I'm liking the fella the more I see him. Could be a good signing for us.

Made an excellent try for George & scored one for himself.

Have to agree, looks like a very good signing for us indeed...roll on 2010

Needs to pass to his Winger more and solid up defensively, though, apparently.

To be fair, that was his first try assist of the season, in the last game!

Am still unsure about him,He is not as a good as King,and on his day Bridge is better player imo

Think you have hit the nail on the head there mate - consistency

Wakey seemed to miss him out and go straight to George, not sue if this happened often during the season but did last night for George's first try! Physically looks very strong, tackled well, carried the ball well and the one pass he could of made he did and it resulted in a try.

I think he will be here long term, cover for King next season and then be a big player for us when King leaves.

For Catalans first try, his position was woeful, King stuff last year. I'm sure that'll be something taht Che will fix up. Whatever he is at Wakefield, or Myler is at Salford or whoever at whoever is pointless, as we've seen with our incumbant squad that they will improve and pretty much become different players under Smith.

You look at say Harrison, Cooper, Briers, Monaghan, King, Bridge, L.Anderson for starters who have developed immensely under him, and their 'weaknesses' have disappeared somewhat.

I just cant see Atkins improving,what we all ready have in .

We don't have a centre who'd have scored that try from his own half last night & shown that pace. King & Bridge have their strengths, but wouldn't have finished that.

I've always had Bridge down as quite pacy. Do you recall the try he scored against us when Fa'afili made his debut at Odsal? Fine turn of pace for about two-thirds of the pitch.

hes one of our fastest players, one of only a few that could score of a break in our own half along with, riley, penny, maybe hicks

Yeah I remember it, scored left hand corner, far end of Odsal.

I think injuries have probably taken their toll a tad, I don't think he has that turn of pace that Atkins showed last night.

Fair point. A snapped achilles may impact, just a little!

To be fair Gleeson never passed to his winger when he was at Saints, we taught him how to be a top class centre hence Fa'afili scoring all of the tries he did outside him.

I allways thought Bridge had some pace about him.King just seems to run at out of stream. I dont think Atkins footwork is as good as Bridges,i would like to see him run the wing.He has the pace and the size,i think you need to be sl winger.Look at Hall at Leeds and Gardner at Saints all big 6ft lads.Even in union the wingers seem to be 17st and bulit like a big house.Maybe thats what Ts thinks we need a big powerful pacey winger

If Atkins is known for not passing to his winger by FANS do people not think TS will see the same thing and teach him that sometimes he should ?

Centres usually are a bit greedy, doesn't the centre have to come in a little to draw players to give more room for the winger sometimes getting tackled without being able to release in the process.

Bridge i rate because he's capable of actually muscling his way past people rather than drawing 2 men and passing

Atkins isn't quite as big as I thought he was; 14st 7lbs isn't that heavy for a player who stands 6ft 1". Bit unsure about him, seems reasonably strong and quick but lacks good evasive footwork.

Do you not think that John Kear would?

He's no different then Matt King is for us or say Kirk Yeaman for Hull, you're never going to get that classic centre play that you get from the likes of Senior and Gleeson or even Bridge. They're not suddenly going to get the ability to create the space needed to put their winger in at the corner, it comes naturally.

I don't particularly rate Atkins highly, but realistically you can't have a team of guys you rate highly, I thought he had a good game last night and will be happy if he plays like that all year as he will have beaten the expectations I have of him, which at the moment is to have a similar season to what King has had this year (minus contesting the high kicks).

I think it's going to be Atkins at left centre with King on the wing, you are replacing like for like really, they are similar players but Atkins will offer us some much needed pace on that left edge while King's best asset - contesting the high kicks, will still be there.

My only worry is a left side of Louis, Atkins, Myler and King could be very fragile.

he looked a big boy when i saw him at Wembley.

I did think he was a heavier bulit player than his weight stats suggest.

Deceptively big and deceptively light. Who knows, I agreehe looks a biglad to me, I think he'll turn out to be a good signing.

At the unveiling Tony Smith described Atkins as still being raw.

Much more to come then if that's the case.

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tkins.html atkins having a wrist op instead of playing for ing-erland

www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... tkins.html atkins having a wrist op instead of playing for ing-erland