Is it me or is he getting worse and worse every game he plays. I remember the first season we signed him from Wakefield, breaking tackles, great defence, good speed. But now I've not seen that as of yet. What about the time where he stole the ball at the KC last game of the season that got the ball rolling to finish top. For me he's getting worse and worse each game. Bring back Blythe from Bradford or replace him for Bridge when he's fit or even give young Evans a chance.

Has the best offload statistics in Super League www.superleague.co.uk/player/2162 Are you any relation to Hesford?

Has the best offload statistics in Super League www.superleague.co.uk/player/2162 Are you any relation to Hesford?

Quote ="Builth Wells Wire"Has the best offload statistics in Super League www.superleague.co.uk/stats Are you any relation to Hesford?'" Ok number 1 make sure you get the correct page up. The last thing I wanna see in the morning is the name Sam Tompkins. Bad enough with sky rubbing one off over him. And number 2 when have I ever critise the team? If I make a negative post about a player who is just not playing well does it mean I'm related to another idiot on here. Grow up little boy I think you should re-read my post again.

Quote ="Builth Wells Wire"Has the best offload statistics in Super League www.superleague.co.uk/stats Are you any relation to Hesford?'" Ok number 1 make sure you get the correct page up. The last thing I wanna see in the morning is the name Sam Tompkins. Bad enough with sky rubbing one off over him. And number 2 when have I ever critise the team? If I make a negative post about a player who is just not playing well does it mean I'm related to another idiot on here. Grow up little boy I think you should re-read my post again.

I have edited my link to help you.
PS. There is no "P" in Tomkins

There is an element of truth in this; can anyone really say he is developing as a player?

The forum exists so that individuals can discuss given topics. On this forum and others like it, individuals are castigated for raising a negative thread. Atkins has been poor recently and as an International class centre we should be getting more from him. My guess would be that as we approach the the CC games his form will recover to the class he is. If we are to believe that he will go to Yawnion soon he will want another medal. I have said to my counterparts since our 2009 CC win that this team will not win the SuperLeague Grand Final. The current team appears better suited to Wembley and the CC. The long hard slog and the manic games at the end do not work for us. Each year since 2009 we have gone out of the play offs with a wimper. The Grand Final was no exception.

bobbins

He has been very poor this season. There's no getting away from this.

Blimey, 3 years and two posts....worth the wait

he has been awful this season! hes done nothing, yeah he might be top of the offloads list, but he is also more or less at the top of the mistakes list, i wouldnt mind if he was producing magic like last season, but he isnt, he doesnt seem interested, same as riley, he has been shcoking this season and neither deserve their places in the team, but because we have no-one else they still get played.

Rhys Williams back for Saturday? At least he's not this weeks scapegoat.

Perhaps the key is their perceived combined lack of form? It can't be coincidental that they are both suffering at the moment and I use the word suffering because I can't believe that either is happy with their own form, or simply don't care.

It's not that long ago that Chris Bridge was the target, now he's the missing link (I could reph that but you know what I mean). Yes it will be good to have Evans and Bridge back and with Briers returning and thereby Ratchford offering options along the back line, TS might just be able to get some competition and rotation going.

Bridge or Evans did not play yesterday. So they are not ready to return yet.

ryan atkins @rararyan85

Thanks for all the abuse last night! I'm well aware Im not playing my best yet but its not from lack of trying! Stick with me! #whenitcounts
8:17 AM - 18 May 2013

He tweeted this after the match on friday...

I don't think anyone is trying to scapegoat anyone here. In fact, I don't think anyone is ever trying to scapegoat any of the players.

Some people have opinions on player's performance levels and like to discuss their concerns, but I have never seen anyone pinpoint a player and say 'he is responsible for that loss/our recent performances'; I've never even seen anyone insinuate it.

I will concede that some comments are a crass and, in my eyes, unwarranted, but this forum exists for us to discuss the team and the players.

For what it's worth: I think Atkins has been on a downward slope since the game against Hull at the end of 2011. Maybe he s bitter that his monster of a try didn't even get a try of the season mention...

I don't think that's the reason as he's not a six year old child.

This form problem is a confidence issue in my opinion. It stems back to losing so much weight over pre season due to his shoulder op, ad having a stunted, and quite frankly, rushed pre season.

He went from being a wrecking ball, barging players out of the way and running the rest of the way untouched. That form came from a full pre season (elected not to play for England) and a winter in Aus where we had the most advances pre season of all.

If we had enough fit centres, Bridge and/or Evans I'm sure he would have had a rest (he did, kind of, during the Salford game) to refresh him and wipe the slate clean. I'm sure he will recapture the form we know he can produce, let's try not to make a 'King' out of this situation.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions ,i'm another that thinks its more of a confidence thing with Ryan..But the people that abused him on Twitter are a disgrace and won't help the situation at all...

Can I just point out Mr Atkins, #whenitcounts is #everytimeyouputonaprimroseandbluejersey.

Love it !!!!

Ryan Atkins is a top player, he is a confidence player though and needs to be handled well to get him at his best.

He has long spells of being destructive, and when the team is doing well, Atkins is usually doing well too. When he is out of form he tends to get stuck in a spiral for a bit. Obviously fans having a go at him don't help and probably prolong his dips but hey they will make up for it by kissing his booty when we next win a trophy.

Atkins isn't a newcomer having second season syndrome when you wonder if he is actually up to it or a flash in the pan, he was a very good player for Wakey and he kicked on a level with us and has done it regularly on the big occasion so the quality is there it is just a dip.

There is time for us to play him in to form before the business end of the Challenge Cup and the playoffs so stick with him I say, there's nothing to be gained from trashing one of our best weapons.

At Man United guys like Mark Hughes and Andy Cole are regarded as Old Trafford legends but they went through spells like this where they were out of form and their heads went down and they brooded on it for a while, a good manager like Fergie always got them through it.

I think I'm missing something r.e Atkins, plated quite well I thought. I'm amazed Riley escapes criticism. Shocking defensively and isn't that great a finisher, constantly cutting inside rather than backing himself on the outside, he got mullered several times by Linehan as well.

All wingers cut inside unless they are within 10yds of the line, if they get pushed into touch they give the ball away via the scrum. Lineham is a big unit and a bit quicker than Riley so Riley had to use his brain when he had the ball. Watch Joel on the other wing, inside every time except when he can see the line or has clear ground in front. Only players with exceptional pace use the outside regularly. Riley and Atkins are confidence players and feed off each other. Positional play in defence particularly at the line is letting Riley down at the minute.

If #whenitcounts is how people interpret it, maybe the regular season lack of intensity it doesn't matter if we lose attitude is filtering to the players.
If so that's going to really hurt the sport.

Danny McGuire said something very similar after we played them at the HJ this year. I guess they don't live in a bubble and they read the trade press etc, some of them probably look on here too, though I hope they swerve it. The 'win it from fifth' thing must get into their head, but lets remember it is nothing new. I don't for one minute think that any of those players go out not wanting to win or achieve their individual targets set during the week with the coaching staff.