What do fans think about Fitz being replaced at fullback, i think he deserves another contract, been talk of Patten coming in, but why replace Fitz for an older player & he has had a pretty good season for the team not let us down he clears the line from the kick & always backing up in the line.
He made a couple errors in 1st couple games but been reliable since. Think other positions need sorting before a fullback for next season. Fans forget he had a career threatening injury & took time to get back & fair play to him for doing it.
Think his try saving tackle against Dorn at last weeks game said it all, Phil Kinsella said on the radio it was "tackle of the season" for him.

I've said the same about both Littler and Alker, yes he's played really well this season, but if the club is to move forward these are the sort of players we need to be replacing. If your happy to just be a mediocre club and yo-yoing between the super league and the championship then fitzy is the sort of players we should be keeping. i like Fitzy don't get me wrong, but we need to be aiming a little higher if we're going to be competing in the top 8 surely?

Harry Totally agree I think he's in the top 4 players we have had this year with Holdsworth, M Smith and Sidlow plus i think he's been ever present must be worth another 12 months.

M.Smith



Have you been watching a different game, i think he's been really poor. Passes to the floor a lot, can't tackle and has a poor kicking game.

I think Fitzy past his best and need to get rid next year as well as Alker and Sibbit also Jeremy Smith.

must have , not saying he's the finished article by any means but he can tackle ( for a half Back ) , he can kick - he tops the 40/20 kicks, so not all his attcking kicks are duds- Joint second try scorer and he has improved as he has got more game time & confidence. so you'll to put in the ' Smith camp ' although you are of course welcome to your opinion

I'd be OK with Fitzy still being with us next season, only doubt is his fitness , he has had a fare amount of time on the physio table over his career with the Reds, think his best season with us was 2006 though .
It maybe that he has other plans ?

Fitzy - Luke Patten? Fitzy - Luke Patten... Hmm?

Oh, wait a minute

, PATTEN!

Yeah granted he's kicked a few 40/20's, but watch most of his kicks they go right down the winger or fullbacks throat every time, his passing is very poor look back on our games and count how many times he finds the floor with a pass (Watch this point in particular for the remaining games) and as for his tackling its woeful IMO, I've just been watching highlights from a few of our tries conceded throughout the season and Smith has missed some stinkers. He's had two good games all season saints at home and saints away he played ok for me he's done nothing all season. Of all the tries he's scored this season I for the life of me can't think of one that he's actually created, his support play is good granted and that's why he has scored so many. the hat-trick against saints was just a case of being in the right place at the right time if you watch it again.

Because the 'older player' is a miles better fullback?

I think that's harsh. His kicking game has been excellent at times but has struggled when the pack hasn't created the space but even behind an often beaten pack he's been the best kicker we've had for years in my opinion

I do agree though that his passing has been disappointing and too many have hit the deck. His short kicking game has created a good few tries and there've been a few chip overs with Fitzy/him/Holdsworth running on to them. Overall i think he's done well and got better as the season's gone on without being sensational very often. He certainly merits his place

Bit of honesty here Matty smith is SHIT*e you name me 4 games he has played good in and not passed it into touch, or missed the est of tackles ever (eg hull away). I have seen many players at the willows over the year but im sorry smith as some as you may know i can not stand him! Take holdsworth when he was injured what the did we create then? What happens in Holdsworth gets injured bet year we relay on Matty smith again don't make me laugh!! I will quite gladly stand next to anyone who thinks hes good and point out how many miss passes mistakes he makes a game, im sorry but i cant stand him.

As for your Fitzys, Littlers, Alkers etc as much as they might of played OK this season if SALFORD RUGBY is to move forward we can not keep these players on! Fitzy has bin ok don't get me wrong but he is still that couple of yards to slow! People will slag me of for this post but if there as good as every is making out we wouldn't be3rd from Fuc*ing bottom would we???

I don't mean to sound negative here, but M SMITH is poop,, but apart from him if salford need to move forward as a club we need to get rid of some dead wood.! Alker has bin a legend, So has littler but time to move on folks.

Fitzy hasn't been too bad this season,but let's face it,he isn't going to get any better.As others have said,if we are to move on this is one position we must improve.
The few times i've seen the reserves I've been quite impressed with Eddie Vaughan and it may be worth giving him a shot for the rest of the season.I also think that Ratchford would make a cracking fullback if he was prepared to give it a go.
Unsure about Matty Smith,had a couple of good games but his defence can be woeful at times.But he has time on his side and with hard work by him and the coaching staff I would hope that he could improve to become a decent Half-back partner to Holdroyd

[iShaun McRae has already hinted that Ratchford could find himself playing full back next season for the Reds.
[/i

Jesus all this talk of keeping Fitzy, Littler, Sibbit et all, now weve gone and signed Holdroyd again we are going now where as a club!

Why do we do this? We keep saying get rid of so and so, but whats the point if we can't get anyone better? I honestly can't see us getting anybody better than Fitzy, who has been pretty good this season. Even if we get Patten, he is older than Fitzy and there are no guarantees he will be any better, plus we will be looking for another fullback shortly afterwards because Patten can't have many more years left in him. Keep Fitzy.

Have you seen Patten play?


They are mor or less the same age? (well with the exception of 8 months!)
Fitzpatrick – 13/09/80
Patten – 09/01/80

Different year at school

I have seen patten play and there is still no guarentee he will be any better than Fitzy, he wouldn't be the first player not to make it in Super League for us. I'm just saying we are probably best sticking with what we know. Fitzy is reliable and has offered some good options in attack this year. Patten won't come cheap and I feel the money would be best spent elsewhere, like on somebody to replace Alker.

And OK so they are similar ages but 8 months older is about a seasons worth.

Whilst I have no problem with us trying to improve the team surely the first thing that needs to be resolved are the areas we have no one playing at next year. IE Hooker & Centre. If we can get these sorted, in particular the Hooker then we can see what budget is left for improvements.
As for Fitz he is fairly solid, if not spectacular, and could we go out and buy an improvement, probably but is this the best use of what, is always, a limited budget ?

My Alan would agree 100% with redhope, use finances available to strengthen where we really need to.
Definitly think Fitzy worth another year at least, & new players dont always gel, ie, Matt King etc.
Dont think Fitzy has done much wrong this season & we need some new forwards, hooker & a top centre to replace Talau, they appear priorities

Sign Patten and play Fitz as hooker/back up hooker problem solved!

Knew you would see Al's point

Hudds were moaning about Brett Hodgsons age when he came over and hes 2 years older than Patten. I agree we need centres and a hooker but Patten is world class

Think Fitzy deserves a contract next year also think Littler does, think he has been given a new lease of life in second row this time around and has looked good for me. with regards to Matty Smith, how can we have a scrum half who can't pass one way??? beggers belief!!