much quicker than Blaymire and nowhere near as safe.

He's not the worst I've ever seen, but he isn't good enough long term IMHO. Remember before this run there were 2 games everyone on here was blaming him for losing, Bradford away was one. We'd theoretically be top 8 by now - though I accept it's a team game and one player rarely costs us, but that wasn't the opinion on here.

Whilst ever the lad wears a Trinity shirt I will support him at the game - but I won't be convinced he's the answer until he plays a full 80mins. I don't care how many times he pulls it around or gets a vital try he must cut out letting the ball bounce or the unforgivable soft tackles if you can call it that that let Widnes in for their first try - it was dreadful, under 17's dreadful.

Come on Richie be the player you occasionally show you can be all the time because we will need it if we are to get anything further from top 8.

thought Mathers was poor on a couple of occasions, Cockayne had his worst game of the season and as a team we looked decidedly wobbly!
Ali, Kirmo, and Mariano were the stand out performers.
Any news on Dean "Ronny Gibbs" Collis? Looked well out of it on a number of occasions, before going off.

Correct, for fear of getting another load of abuse from his bestest mate fishcake Cockayne is a liability when in that mood - and for those singing his praises there is your lesson - a leopard never changes it's spots.

I can live with that side of BC but it will always cause him and us problems in high pressure games, as Stevo said "he's got it in him" and like many things in life a persons greatest strength is usually their greatest weakness.

Come on Ben, as the poster says "Keep calm"

A few players, BC included, were guilty of trying too hard - champagne rugby when you haven't earned it never works out.

Mathers had a wobbly start but came good - he never dropped a kick, was well positioned in defence and marshalled the troops well; he adds value in the attacking line and that's something we haven't had for ages. When they do the video this week, I expect that Hanbury non-tackle will feature heavily.

No need to panic - it was a stinker of a performance against Widnes with their extra man, but we rescued it; hopefully the nerves will be settled and we'll be back to our best next week.

Didn't play well and still won,in the top 8,6 wins on the trot,why do we still slag our players off,are you bored ,don't understand the game or not true Wakey fans.I suggest you get behind them or shut up and stay away cause your doing my head in.

That wouldn't be an issue if it were just one game but it's every game - I do believe we pay him as a top pro capable of playing well for the full 80 or am I missing something. I'm not being as harsh as the opening poster but he has a point. The rose tinted specs are out again on this one IMO.

You won't get the best out of any player if you just let him off when he makes the same mistake over and over. That Bren is not panic, just reality.

Something I feel needs pointing out is that whilst Mathers is defusing high balls which aint the easiest skill to perfect he also has to be conscious of Mr Fox who can not defend, granted he is a points machine but any half decent side can spot him a mile off and target him so this in turn puts more pressure on our fullback to perform to a higher degree than even he anticipated.

so lets stop attacking our players WE ARE IN THE TOP EIGHT who would have thought that at the beginning of the season.

1.Mariano
2.Big Ali
3.Wood

Can someone name me a full back who hasnt at some point supposedly "cost his side a game"? as i pointed out earlier, what about the defenders who didnt rap Winterstein up and allowed him to get the ball away?? They are as much at fault as Mathers, but no mention whatsoever.
Amor last night, had hands like cows t!ts, the game pretty much passed Sykes by, Washbrook wasnt quite upto his usual standard, Lee Smith was shocking. Jeez it was a bad night at the office, but we won.
RM is a good enough fullback for where we are aiming right now, a regular 6th to 10th finish. If we were looking to break into the top 4 then i would say yes, maybe we need to have a look around but that would also apply to numerous other positions.

If NGB4C had come out with some of the garbage posted on this thread they would be called all the names under the sun by certain posters.

I'm not suggesting he should be 'let off,' but since we aren't his line manager, we have to accept that the person who is will be working with him this week to point out what was good and bad about his performance; I know the individual who assists with video analysis and I can say with certainty that RA covers this stuff in fine detail with each and every player.

In more general terms, I'm not sure what you're driving at - he's a perfectly capable fb who is safe as houses under the high ball, carries it up well and joins the attacking line to great effect. Like many fb's, he's not the most impactful cover tackler and is prone to the odd brain explosion, but he's added more this season than he's taken away. That's Richie Mathers and he's alright by me - I hope we sign him up for next season.

I'm pretty non-plussed by the Mathers situation. I suppose it all depends on who we replace him with if he doesn't sign. I think 'safe as houses' is pushing it about about him under the high bomb but I suppose as a lower team we always have to accept that something will give somewhere in the attack/defence balance

Mathers is the best full back we have had for quite a while.
Get off his back.