and theres the problem.
we have to wait till MM comes on to have a tackling hooker.

its an hookers job to follow the ball all over the park for the offload and to get ready for the play the ball.
its also his job to tackle owt that moves in the middle of the park in defense.

riddell isnt fit enough to follow the ball, and after bending down 5 times to get the ball from dummy half hes too knackered to tackle.......if he can tackle......im still not convinced he can.

I never said you had an agenda, i do read your posts as they are generally good. I was asking for jacks opinion on higham not yours .and where did i say anything negative about Mark riddell .

Apologies
It wasn't meant to be directed at you, it was a general comment about speccies being anti Riddell after only four games.

Think you need to watch the game again mate. That was Hansen.

THANK YOU SIR

Got to give him time. I have to say I am not impressed so far. I think he could have an issue with the speed of the PTB in SL as it is much much slower in the NRL as they throw more men into the tackle and the wrestle which slows it right down.

Im sure he will find his feet and settle in well once he gets going....interesting post from Rogues earlier that even though Piggy has not hit the ground running he has still made less mistakes and given away less penaltys than Higham so he is at the very least an improvement on higham so far.

I have seen enough of the pig in the NRL not to be worried. I think it's worth remembering how a large section of the fans wanted rid of Pat Richards to go after half a season. Give him time, he has the class and will come good.

I think people can accept that ad I hope he is gunna be a good un. The problem I have is if he isnt fit he should be gaining match fitness in the reserves, not plodding about in the first team looking like a slug. That is one of the things the reserves is for

Have the Reserves had any games for him to do that yet? Personally I'm happy to see him in the 1st team.

Yeah they played last thursday. He is clearly not fit s why should he be taking up a place for someone who is?
Admitedly McIlorum was suspended for the quins game

He's a better player would be the main one. Like I said, I'm happy to see him in the first team, whether or not anyone else is doesn't bother me.

Noticed Piggy isn't attending Wigan V Bradford on Facebook events. Lets start rumours.

Just watched it again up to 59 mins

First was Richards second was Hanson from a hospital pass from lockers 3rd was Lockers will view the rest of the game again later

No they didn't.

I've just watched the game again from start to finish and Mick and Montmerency NEVER comment on Riddells passing.

I'll stand by my original comments that Riddell had a good game.

I suggest you watch the game again.

One thing I did notice is that we conceded three tries on the last tackle.
It would be interesting to see how many last tackle tries we have concede this season.

90% would disagree though. He was only brought back on because it was Smith or Riddel and he won that battle. Wigan were a better team without Riddel than with him. You seem to have a real problem criticising Wigan.

I agree with Rogues, I thought he pulled us round the pitch well for the time he was on. It was a very controlled performances and although nothing special i thought he did well. He took his scoot options well and his delivery was spot on.

He laid the platform for TL to add his extra zip to the position when Tomkins came on.


Saints often look better when Roby comes on due to the extra zip he has at the play the ball, it does not mean they are a better team with him on the field for the full 80 though.

Not commented on this thread so far, as I think its way to soon to comment on him in a Wigan top. But i cant believe some of the criticism he is getting. I did listen to a good interview on 5 live two weeks back with Edwards. He was asked about the form of one of his players not being up to what was expected, his reply went along the lines of "It takes a player 12 to 13 games to gain full match fitness" Add into that its a new team for him I fully expect him to take more than half a season before we see the realy Piggy, assuming he stays fit.
We as fans do this every year, expecting all the new players to start like the star we think they are. Some do, some don't, some never do. Time will tell.

Watch the game again and concentrate on Riddell. His passing was good maybe one pass to TimSmith was high, his tackling and slowing down of the opposition play the ball was good, and he made some good runs with ball in hand. He played about 50 minutes of the 80.

I don't have a problem with criticism at all provided it's constructive.

I've criticised the likes of Coley, Higham and Gouldingetc but always given reasons i.e Highams poor discipline, the way Coley ambles into tackles etc.

Agreed, having seen the game a few times the control and movement from the players running off dummy half was orchestrated well when he was on, a fine contrast to Micky's horror show the night before where he looked as though he'd arrived in a comedy exploding car. The contrast of Piggy and Tommy works well, especially with Tomkins coming on as they switch to alter the tempo of the game.

I have and did. He's far too slow to get into position, he bends down like an old man, he offers no threat as a runner, he does not draw defenders before passing to runners. He passes the ball better than Higham but who does not? He is only playing half the game at best so he should be putting everything into that 40 minutes.

Brad Drew gave Riddel a lesson in how to play hooker in the first game, Shaun Berrigan and Ryan Hudson both outplayed him. Chad Randall dished out another beating. This is a player supposed to be at the peak of his career and yet what has he done for Wigan thus far? The longer he stayed at Parramatta the worse Parramatta became.

People talk about time. Even now Roberts is showing hints of class. Smith even had some great touches at Hull. Sadly his defence negates any good he can do. Riddel at the moment is down with Mark Reber.

Are you also going to tell me that Riddell didn't pass to the Invisible Man on at least two occasions?

has riddell píssed on your kids or something? he's played 4 games for the club, 4 games with injurys! Cut him some slack for gods sake. Hes not even playing that bad either!

Mick it's fine - Warrington will eventually win soon.

Well said