He's also one of the very few British backs to have had the guts to try the NRL. It didn't work for him - IMO he just never had the running game required to be a star fullback and perhaps should have looked at moving to stand off - but I'd never diss him for trying.

I like the fact alot of people get wound up like a spring at just the thought of him.

His roll round on the floor with Sinfield was lovely.

He was also a bit of a sitting duck when he was on the edge of the in-goal area and we smashed by the 'wild dog off the leash' style of Ryan Bailey.

I thought it said steak at first.

His injury was very unfortunate

Wasn't there a flying ablett aimed at Mather as well.

It was a few weeks ago and mathers was involved in a scrap. It was on telly and taller was the ref. on the refs mike Richie said. "he hit me first, I power slammed him though" taller replied good for you.

Bit like fox and kylie scrapping. That was amusing

Kylie should hang his head a little, arms were going, but what connected?

Bit silly to get into that, imagine picking up a needless ban at this stage of the season.

Fox's face had 'GULP' written all over it.

When Richie went to Gold Coast it was shortly after his mum had passed away. He's got 2 younger brothers and looked after them whilst she was ill, so moving to the other side of the world must have been especially difficult. He came back after injuries and for family reasons, can't fault him for that.

As for his time back, he never looked settled at Wigan and when Wire signed Hodgson there were a lot of eyebrows raised as Mathers was being talked about for the end of season internationals.

He's the sort of player you like cos he gives it everything. We talk about it being a tough sport so why whinge when it's played tough. He was hardly dropping on people with knees. The Kylie incident was a bigger shock. Even he looked shocked afterwards. But he summed up the game when he went straight to Fox after the whistle and gave him a hug

Quote ="thebloodbath"Kylie should hang his head a little, arms were going, but what connected? Bit silly to get into that, imagine picking up a needless ban at this stage of the season. Fox's face had 'GULP' written all over it. '" May have spoke too soon: www.therhinos.co.uk/news/20366.php

Quote ="thebloodbath"Kylie should hang his head a little, arms were going, but what connected? Bit silly to get into that, imagine picking up a needless ban at this stage of the season. Fox's face had 'GULP' written all over it. '" May have spoke too soon: www.therhinos.co.uk/news/20366.php

Mathers isn't a dirty player - he's had a couple of comedy dust-ups in our two recently televised matches, but that's far from the story of his season.

Apart from the odd brain-fart, he's been great for us this year - don't know what the future holds for him but I think most Wakey fans would be happy to see him retained.

He's on a fair whack at Cas. Would he have to take a big cut?

I have no idea.

did paul wood receive a ban for his blatant punch to the face of carl ablett at wembley?
if i remember correctly he only had a grade a offense to answer and now cannot enter another guilty plea,whoopy do


the disciplinary committee must be the most inconsistently run panel in the whole world of sport

They do seem to make things up as they go along

I didnt say I did



Just wondered where this side of him has come from as it wasn't seen at Leeds

He doesn't have that 'side' to him - as I said, I think you're forming a mistaken belief based on a couple of scuffles in two televised games; I can assure you that Richie Mather is not our enforcer!

As it happens, WTW are the only team in SL who haven't received a single yellow or red card all season, so I guess we don't actually have an enforcer.

Does Ryan Bailey have a gig sorted out for next season...?

Mather isn't a dirty player or a scrapper, he wants to win, he isn't the best player but I certainly liked him play at Leeds and wouldn't boo him as some did. It didn't work out is Aus but he give it a shot and you can't fault him for that. He always to me comes across well in interviews.
Good in attack, makes mistakes in defence but always give 100%

Yeah I like Mathers a lot, he has his faults and like vastman says has made a dropped a couple of clangers but all in all he's been solid under the bomb and returns the ball well. Also feel he's a good example to some of the younger members of the squad with his professionalism and 100% effort every game.

I agree - the fact that any Leeds fans would give him stick or boo him because he dared to chance his arm by and test himself in Aus is frankly embarrassing. He's a good pro, seems a decent bloke and is a Leeds lad.

I'd also add that people seem to forget that he was doing pretty well in the NRL until he had a recurrence of the serious knee injury that had ended his Leeds career.

Yup. I seem to recall his Gold Coast team mates being gutted at his injury too. Can't remember what but they all got together and did something for him before he left for England

He's a good player, his one on one tackling is poor but he'll not often take a backwards step. I found it embarrassing when the Leeds fans booed him on Saturday

Can you answer MJM and explain why you think he has a dirty side?

I saw nothing to get my panties bunched.

Always got the impression that his infectious enthusiasm was one of the intangible things that stats never tell you, and a lot of squads would be pleased to have him around.

Displaced by Hodgson at Wire, no shame in that. Still a good player in my view. Did well at Leeds, never going to be a megastar, but he was superb in the 2004 Grand Final and always gave it everything. No idea why anyone would want to boo him for his time at HQ.

Think Mathers' passion just boils over at times. EG his celebration for Wakey at Cas this year and his reaction in front of the Leeds fans as he went over in the cup final (only for it to be disallowed).

To be fair, Mathers had been copping abuse from a vocal minority of the Cas fans all game - and he hardly went mad when he scored that non try. If Griffin had gone over on Saturday, I would have expected him to rub our noses in it also.

Yep, the boos on Saturday were ridiculous. Big fan of his- think he attitude to the game is to be credited in all honesty.

me neither.