I think I saw him actually run with the ball about twice, and the guy is no where near fit enough currently to play hooker. AJ said that he'd been injured since the leigh game so maybe that's why.

Maybe he does, Or maybe he could just get off the Barry Ward diet.

One of the reasons we are so cr@p at top level is this obsession with "running from dummy half"

Where has the craft gone from a ball playing hooker

(I've just read that back to myself).

IMO we have too many hookers who are failed scrum halves.

I don't think we are obsessed at running from dummy half, as you say, it's more to do with the defences. Last season, Phil Clarke, pointed out why teams run from dummy half, and it's basically because once you get around the two markers with a dummy, there is a great big gap to run through.

Now, as simple as it may seem, 1 player being put into the gap behind the markers would stop the running from dummy half. But, the players only run, because opposition players are offside from a break or simply because of that great big gap, and they think they can get through.

I've noticed a few times since Clarke said that, that there are gaps behind the markers, and that people with a good dummy and pace off the mark, players such as Roby, Burrow and Pryce, exploit this gap.

The hookers aren't failed scrum halves as you say they are, they are just capitalising on poor defences and thinking on the ball.

Yeah you make a good point there, The top hookers can do both. Riddell's distribution was good, but his actual movement, defence, fitness and general ability to stay on the field are all sadly lacking.

He's not that bad mate. Sure, he's no world beater, but he's better than Jon Clarke.

Blasphemy!

Who? Mickey "Can't pass, Wont pass" Higham!

That's the boy. But according to Mick and Montmorency he will be the best signing for any club for this season.

How long till the next great "saviour" Sam follows them?

Maybe after Moore, Tyrer and Smith return to Saints.

I have a feeling that Sam will play for Wigan this season before Easstmond plays for Saints.

Thats because Eastmond has Long in front of him whilst Tomkins has some overpaid Australian no mark in front of him.


How did Riddell get the nickname 'Piggy' by the way? Did this not ring any bells with Wiganers when they thought about signing the guy?

Ancient and Loyal.....the end is nigh.....keep the faith.

Is thatbecause Eastmond is injured and our half backs aren't as bad as yours?



IMO, Moore may well be back at Saints next year, he looks to have upped his game enormously this year and 12 months being coached by an ex hooker in Brown will do himn the world of good. Yesterday, he looked better than I've ever seem McIlorum play.

Scott Moore did an outstanding impression of a ball playing Hooker yesterday.
20-30 yard quick passes to the halves.
As a result Robinson and Brown got lots of room to work with which made their halfback play more effective.

I note you dont mention Gary Wheeler who yesterday made the first team and scored a try.
Wheeler is of course younger than Sam Tomkins, has Long and Pryce to compete with in the halves, compared with Smith and Lulu, and yet has played two SL games to Tomkins ZERO.

When he was a kid his dad was in the police force. That's what Riddel says anyway.

LOL I had forget about them

So far we have had...

The Coyle Brothers....crap

Goulding, who had to wear a rain jacket everytime he played due to the mass ejaculation over him from the wigan fans. Now look at him, never hit the heights that the wigan fans thought he would and they hate him. WHat a difference a couple of years make.

Then we have McIllroum, someone who looks like he could be a decent player, something like a Malcolm Alker. Yet again, suffered by the mass expectation placed on him by the wigan fans who had him on some sort of pedestal as the greatest hooker of all time before he had even played a game.

Now we have Tomkins. I hope for englands sake he bucks the trend and establishes himself as a top half back.

Didn't he play in the reserves last week at Salford.

Potter says he's 3 weeks away from 1st team rugby.

No I didn't, but I didn't mention Sean Ainscough, Lee Mossop or Chris Tuson either.

And I didn't bring Sam Tomkins into the discussion.

Eastmond is injured. He would have played yesterday had he been fit.

not all of us mate, we are just a side at presant.... we would struggle to break wind never mind a tackle.

I have saw patches of him and was surprised by how poor and unfit he looked. Lets face it, when a commentator -as was remarked on GMR- states "he looks like he needs to spend some time in the gym" there must be something wrong.

Until now I have jested with you, because of your steadfast refusal to look facts in the eye where Wigan are concerned, and your determination to supplant this with some sort of Orwellian dedication to the party line.

I do agree with you that Higham is the sort of player who reveals the flaws of SL - both froma playing and a rules perspective. He is the very symptom of that crashingly boring style of play - the quick scoot.

Acknowledging the need for balance in Australia, the powers that be quickly allowed more 'dominance' in the tackle which put an end to the most part, of crappy scoots which a schoolboy could do, followed on by a surrendered tackle to get another quick PTB in.

It is a malady which has helped stiffle creativity and take it away from Higham and you will always see poor distribution at the heart of his play.

ROFL

agree with everything you say there bud tbh.

DRINK !!!