The Guardian are reporting that Michael has torn his Calf Muscle ! How serious an injury is this? www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... ?ref=var_0

The Guardian are reporting that Michael has torn his Calf Muscle ! How serious an injury is this? www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... ?ref=var_0

That is the same injury that Westwood had FB. Depends on the severity of the tear, but I assume 5-6 weeks.

In answer to my own question, after Googling a calf tear is graded 1, 2 & 3

Grade 1 tear takes 2 - 4 weeks
Grade 2 tear takes 4 - 8 weeks
Grade 3 tear takes up to 4 months plus may need an Op.

Please let it be a Grade 1

It was only a few months back you were all saying he was washed up and finished.

And now our season rests on his fitness. Funny old game eh...

Not me Bro, I've never said he was 'washed up and finished'. Nor I do I think our season rests on his fitness. But he is in great form and we will be a lesser team without him for however long.

On the bright side all our other 'pivots' i.e. Ratchford, Myler, Bridge, Higham are all in good form. And Russell too, though I wish sometimes he'd learn to pass the ball. I've been pleasantly surprised by Bridge lately.

I've been pleasantly delighted with Bridge of late.

I think Russell May have been told not to pass, his distribution is something he needs to work on. Once that is sorted though he could potentially go on to be the best fullback I have seen at the wire.

Its a nice thought CW8.

But I fear his feet maybe too small to fill the boots of Whitehead Johnson Hesford and the odd occasion of Jiffy.

and certainly the best of the lot Hodgson........??

Russell is just playing to his strengths at the moment, power and pace

I don't remember any of these except jiffy, I go back as far as lee penny. I remember a bit of jiffy but I was only young and I don't remember seeing him at fullback. Maybe now my earlier comment had a bit more context?

Hodgson, yes fair enough he was very, very good but I think matty could go on to be that good, just needs attack positioning and distribution improvements. He certainly has the pace which Hodgson was never blessed with, when our line is breached matty offers a safety net that Brett never did (unless he was holding back) in that pace. I do think that he has a way to go before he reaches Brett's all round full back skills but he certainly has the potential.

The most famous fb try jiffy scored while he was contracted to wire was for GB v Australia. He was regularly playing right centre for us at that time.
But he also played 6 and 1.

I really like Russell, he doesnt pass but he certainly makes up for that with his running skills and the power he has is unbelievable given his size!

a fantastic player was Hodgson but imo a player fitting in to that roll as to use his goal attack prowess as a half as opposed to an out and out fb. Brian Johnson was pretty much the best deep attacking fb we've had in living memory I recon.

I don't really want to pick holes in Russell's game but
I'd be honest Iwire. I think we could utilise his runs better as playing him on the wing, from there he would always be up with play being able to take the ball and scoot around dummy half and the rooks. Similar to how Jason Robinson was played at Wigan.

His ball return as a fb is more reminiscent of Stuart Reardon. Too small for taking a contested high ball. Rarely looks at the options of putting a covering back away from defence to attack.
Ratchford would be much better at fb
although I appreciate not wanting to tinker too much in a winning team. Until we can get some forward power drafted back in, at this time it's better to have Ratchford in the half's. We stuttered for an hour yesterday without him and I fear if we'd had played any of the big 3 we may well have lost yesterday. The scoreline flattered us.

I personally think Ratchford is wasted at FB, he is too good a player to be playing there and his overall play is better suited to the havles.
FB is Russells position and I wouldnt bother moving him as he is just going to grow into that position for years to come.

I agree with Irish, Ratch is brilliant in the halves and the first few games of the season proved how he is wasted at FB.

As for Russell, I can't really fault his effort. Sure he needs to improve on a few things but nothing stands out as a huge issue.

I think because Asotasi played alright people just need someone else to moan about.

Almost of the games on the net of Russell in Aus had him playing from wing and taking the ball up at dummy half.

Lol. maybe.
We lacked in structured attack without Ratchford with Bridge. I can't fault Myler's effort yesterday but the line breaks are more opportunistic than balanced.

His first try, the way he noticed the Bradford defender ignore an order and go to the wrong side of the sticks, then dummy, side-step and power his way over in that gap.

I'm glad to see him find some form since coming back.