Fair enough but i'd rather not use first time matches as a way of building his fitness and getting his form back. Its no good saying "oh look someone else has gone in for a try and ran round Mathers as if he isnt there, but its ok he's had an injury." The point is he shouldnt be playing in the first team.

Exactly, he will get a chance, but if he doesn't take it, it could be the end of his career at Wigan.

when you come back from ligament injuries a player is obviously fit to play the game opposed to it braking down but it takes a year to 18 motnhs(sometimes 2 years) to get full movement forward, back and lateral, balance also takes time as well as confidence and you can only get this playing first grade.

but as a fan i totally see where you coming from but i think mathers has a lot to offer the game.

I've always found Mathers to the kind of player who looks very nervous under a high ball and unlikely to stop an attacking player in a one-on-one break.

Worrying traits for a fullback.

I thought he was a good signing when he first arrived, on a well thought out contract which gave us control over his future. He seems like a decent enough lad with great enthusiasm for the team but IMO he's just not good enough.

Pat should be at FB with Roberts on the wing on Sunday.

Let's just hope he does a complete U-turn in form, as Paaaat did after his first season with us. Although I've seen no evidence of him doing that yet.

To be fair to the lad he seems slightly more confident at the moment compared to last season in some respects (taking the ball on the volley on most occasions instead of letting it bounce all over the place) but then other times he just scares the cr@p out of me (dithering when he's got the ball behind our line).

Proper Wigan word that Robyn

If you can tackle, you tackle. If you have guts, it stands out a mile. He can't tackle, and his lack of guts stand out a mile.

Give him another 5 seasons, and he'll still be gutless.

Stick Richards at FB, we have people to cover the wingers spots just fine.

Not trolling here, but it seems that over the last few seasons a fair number of your recruits in the backs have failed to fulfil their initial promise.

Hard to say. Richards and Carmont have. Trent did.

Must not play for Wigan again until he can dominate Reserve matches consistently for several weeks.

That said, I'd be ecstatic if he went on loan for the season.

How this guy gets on the team sheet week in week out is unreal

He's a dirty no good waste of space

He cant tackle,he cant score and he's got no bottle the only thing he's been consistant with is being ****

And all you guys who say give him time come on and say it cause you cant back that up now

Always was, always always will be crap, you can do far far better than him.

On a lighter note....You're back!!!

Been busy mate not had time to post

Text from the game says that Mathers didn't have a bad game - he was fu£$ing Abysmal!

One good game last season v Leeds, and that's about it I think. Not a full back, not a RL player. Top waterboy though!

Should not have had his contract extended yet Noble did.

Should not have played today after his poor showings in the friendlies yet he did.


Can you spot the pattern here?

Mathers takes Matt King's head of last year and the whole rugby community pleaded "He's not that kind of player"

Pathetic, he's had more yellow that the Arsenal away shirt.

I think Richie Mathers deserves a knighthood!

As expected Riddell knackered after 15 minutes too.

Mathers is the only guy in SL that makes Wellens look like Bolt

Mathers
Coley
Bailey

3 players who continue to be a waste a space week in week out, why should anyone be suprised by the standards witnessed today i'll never know.

As Noble stated, players will be picked on form this season. I fully expect these three to be missing from the Hull game next week.

Mathers is a lad without any confidence. However the booing of him prior to the game was pathetic.

That being said, time has to be called on him. Roberts to FB with Goulding back in next week. Or even Bailey to centre. I dont care for those who want attacking rugby, we need a defence first.

Didn't Do Too Badly For The Mighty Leeds Rhinos...

Didn't notice any?



Even if there was I think today proved it was completely justified. He was hopeless last season, yet we extend his contract?

Proved a good move so far from Noble and Lenegan.

I think that was aimed at the decision to put him on the pitch not him personally

All 3 were and are truely awful and shouldn't be anywhere near the side next week. Nobles team selection today was woeful and his unwillingness to ick anybody who's not below the age of 25 or foreign is a shambles.

Mathers jas no bottle whatsoever and doesn't want to command the situation like a fullback should. To think i had pipe dreams that we may see a Richards style comeback from him