Can you name a better attacking FB we've had in SL?
Did you go to Warrington away?

Mathers has plenty of faults, but when he's been injured or replaced no one has come close to looking better in that position. I was pretty critical off him, especially last season at times, but he's been much improved and has put his body on the line although some will always see what they want to see!

'Electric' Colum Halpenny was pretty attacking, just not very fast!

Quote: Uptoncat "Won't be Catalans I can assure you of that.'" Mathers has stated that he is exploring “a couple of options” to play in France and the UK. www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport ... -1-6771520

Quote: Uptoncat "Won't be Catalans I can assure you of that.'" Mathers has stated that he is exploring “a couple of options” to play in France and the UK. www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport ... -1-6771520

I thought as part of this debate that I would re-post some of my earlier thoughts on the player on a similar thread. I think they still hold true...

Richard Mathers....hmmm.

I sort of think he's a good, experienced pro who clearly knows his way around the football field, and is able to read the minds of clever footballers such as Timmy. Being able to do that is clearly an attribute and puts you above other players who can't read a player or anticipate a team-mate. Teams need clever footballers to put the shine on things after other, perhaps more cerebrally challenged of their team-mates put in the hard yakka and the grunt work. Harsh maybe, but certainly true - but the true fans love the guys who do the grunt just as much as they love the artistes who put the final swirl on the canvas.

I don't know RM but he seems like a bright guy who has a will to win and loves being part of a successful team and is popular with his team-mates. Again nothing wrong with that.

I also believe that he is clever enough to judge when to put his body on the line, but importantly and sometimes disappointingly for fans, also when not to. To me he is acutely aware that he won't be a pro rl player all his life, and with that in mind I feel he is protective of both his his body and his face, because he wants them both to be marketable long after his playing days are finished. Other players don't have that foresight, they just put their bodies and good looks on the line every week, and the supporters love them for that. That, I believe is why RM sometimes appears a little uncommitted, you just have to ask yourself whether you are prepared to accept his shortcomings for all the other benefits he clearly brings to the team. Quite simply, do the pros outweigh the cons. For me, the answer to that question is yes at the moment - but it's always going to be a close call, he's that kind of player who polarises speccies. Wire fans adore him.

As for the barking of support and encouragement to his team-mates, and the theatrical gesturing to the crowd, that all leaves me a little cold and makes me worry that he is trying to portray a greater sense of commitment to the supporters than he actually feels. It just looks a little forced, but it might be doing him a dis-service.

All things considered I'm ok with him at the moment. I'm sure he'll be relieved about that....

RM said that Webster wanted to keep him but the people upstairs didn't... I am led to believe that this is one of the reasons Agar was fed up. Shoulden't a coach be able to bring in his own players and the 'people upstairs' sort out the contracts??

The coach can have whoever he wants within a set budget. How he manages that budget is up to him. Suppose we could just overspend.........again.

Thanks for clearing that up, I was just using BBC Leeds interview with Mathers.

Daddycool -that's good to hear and I think Dreadnought was remembering times in the past

No problem. I like Richie as a player and a person. But I've no room (or cash) for sentiment.

Well I hope you have someone lined up who can organise the defensive line as it's plain as day that Sammut is not the answer.

Not really my job that is it?

Maybe this is the situation, that the new board don't think he is worth the contract he or his agent is after.
Richie came from Cas and in that first year they were paying part of his contract, he has had two more years on who knows, maybe a lower contract to get his game back on track.
Now that contract is up for renewal, maybe he believes his talents deserve a bit more?
So Webster wants him but the board don't want him on his current demands.
We went through the same with Grix and Wllkes, signed them both from Widnes in admin but when their contracts came up for renewal, we lost them to Hudds and London.
Had good value from Richie but he's no Nigel Wright.
We have been through the throwing daft contracts at players and look where it got us.

I am not fussed about Richie in all honesty, I wasn't his biggest fan. Just wondering if the coach actually picked the players and MC answered so I am happy. Will be getting my ST on 1st September.

I certainly have no say in any player. Unlike some, I know I actually know very little about playing ability, and therefore put my trust in someone who has played at quite a decent level.
My fav player left last year because we couldn't afford him and had to go a different route. So is life.

Err, Ok then. As the man with the responsibility of running the club, i hope that you are satisfied that if you are letting a senior player go in a vital position, that an adequate replacement was coming in.