Just seen that Matt Blaymire has won 'Players Player of the Year'. And whilst he has been a consistant performer, I also feel that he doesn't make enough ground when returning kicks in play. This was highlighted by Shaun Briscoe who was outstanding before he went off injured on Saturday. With a more attacking approach, an extra 10-15 yards could be added to our attack and give players like Brough and Obst a greater platform in the oppositions half. This may be an area which, with improvement, could take us to an higher level.[/u

your right, lets go and get billy slater.

mat blaymire is our highest meter maker and a very different player to briscoe, but still a very good one. and its his team mates who really respect hat he does.

Have another watch of Obst's try from Saturday. See Briscoe attempt to make a tackle.
I know this might be an unfashionable point of view but in my opinion a fullback should be capable of making a one-on-one tackle, particularly on the smallest player on the pitch.

hes what?

It's not often our defence is breached to leave a one-on-one. I appreciate the job Blaymire does for us, but just feel if we are serious about becoming a top side, then full back is an area we could strengthen. With extra pace, it could be easy yards.

So, just to be clear, a fullback who is solid defensively when defending kicks and line breaks, has good positional sense and offensively is one of the top try scorers is not enough? A top fullback needs 'extra pace' as well? Someone should tell St Helens...

I agree, he has had a good season. But watch him return kicks against Catalan this weekend, and see if you can see what I'm getting at. Maybe I'm being greedy, but after a top five finish, I just want more!!!

You don't think he is one of the best in SL then?

I would say he is in the better half of full backs, and if he could add those extra yards to his game, then probably one of the top three. He just seems to have a tendancy to run at 3/4 pace when maybe a sprint would be more benifical. Briscoe was causing massive problems for us on Saturday by doing exactly this.

Personally i dont think you could ask for much more from Blaymire . Positionally he is spot on and it is not often that he drops the ball. His job is to sweep up any line breaks and to catch the ball from kicks through. He does this very well. In attack his support play is decent and although he doesnt break the line regularly he does a great deal of hard work that goes unnoticed by some it seems.

Is he not the best full back we have had for years. This is Wakefield remembers. Some people are getting too carried away!

maybe you should apply for the player performance manager post. I can just imagine the impact of your revolutionary idea for improving performance on Mr Blaymire. Imagine getting to his ripe old age, having played for clubs in the Northern and Southern hemisphere and he has to log onto fans forum for the tip that sees him leap into the hall of fame - run faster please Matthew.

Seriously - no doubt he would be a better player if he ran faster, but I can't help thinking he runs as fast as he can when he, in his professional judgement, believes it important to do so.

Maybe I am, but after our highest ever finish in my lifetime, I reckon I'm allowed to be optimistic!

On a postitive note, does anyone reckon there is a coach out there who could do the job that John Kear has done at the club? Personally, I don't think there is. In the entire game, I don't believe there is anyone better suited to each other than Wakefield and John Kear.

I was initially doubtful about Blaymire's impact on our attack, then a few comments from Sky and my Dad who I was watching Saturday's game with changed my viewpoint. As an adult, I feel that is possible - some may not!



Blaymire - I have always felt is an average fullback, does enough to make a difference, not like Platt letting in defensive cockups week in, week out.

He does a 3/4 pace-ish return of the ball and tries to look for gaps.

Briscoe tries to do a faster return but gets injured more often.

If Blaymire did a faster return more often and got injured, we have very little back up. He is being squad-wise responsible in returning the ball and preserving his place in the team. He is also realising that he is just the start of the ball back, not the total product.

Sky mentioned that he is one of the best British fullbacks, and if you look at the other teams then yes he is... surprising though it may be. Wellens, Webb, Briscoe, Richards, Hodgson are in the top 6 with him. So is he in the top 3 British fullbacks without us realising it? The table says so.

I am happy to change my mind about a player - how many of you are?

Players player award says it all for me really - they tend to know what they are talking about. Could also be that he contributes to the performance of the team in more ways that simply what he does out on the pitch.

Who is the back-up full back? Would say Grix at the mo, but if and when he leaves who would provide cover/competition for Matt Blaymire.

totally agree, i think that is the award to be cherished the most. apart from super league 2009 winners that is

As the squad stands, I think that the only realistic option would be Aaron Murphy (providing he signs a new contract) as he has played FB in the reserves occasionally.

There is a rumour on the Wigam forum about full back Vievers coming to Wakefield on a season-long loan.

If you are recieving a kick from say the oppsoition 30mtr and you are on your own 20mtr, what is the point in blasting back at full tilt if when you are tackled all your team mates are still in the opposition half, and you have nobody to play the ball to?? Watch Matty properly.........when the support is there, he runs it harder and faster. He only runs it in steady to allow his team mates to reposition accordingly





He has had a great season IMHO.

i would venture to say the Briscoe gets injured more due to the way his body position is rather than the speed he runs the ball...and he's unluckier.

ROFL at the criticism of Blaymire

Check out the respective stats on Blaymire & Briscoe on the Engage site, I think you`ll find Matt come out better on balance, and he`s been our only ever-present, while Briscoe has missed 6 games.

You can always pick fault in someones game.....but Blaymire is better than good at all aspects of Fullback. He of course could be even better at some but he has time to improve too.
Wouldn't swap him for anyone else at the moment.