I know it's a different sport, but it's took Wayne Rooney 5 years at Man Utd to develop into the footballer that he is now. At 24, they're now seeing what a talent he is on a consistant basis, rather than just glimpses.

I guess we can be pretty confident that for the time Smith is at the club, lets say 3 years, he's got one of the best coaches to learn from, so he couldn't have a better chance of blossoming, as the likes of Ronaldo & Rooney have under Ferguson.

May i ask a question?

You all keep saying he's just a kid and time's on his side and that's fair enough but how much time do you give him?

You Wire fans are an expectant bunch and if this time next year or even the year after his game hasn't developed how long will you prevail with him for?

Well by that time we will probs of bought a number 6 to fit in with the way he plays if he's not setting things up enough.

Lets get one thing straight though the lad hasn't played badly this season.

Comparing Myler to both Tomkins & Eastmond at this stage is a little unfair.

Both Tomkins and Eastmond have had an apprenticeship in a professional, and, the majority of the time, successful environment where they have been surrounded by top class players, who have been able to take plenty of pressure off their shoulders and where they have been able to develop their talents steadily.

Myler has spent his career so far at a second rate level, where he has been the big fish in a tiny pond....Learning from those who are of a lesser talent is not ideal for a youngster, but that is what Myler has had to endure.

Now at Wire he is having to do the learning that Tomkins & Eastmond have been able to do in previous years....Unfortunately for Myler he has a huge price tag on his head!!....Realistically, I believe it will be at least next season before Myler is anywhere near the other 2's present standard, and a good while before he is at his peak, but I have little doubt from what I see, that Myler will be a pretty decent half back in years to come.

Myler's made a very good start to his Warrington career, especially considering he's a) 19 and b) played 7 games. We've won 5 of them and he's scored in most. He's been in and out a bit but so have most of our squad if you look at it properly. It's also worth remembering that he's been playing with a makeshift halfback partner for the most part.

To listen to these bitter Reds, eagerly waiting for Myler to fall flat on his face, you would think that Myler hadn't been playing well. He's been doing fine and will only get better with better players around him.

I would hope that he would be a club man like Briers who we can build a team around for the next decade, but knowing Widnesians, once they get in superleague I expect Richie to some time or other wanting to "go home".

Excellent post.

This is the opposite of an excellent post.

This place makes me cringe at times with some of the knee-jerk criticism that goes on. The application of common sense is mostly at a loss on this forum.

It's because the average IQ rates similar to the temperature outside.

Not taking a dig as I've no doubt Myler will go on to be a good player. However, I got slaughtered on this board during the 4 Nations for saying exactly what you lot are now saying; that he isn't an organising half and how Tony Smith's "needing someone to move this big ship around" comment was ridiculous and did Myler no favours. Someone has compared him to McGuire at Leeds and I think that is a fair comparison. His main strengths are his pace and ability to back up a break. The comparison goes further in that Leeds suffer without Sinfield for exactly the same reasons that Warrington suffer without Briers, and that is because neither McGuire's or Myler's (nor Burrows' to a lesser extent) main strength is as an organising half back.

I remember Wayne Rooney not scoring many goals at 18-19. Whilst Michael Owen was scoring for fun. The moral of the story is...........

Why are people so blinkered in these situations? It is like comparing a year two apprentice, to a year three apprentice.

Cos it's lazy scapegoating.

Hanley is quite simply the best British player I have ever seen. No one, Andy Farrell, Paul Sculthorpe included has come remotely close to him in this current era (in my view).

I think Jason Robinson is the closest to Hanley in terms of overall effectiveness. I agree, though, that Hanley is the stand out British player of the past 30 years.

If we compare where Eastmond and Tomkins were at the same age as Myler currently is we perhaps get a better sense of where Myler might actually stand.

So at the same age as Richie Myler is now Tomkins had yet to make an appearance in Super League whilst Eastmond had started 7 games with a further 13 appearances off the bench. He had weighed in with 10 tries.

Myler by comparison has started 24 Super League games scoring 16 tries. I won't mention Championship appearances and awards or international caps.


Perhaps not yet the time to write Myler off then?

Lets face it he's crap overpriced we should of got Orford instead Smith out.

Richard Myler
Super League appearances 24
Tries 16
Assists 18

Hope you boys aint planning a Penny like lynching for youg Richie?

Though luckily some of you seem spot on IMO, the stats above prove that! Richie has stepped up to the mark every time he's been asked too... 1st joined Salford led them to NL Treble in first season as a first teamer (only two games for Chemics) got international cap that year and was excellent (allbeit opposistion, but still) Salford get promoted he get's the nod as chief playmaker and again was exceptional... internationals again did very well.

Just as he isn't scoring or creating every Wire try doesn't mean he's pants! I think this year he'll ease in and next season he'll be a top star... was gonna have a flutter on SL top try scorer this season meself but wasn't sure!

Comparisons with Tomkins & Eastmond...

Well IMO Richie is a 7 the other two are 6's! And long term for England I think it'll be Myler + 1 or maybe Eastmond @ FB!

The other two are known for line breaking, stepping in side to score etc, Myler is known for support play and organisation (hence the 7 / 6 remarks). I think Richie has the better control of the play and his distribution and kicking game is also better. (though the other two are working hard in that area).

Tomkins & Eastmond have been bred in different teams used to more pressure from support and media as well as playing with World class players and set ups from day 1! It's a lot differnt playing for a lower side usually on the back foot all the time to playing for a side expected to boss games and entertain at the same time.

Myler & Briers IMO is a great combination (though I hate to say it!) so for when Briers leaves you should look for a similar player who runs the line well and creates the match winning passes etc whilst letting Richie run the show in the middle of the park... Once he gets used to the players around him more he'll start to pick up on confidence and play more freely!

(bit long winded but hope get my jist!).

Good analysis J20. The lad is young and will continue to thrive with better class players around him. Every time we make a break, Myler is first to see the potential and back up.

That's a very good post and a pretty good point you make about kyle and tomkins relying on pace and losing that as they get older. I was thinking the same thing other day about when kyle is older and lost his pace, but longy was the same. Longy used to rely on pace but was class act that just changed the way he played as all great players do.

IMO both tomkins and kyle have the class to change their game if they do one day lose there pace.

I reckon we give him until Salford are back in the Championship. By 2012 he'll be one of the best scrum halves in Super League.

Will everyone in Birchwood return to supporting Warrington then?

There is no "moral" to this story. However, it's true to say that every dog has its day in the sun.

Just on the £200K vs 12 years argument, there are no guarantees beyond his 4 year contract.

Sam Tomkins is already becoming a much better allround player. He is top of the try assists at the moment.