Rich Whiting has always been a popular player, works hard, fills in wherever asked, Mr Utility we called him, would never let you down we’d say. However it is now becoming clear that week on week we are now seeing a very different Rich Whiting.
I asked him back at the 2010 player of year awards if he would be staying with the club after his injury had cleared up. He said - he hoped so but really wanted to have a crack at playing in the back row. He felt centre was not his best position and certainly not winger. But he did the job as he’d play anywhere.
In 2011 he never got his wish and Agar played Rich as Mr Utility once again.

But this season what a transformation. We are half way through the season and he is not only growing into the role, he is excelling. If these already high standards improve further, and he can retain his well known consistency we might just have a back row diamond on our hands. Gentle saw enough in Rich’s footballing brain to play him in a more pivotal role against Leeds and he fitted into that role impressively. Like he’d never played anywhere else. He can be a workhorse or he can be a footballer.

I do not want Willie Manu to leave, he’s got star quality and the X factor rare in the 2nd row. However he does sometimes go missing in a game and can have spells in a season where his form has raised question marks to his consistency.

I believe that Rich Whitings transformation into a top backrow forward has allowed PG to do a major re think. In fact I believe that Rich Whitings all round game even now, is worth more to the side than Willies, and he’s getting better !
I believe also that a fit Westy will be behind Rich in the back row pecking order.

I believe a back 3 next season of Ellis, Tickle and Whiting will be a formidable trio, and if Joe can raise his consistency levels to match these 3 which he will have to do if he wants a starting spot then we have something special. That’s without including Pitts and Aspinwall who’s own performances have put pressure on all the aforementioned.

Had Agar given Rich a sustained run in the back row I think we would have seen him as a better player but not what we are seeing now. I believe PG is the man to raise a glass to. In the same way he has raised everyones game individually and as a team unit, he has given Whiting all the tools necessary to become something special.

For me Whiting is no longer a fill in after the 13 are selected. He is now a player of real quality and will be one of the first on the team sheet even without further improvement to his game.

I’m not just singing his praises after the Leeds game as he has played well all season, But his performance against Leeds was special. Having now watched it and him umpteen times I have to say it was a performance of real class. He was an inspiration, a go to player, and I felt he grew in that game to someone the rest of the lads were looking to for a lead.

Having put him on a pedestal I hope he does not blow up in the seasons 2nd half. But with his consistency I do not see that happening I see him improving to a level where pound for pound he will be one of the outstanding backrow forwards for the next 2 or 3 seasons.

He's reliable, versatile, committed and his effort cannot be questionable but he hasn't got that star quality IMO as he lacks speed and strength. Although what I say might be controversial but he wouldn't get into any top 4 team and I would rather it be Whiting that wanted to leave then Manu.

Top bloke, safe as houses but my head thinks if we need to be a top team we need top players that can change games. He is not IMO. Also people say he is versatile which is a good thing but I rather have a strong starting 13 with youngsters that need to fill in when others are out injured.

So what you saying his top draw defence and ability to offload and intercept to either prevent or create a try doesn't count.

I think Whiting is a cracking player and just because we picked him up from Featherstone, he flies under the radar and hasn't played for a top 4 club people really under value him.
Instead of just critisising him for a lack of speed why not appreciate his contribution to the team and IIRC Leeds did enquire about him.

In the past when he intercepted he was on his own and always got caught, now there is always someone with him, a sign that we are at last playing as a team. I like Richard and would give him a deal ASAP, he always gives 100%. Will always remember Castleford away a couple of years ago when he was the only F.C. player who tried. Fantastic rugby brain.

Rubbish. Whiting would walk into any 'top 4' side as a utility player alone - there's not a better one in SL. And even if you count him as a single-position player he'd have a good shout of at least a squad place as an SR/LF.

i get what your saying, but in my opinion he wouldnt be in the starting team every week at a team such as wrie/wigan....

Whether he is from Feath, Leeds or East Hull makes no difference. I think he is a good player but personally I think there's better players about with more strike power. He can offload but I can name a lot of players that we are capable of signing with better offload skills, speed and strength. He never puts a foot wrong but IMO doesn't offer too much because I don't think he's dangerous with the ball in hand as others including Manu. Do you think Whiting would get into another top 5 team at second row or loose? I'd rather spend more on a quality second row and have a youngster as a back up then having a couple of average players. That's why Warrington, Wigan and Saints have been successful. Got rid of the average players and have a good mixture of youth and class.

He is versatile but I'd rather have a player focused on one position and have youngsters as back up if injuries occurred. It gives no confidence in young players if a utility player is selected in there main position. He is reliable and save but I'd have Manu and the majority of second rows in SL over him any day. I am not saying he is a bad player because it takes a hell of a lot of effort to make SL in the first place but I think he doesn't bring enough to the table for a top 5 club. If we want to be aiming top 4 we need top players that aren't just reliable and versatile.

I think you're underrating him by a significant margin. And no matter how many youngsters you have coming through a genuine utility player gives you an extra flexibility with squad and bench selection that's invaluable. Whiting can cover pretty much any position on the park and we can move him there [iduring the game[/i to cover injuries if necessary. You can't carry enough youngsters on the bench to give you options like that.

And if you genuinely believe that the [imajority[/i of back row forwards in SL are better than Whiting then I suggest you haven't been paying attention to some of the distinctly average players currently making up the numbers.

Back rows at other 'top clubs' I'd definitely have Whiting ahead of:

Farrell
Tuson
Lauaki
Faiumu
Ferguson
Blythe
Solomona
Mounis
Gossard
Clough
Dixon
Delaney
Kirke
Clarkson

Plus a few I'd also lean toward Whiting but it's closer:

Fa'aologo
Raguin
Wilkin
Flanagan

This myth that teams have 17 'class' players and then youngsters backing them up is peddled far too much.

Whiting has had half a season in a more central role after filling in at centre and wing for most of the last few seasons. In that time, he's shown he can cut it with the best. He's been 'very good' or better in most games and a stand-out performer in the Rovers and Leeds games.

Anyone saying he doesn't offer enough to be part of a top 4 team needs to look at the Leeds game again. He won the Sky MOM, the club MOM, and the MOM as voted for on here. The more time he gets in a pivotal role, the better he'll be.

A player such as Whiting cannot be judged on how he performs solely against the elite in any given position,though as Kosh mentions he'd be not far shy in the back row dept anyhow. That he reads a game so well is very very consistant in his performances and his seemingly innate ability to cover every position means he would be a regular in any SL team. That in itself reflects on the man and if he had another yard (okay maybe two..lol) of pace would have been classed as a freak.

Anyone who was at London when he broke his leg [ Didn't he later break his arm? ] cannot fail to be inpressed with his battle back to fitness and subsequent improvement DESPITE the previous regime. For me he is playing the best RL of his career this season. As has been mentioned - Mr Gentle knows a thing or two!!

Apart from Wigan, Whiting would walk in to any team at either 11,12 or 13.

Even then its close between him and Hansen.

And he'd easily make the bench for Wigan too.