Just wondered if it compared to Sean Long's book about him getting in to bed with Basil and his wife!

Not read Rads book so can't help you, but i may just have a read if its going to be a bit mucky

He was told he couldn't join in team training sessions, Cas would still have had to pay him as he had two years left on his contract, it would have been pay him every month for doing nothing or buy him out of his two years, as it is you and us have negotiated a deal and we're both contributing to his wages. Millward, no matter how great he thinks he is, cannot just sack a player without reason and without payment. I remember finding it strange reading his tweets in pre-season stating he was training alone, obviously Millward doesn't rate him (I don't particularly either) but the way he was frozen out whilst under contract was a very poor wy of handling things.

And he had a bit of history in the 'freezer' department....remember Keith Mason?

Interesting to me that the majority of criticism levelled at Basil seems to be derived from Richie's Twitter account of things and this single article and based on little else.

I think I will keep my own powder dry and afford a professional club coach with at least 1 CC win and a SL ring a little more credit for his opinion than ours. NONE OF US have the insight and the 'truth' we have a perception from distance based on some media play and some edited interviews.
I have no axe to grind with Richie Mathers, seems a cracking lad to me with a lot of talent, but in my job sometimes, I have to look at individuals, no matter how much I like them for the overall good of what I am trying to create?

It just didnt work out for Mathers at Cas one of the reasons being , he couldnt tackle a good dinner, strange for a fullback. Those at Wakey will be singing from a different sheet when they have seen his efforts in a few tough games.
Just my opinion

You're not giving Basil enough credit.

He won 2 Challenge Cups, 2 Grand Finals and a World Club Challenge at Saints. And then did a great job as an agent under-cover at Wigan



As for Mathers, he may be 'a nice lad' but he's now played in SL for 5 clubs and lasted only a season (I think it was 6 games) with Gold Coast. What does that tell you ? Very ordinary.

I see Betts has told Mathers to 'man up' today. Don't think he'll be missed, frankly.

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I wonder if he said the same to Scott Moore and Stefan Marsh - his own players who made similar comments on Twitter, that mysteriously disappeared the following day?

I would worry about Betts, he was never more than a average player and only played for GB because he played at Wigan, unless anyone wants to tell me different of course.

He's making himself look rather foolish one week into his SL career.

I'l await your views after you have played on that pitch.

Yes it is going to be interesting watching any game at the Stobart, not only will you have trainers running on with water bottles/passing on instructions, they will also be bringing on the grease during stoppages to be rubbed on players knees and elbows.

Unless you take to the field at the start larded up like a cross channel swimmer

While he was no Malcolm Reilly (although he was an automatic selection in his GB teams) let's have a look at Betts' career then.

Lance Todd Trophy ? check
Man of Steel ? check
Young Player of the Year ? check
most caps by a GB forward ? check (30-odd)
Only played for GB cos he played for Wigan ? That was a feat in itself at the time.

He's no coach, that's obvious. But, fair-dos, he wasn't a bad player at all.
What more would he have had to do to impress you ?

Like i said average, just take away the Wigan factor and you have someone like Brett Ferres, i never said he was a bad player just average playing in a good side.
We still to this day see players selected that are favourites within the game, while others are overlooked at so called smaller clubs, do you not agree.

Fair comment regarding Ferres, but I thought Betts was a cracking player in his day.

Maybe i've been a touch unkind/unfair, above average maybe but imo he still only reached the heights through being at the right place at the right time.

Oh god, another polecat discussion thread on the cas forum, you lot are obsessed, totaly

Sorry i thought the thread and other items on here concerning a Cas loaned player to Wakey would allow discussion for fans of both clubs, you may well live in a one club world but others don't.

Now i understand some Wakey fans have been ruining threads on here lately but i would have thought this thread allowed for a bit of interaction.

I dont live in a one club world pal, but continual derailing of threads by wake supporters is killing this site, If your thing is mathers then fair enough,

But you and your fellow posters are now on about ferres and betts, if thats owt to do with mathers then i give up

It may well have drifted away from Mathers due to the comments of Betts, i do apologise for that but i don't think i intended to derail it.

I'll leave it alone and return to the darkside

Apartheid is alive and kicking for Speedy and his pals.

Lighten up chaps - there is life outside Cas!

p.s I don't think Mather was telling lies or is soft (no thread drift from me.)

No thread drift, but your ratio of posts containing the word Cas continues to climb. To quote a well used phrase, "obsessed"!

Not obsessed - interested. If caring is a crime, colour me guilty.