I'd say the game has changed and a full backs role isn't to be a fantastic defender, its to collect the ball and return well giving us a better attacking position plus backing up all half breaks. If we NEED a full back who is a fantastic defender, I'd question why that is and look to change the people consistently letting people through the line

sorry if i have made him out to be older than he is , but i still hold the veiw that hes slow and im afraid that at 29 he wont get quicker .I agree hes a good talker telling people where they should be but my point was he was never there himself where he shouldve been in our defensive line. I agree he was signed by both wigan and warrington as afullback but i still maintain he was realitivity quickley released by both clubs and both sets of fans particulary those at wigan were more critical of his defencive frailties than i.Idont expect every one to agree with me im only giving my opinion of watching rugby league at all levels for more years than i care to remember and i certainly respect all other views and i suppose the mathers saga will run and run Before submitting this reply i noticed maple syrups post ,yea i agree the game as changed its changed in many ways since it started it his to catch and retun the ball and back up breaks thats just another part of mathers game your happy with and i think hes average but come on afullback that cant tackle i cant be watching rugby league please give us a break

I think you are right here, he is great in this "attacking fullback" role. The full back is the last line of defence, often there have been mistakes further up the field for the player to get to there. Its unfortunate he is in a position where everything he does is magnified. I think he does a good job for us!

Totally agree.

I know everyone's got their own opinions and all that but to suggest that Mathers is slow, as well as average in kick return and supporting the man with ball, well they must be watching a different game to me and I'm no Mathers fan. As for tackling, sure it's not his strength but I remember him making some key tackles for us last season, he just needs to improve his consistency.

I reckon Lee Smith this up coming season is going to surprise a few of these doubters and have a very good season for us, all he's ever needed is match fitness and game time and he'll produce the goods.

I'm not a big fan of Mellors, i'd rather stick with Smith.

I'd say EVERYONE has to be a great defender otherwise there will be gaps that the other team will exploit. I got shot down for saying this previously but Mathers was really poor at times last season when trying to tackle and he cost us many points. It was his attempted shoulder tackles that really let him down. I agree when attacking he's a good addition but he needs to work on his defense.

Dear me, you believe that if you want - to mis-qoute John Lennon, he's not one of the best in SL, he's not even the best at Wakefield.

We shall see, but halfway through last year the whole forum thought he was losing us games (and he was) and wanted shut. Be careful what you wish for and how knowledgeable you clearly feel you are

Agree, the role of F/B has changed but the need to be able to defend at this level has not.

There will always be times when a breakaway play happens that leaves the fb in no-mans land; he's the last line of defence and if he doesn't pull off the tackle, he can't always be held solely responsible.

I think Mathers did make a few howlers in defence last season, as did most fb's in SL; some were his responsibility and some weren't but as I said at the time, he's far from the worst and is significantly better than some. He also adds a lot in attack, which can't be discounted.

Overall, I'm happy with him at Wakey.

At no time last season did I want shot of mathers, so sorry fella you are not speaking on behalf of the whole forum, and IMHO Mathers offers us a great deal more in attacking options than a lot of other FB in SL and only looks vunerable only when exposed when the line in front have let him down

Even when he did make a few mistakes last year and people got on his back, I certainly don't remember the whole forum wanting shut of him, I didn't anyway.