I actually felt for Chris Riley when he lost the ball over the line as you could see that he was distraught, he wasn`t the reason that we didn`t win the game as it was the fact that we wasn`t good enough over the 80 minutes that lost us the game in being out scored by 5 tries to 3 and failing to capitalise on a lot of posession.

All players make mistakes and it happens to the best of them, its how you bounce back from a mistake that makes you a better player. I`m sure in a similar situation again that Chris Riley would have a stronger protection on the ball because a defender in that situation will always try and dislodge the ball just like Colum Halpenny did to Pat Richards last year in that controversial Wakefield v Wigan game.

Its all a learning experience for a young kid just like it was for Kevin Penny after the mistake he made at Leeds which lead to a try but he has bounced back from that and they will both become more wise with experience.

Chris Riley does have a bright future and can only get better with more experiance.

Keep ya chin up Chris

If we hadn't have conceded more points than we scored, we would have won.

Of course it isn't Riley's fault. If anyone blames him for it, they need a slap round the head from Warringtons most famous ginge (forget Chris Evans)

Having watched the game I can honestly say that we didn't deserve to win it. We tended to play in spells rather than for the full 80 as usual. Chris Riley shouldn't be made a scapegoat as the team as a whole didn't play well enough.

What I will say is that in my own personal opinion Chris Riley doesn't have enough attributes to make it with a SL club that has serious aspirations of silverware. Yes, he has pace and I'm sure the determination however, that isn't enough in todays game. You only have to look around the league at some of the top wingers to see what is needed.

I saw it on the super league show the lad was unlucky but dont forget he is only young and he will learn from mistakes like we all do

Oh the irony.

don't get me wrong the boy is young but at the end of the day you don't drop the ball over the line trys win games last minute or the first just got back the fans was fantastic as always can't wait for next year

Beat me to it.

He's no scapegoat but he should have scored. I don't buy this learning thing, holding the ball is a given at any age or level.

As said previously though, he looks to have a bright future, mistakes happen, move on. Much higher paid, bigger culprits than he in the scheme of things.

Riley isnt the first player to do this for the wire this year and shouldnt be made a scape goat. The lads young and has a good future ahead of him. I just hope he gets the chance to prove it.

Will he be dropped from next weeks squad though?

Depends who's back, Gleeson etc.

I know what your getting at ( Barnett ) but I think if it's same injury news, it's same side.

Not just Barnett though JWP - Sully was treated like a criminal for a dropped ball incident, people went nuts when he did it in the play offs last season, calling him a liability?! However Im sure because he's 'home grown' erm.... talent that he wont be dropped despite the game being their for the taking.

Biggest disappointment for me was that our "full strength pack" which was supposedly going to be the fear of the league this year, were imho second best .........by a good way to the French!

Riley should have scored............but didn't. We all make mistakes!

Henry knockers take note, next time you say "all he has to do is put the ball down"...........

It was a p!ss poor error, I agree.

Other than that, I agree with the poster below. We've alot of our salary cap getting eaten up in the pack at the minute, to come off 2nd best in a rough house, slog of a game hurt the most. It was set up for the Morley's and Rauhihi's to come into their own and boss the game. I thought the likes of Ferriol outshone them.

watched the game back at the hotel in the morning and i thought mozza had a good game always willing to take the ball up what i don't get is waine does 3 to 4 high shots every week and still gets in the pack parker runs hard tackles well and still sits on his

And of course he was blaimed for us losing to Wakefield this year due to his dropped ball.

He was completely at fault then. The game hinged on his mistake. We'd just scored back to back tries and he handed back the initiative to Wakefield which they duly accepted.

I like Sullivan as a person, but as an RL player which primarily is why he's here let's not forget he's been an expensive mistake. Terrible.

Riley on the other hand, did pretty well to get himself into the position to make the error. He could see the headlines, shame for the lad.

Exactly W.O.T.T..... and I doubt very much Riley will be removed from the starting line up other than Gleeson returning.

Can understand the last paragraph but as has already been mentioned with a full cap we should be able to win againist certain teams. Instead for past couple of seasons we have been losing games by one mistake or one late score etc, and my point is the team is good enough that one mistake shouldnt be handing games to teams.

Your previous posts seems to blaim him, or ar least partially for the defeat



Anyway im not going to order a lynch mob on Riley for dropping the ball, but not going to pat him on the back and buy him a drink and tell him its not his fault, there is a fine line between having a bad day and getting the job done your paid for. We should be winning and considering Catalans are doing it with less money to spend on the cap we have to look at what they have that we havn't, and yes that goes right upto the top.

He is totally at fault for the error. No doubting that, what i've said during this thread is, that had he scored, it would've only masked the facts of what was another pretty abject performance. The pack were outgunned, which they shouldn't be by lesser counterparts.

Chris Riley is not the reason we are struggling at present, he's young, enthusiastic and still making his way. The only annoying thing that I find is that people let off his mistake as he'll "learn from it", what does that mean, anybody should catch the ball, reach out and score. Having watched that moment at least a dozen times, the only thing that I can conclude is that the opportunity came too quick for him, he was in effect running at pace and it hurried him.

All through this thread, I have resisted putting Riley forward as a culprit, all I have done is highlighted that it was a poor mistake.

JWP - Sullys dropped ball at Wakey did have a baring on the game and its result but you cant change the stick you hand out your beatings because Riley didnt score. Should Sullys dropped ball not be down to a silly mistake? The end of the day, had Riley plonked the ball down we would have won by the same token had Sully not dropped the ball we woud have won.
Not saying ALL of the blame is on Riley but as you poined out, a number of characters produced silly errors (inc Riley) that had they not we would have come away with a win.

However as you pointed out, the bottom line is we were out enthused in the middle (again). This is where games can be won or lost. The halves need the forward momentum, Stacey Jones had this - Briers didnt have the same yardage to operate under (although he did make a good fist of it).

Fundamental difference for me is, Sullivan v Wakey - He switched off. A crime in RL, a crime for a seasoned pro who's played week in week out in the toughest comp in the world. Riley was merely over zealous to get to the ball, if he'd relaxed, he'd have scored. Both mistakes, v.costly, just different in my opinion, although I take your point.

Totally agree with second half of your post which agrees with my post, so let's just agree to agree on this one.