Mathers

[cpwigan]

Jesus, your a liability.

Is that any way to talk about your own son

[ian.birchall]

Hock did not miss a tackle. Fielden did but he and his fellow forwards were otherwise outstanding.

Phelps and Smith both missed tackles

Watch again the second Dragons try just before halftime, he should have tackled the centre before he slipped the ball out to the wing, for me that counts as a missed tackle.

[doc]

Ashton scored for Saints vs Wasps at the weekend.

[GeoffN]

Ashton scored for Saints vs Wasps at the weekend.

That'll please turf...

[cpwigan]

Jackoh I love you You can be in my gang

Fulbacks should be amongst the highest paid players in every team. The position is now far more important than it ever was. Hooker, Halfback and Fullback are the 3 key positions.

As for fullbacks. There's an aboriginee called Walker at the Titans. He's young. I bet they would loan him for a season. He is amongst if not the fastest player (s) in the NRL. His main forte is attack. He would go better in SL than the NRL.

Think some of the comments on Mathers are a little bit harsh, sure he's no Radlinksi, Steve Hampson or any of the past Wigan greats, but I thought he was excellent against the French last sat.

He took a couple of big hits returning the ball, scored a decent try and covered well on the French kicks.

Most of the time all he could do was take the tackle when returning the kick.

Of course he should have done better for their first try but all in all he did well and I think he can do better.

I'm pleased he's staying on at Wigan.

Alas I am not. I think many of my fellow Wiganers have become so desparate for success that any glimmer of form is welcomed when the reality is Mathers did nothing very bad but equally he did nothing exceptional. If we are to get back to where I and I think everybody else wants then players like Mathers are not good enough.

Doug he is not taking the tackle. He is getting hammered and dragged around like a rag doll. Taking the tackle but setting up a fast POTB is what Slug Wellens does so well.

[Wigan Watcher]

I would say we are playing with a fullback next year but only just

[highland convert]

Could it be said that his shortcomings are being highlighted because he is being tested by the fact those in front of him have already failed at their task. At what age did radders, wellens etc reach their peak. If all you can do is matc his shortcomings against the best he can't be that bad. Trouble is the guns are out. If a mistake was not made we would score on virtually every set and never concede a point. Every missed tackle is pounced upon. Wha about complimenting him on the many he did make.
I would say he is up as far as Ashton in his final year. The year before is the one you remember. His final year you wanted him out of the camp as soon as pos.
JIM

[GeoffN]

Could it be said that his shortcomings are being highlighted because he is being tested by the fact those in front of him have already failed at their task. At what age did radders, wellens etc reach their peak. If all you can do is matc his shortcomings against the best he can't be that bad. Trouble is the guns are out. If a mistake was not made we would score on virtually every set and never concede a point. Every missed tackle is pounced upon. Wha about complimenting him on the many he did make.
I would say he is up as far as Ashton in his final year. The year before is the one you remember. His final year you wanted him out of the camp as soon as pos.
JIM

I wouldn't go as far as to say I was glad he's staying. As far as measuring him against the best, I don't think we need to; the fact is, he doesn't meaure up against Wellens, Webb, Greenshields, Platt, Thorman, Briscoe, Hicks, Tony...

I'm still glad he seems to be improving, though, since we seem to be stuck with him.