I can't believe Noble has dropped McIllorum and let Riddell waltz straight back into the team after being injured and McIllorum playing so well against saints.

Equally why do we persist in playing 1 out football, 5 drives and a kick.

And why doesn't he ever drop some of his favourite players who are underperforming, like Smith, Coley, Mathers who need a kick up their ??????

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Maybe it's about time a few fans on here and on another site started to look at what is actually happenning rather than what they spouting pre-conceived rubbish.

Theres one escaped, anybody got Winwicks number?

I really don't know what to say in reply to this one lol.



Maybe the original poster would like to give us his assessment of Mark Riddell's performance today?

Hahahahaha,
Are they on drugs?

Are all of your 1147 posts as informed as your latest contribution?

me thinks hes having a dig at those 'in the know' who have suggested that piggy would be in the side instad of macca. and also at the fans who persist in the rumour that we still play 5 drives and a kick.

... i believe hes supposed to attempting ironic posting


just not very well

I dont know what to say.

I know it's late at night and some people may be a little bleary eyed, but I'm obviously taking the p*ss out of all the indignant fans who were slagging Noble off for recalling Riddell in place of McIllorum bfore the team sheet had even been announced.

The same fans who still seem to think we are playing the same boring rugby as last season.

The same fans who believe that Noble will ALWAYS pick the same players regardless of form.

do i get brownie points for spotting it ???

I agree with your point.

And it has to be said if Mcilorum continues with his awesome defence and all round industrious play in the weeks to come, I struggle to see how Riddell will get back in at this moment in time. On the other side of the coin, I do think in the upcoming games we could use Riddell's extra bit of canny and creativity around the ruck.

Interesting selection issues all over the place.

WTF

Riddell is still injured.

Will be interesting to see if he gets a spot when fit. At the moment its all one off performances though. If we go off todays game Tommy should be nowhere near the 9 shirt next or any other season.

OK you are attempting irony but I don't think you will find anyone said Noble had dropped McIllorum but were speculating that he might.

The reason they were speculating he might was because there have been plenty of examples over the time Noble has been here of him sticking with his favourite players and overlooking others. Or do you disagree with that?

Today Noble got it right but don't be so quick to say "I told you so" as there is plenty of scope for him to revert to type because as we all know good form doesn't guarantee you a slot in the 17 as Ainscough being dropped shows.

Personlly I think the irony is drawing attention to McIllorum being picked ahead of Riddell as a good bit of coaching when numerous posters on this board had written him MM so they could justify a Riddell / TL hooking partnership! You all know who you are!

Dave

God you are arrogant. Since you spat your dummy out for months over Micky Higham leaving then id say your the worst judge of hookers on here so you may want to lose your typical arrogant tone that you achieve so easily.

Do we go with Riddells better organising, passing and greater speed or McIlorums punishing defence and sniping dummy half runs, or do we have both in the 17.

If we have both then we probably can't have Smith and Tomkins in the 17.

Over to you Mr. Noble.

Nice problem to have really. When you think that, a couple of seasons ago, the problems came whenever any one of our first 13 got hurt and it was a case of "bloody hell, who's gonna fill in for him?"

I think, similar to the situation with Ainscough, its whether to have an Aussie in over a Young player. But unlike Richards being ahead of Ainscough I think it is McIlorum who has the better of Riddell at the moment and deserves his place. To outplay Cunningham and Roby is definately no small achievement and deserves its rewards until he starts putting the bad performances in. Sorry Riddell, I can see you sitting out the next few atleast.

Tough call. We may see Sam sit a few games out I think.

Don't be such a prat. The thread was started by someone having a ironic pop at people who said Noble would pick Aussies over UK players. As I said I think the irony is the example he picked to do this was hooker where for the past few weeks McIllorum has often been labelled as the inevitable casualty due to not being good enough as we ought to be going for a Piggy/TL hooking partnership. Now unless you think this didn't happen WTF are you on about now? It's OK for the o/p to start a thread having a pop at people with one point if view but not allowed for others to have a similar pop at people who wrote McIllorum off?

Some of us have consistently pointed out in all the games he has played this season McIllorum has played well. He has played very well in the last two games so the fact I and others were not so quick to write him off just might mean we do know a little bit about RL hookers.

Dave

Mathers?

Once again you come across like an arrogant know it with some kind of special knowledge of all things.

I am not concerned with what did or didnt happen regarding hookers. I never could decide what the best combination was and have always been a fan of McIllorum but thats not to say im writing Riddell off as you seemed to do as soon as you knew he had taken your Mickys place.

WTF i am on about is the way you always have to come on and claim a victory and point out how you was right. You never seem to be so sharp on the keys when you are wrong and instead go into hiding or just not reply when somebody proves you wrong in a thread.

The way you said 'you all know who you are!' is typical of your obnoxious 'i am always right,you are always wrong' attitude.

I'm glad to see that the sqaud was un-changed and hope he does the same again next week.

As I've mentioned before, both McIlorum and Riddell are typical starting, solid number 9's and IMO it's one or the other. The main difference between the two is McIlorum is much fitter and is taking the line on, and he is doing it very well.

For those reasons, he must continue to start and Riddell should IMO have a spell in the reserves as fellow first team ''regulars'' such as Roberts, Smith and Hansen have done.

Pot, Kettle, Black.

He seems like a nice fella, Riddell, but his fitness is evidently poor. Whether this is due to injury or because, like so many of his countrymen, he came here thinking it would be a doddle and instead has found that he's way off the pace, I don't know.

I suspect that he won't be selected for a good couple of weeks now, and with luck will put his fitness right as a matter of urgency.

Kudos to Noble for not picking him ahead of the in form McIlorum. I think that surprised a few of us, pleasantly.