As much as i like and admire Mathers i think we need a world class full back. Don't get me wrong i rate Mathers and you won't hear me slagging him off at every opportunity as sally said he's been the best full back we've had in years but imo a world class full back is what we need. Like a Webb or a Hogdson or a Slater. There's no excuse we've got the funds, as i say i rate Mathers but he isnt 'world class' and for our ambitions and our expectations this year and years to come we need a world class number 1.

Salary cap

Thanks for the £100k

We got a decent full back and £100k towards Atkins, who with King has been one of the best centre wing partnerships in Super League - I think that puts us up on the deal.

If this was facebook, I would definatly be "liking" this thread!!

You may have you 100k, after all, it payed for half of Myler, so your very welcome (I would also "like" the thread on this board knocking him as well)

Mathers isn't good enough, and while he has been better for you than he ever was for us, he is prone to costly mistakes. Hence we got rid of him, still as long as you have 100k!

How much did Atkins cost you?? (I can't remember seeing a figure, thats why I ask)

Being honest I'm rather confident with Mathers under a high ball. I think that the kicks from Saints would have been difficult for anyone to take.

And it doesn't mean im proud of it, I just thought it was kind of funny. If Tomkins doesn't want to get squared up to then maybe he shouldnt be such a niggly ?

I must say he doesn't fill me with confidence, he has at least one brain blank per match, usually drops one high kick and if it's a grubber he's reaching for it like a virgin for a large penis. I'm 66 and partly disabled but I could pick some of the balls as quick as him. Admitted I'd probably fall over, but I do think he is a liability think I would prefer Riley. Albeit I am usually wrong cos 2 seasons back I thought Riley had as much chance in super league as my granddaughter. So I'm no expert,

Watched the trys on sky last night, ok Mathers dropped one that Saints scored from, but Riley also knocked on in the in goal area from which Wilkin scored, so neither is exactly blameless

Exactly.

Gardner made errors too, but when you win they get swept under the carpet somewhat.

The 'Wilkin Try', the more I see it, the more I question the grounding.

Yes and yes.

Seem to remember it was Tomkins who started it by acting like a little kid, King finished it about 90 secs later.

He's a half back, and how can you say that when you've got Briers in your side lol.

Cause Briers doesn't go looking for fights like Tomkins?

Riley made a huge blunder last week that led to a try. He made a blunder (maybe too hash a word) this week for a try, but people want him at 1 instead of Mathers.

IMO any fullback would have struggled the other night in those conditions. Our kicking game wasn;t good enough to trouble their fb.

Where have you seen the rties JWP, are they online anywhere yet?

I saw the tries before the Quins game yesterday, SKY+'d it. Saw them a few times, a few times too many in truth.

Exactly, Riley is just as error prone as Mathers, but without the leadership. He might be marginally more likely to make a break, but he's hardly Billy Slater. I actually think, of all our players Bridge would be the most effective offensive fullback that we have at the club, as a third pivot. I was struggling to work out who was where by the back end of Friday night, with each change I got marginally more confused, but there was at least one play that sticks in my head that he ended up in that role and it got me thinking, but that aside, I think he's the best right centre we have, so just stick him back there.

Once we get 'fully fit' (do you ever), I think we need to get back to :

Atkins, King, Bridge, Hicks, Mathers. Riley will be 18th man most weeks.

Agreed. Was disappointed with the changes in the 3/4's on Friday, can only assume Bridge had a knock. After being devastating down the left last week, we didn't even bother using them on Friday. King on one side, and Bridge on the other should be frightening the defences.

Bridge had been ill and had hardly trained. Smith talks about it on Guardian website. [url=http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/wolves/wolvesnews/5073985.Why_Chris_Bridge_was_on_the_bench/?ref=mrHere[/url

It's like reading the Wigan boards from a year or so!

Very true!!! imo though if Mathers had been our fullback this season we woudn't be sitting at the top of the table. Not necesserily because of his defence and under the high ball, but the threat a quality fullback offers going forward.

I'll alaways love Richie Mathers for the comedy value of his attempt on Jon Wilkin at Cardiff the other year. Gettting laughed at by a fellow pro must be tough to take.

He isn't good enough for Warrington, just like he wasn't good enough for Wigan. Smith seems to like him though and long may that continue.

I am not a Mathers knocker and when he came on loan to us in 2002, he looked like ha could develop into a world beater and so did Leeds and the Gold Coast However, he does make at least one or two big mistakes per game, as well as dropping the ball on Friday, Eastmond went staraight past him for his first try, would expect more form our last line of defence.

I also agree that Rilley also makes mistakes but he is still a young lad and could be said to be still work in progress and their is alot about Rilleys game i do like.

I am beginning to loose confidence in Mathers

So why do we get all the young lads who make mistakes


Why do Saints have Eastmond and Wigan Tomkins who stand up yet our youngsters dont

Ben Harrison.

Genetic testing from an early age.

I'm quoting your comment to afford you the opportunity to review, and, consider what you have written.