Was it Clarke that stated the other night that Blythe was the 7th centre we have used this year?

I know we will have a new 7 next season (I believe I have read something about one anyway), but the importance of a first class replacement cannot be underestimated IMO, as for me, that is the real area where we have been weakened when we have had an injury. Our forwards have generally held up well when the young lads have come in, but with players like Blythe and Anderson in the three-quarters, you really weaken your attack.

That said, there will be times when everyone will be fit, so as above, it is a very tough one. I had a quick look at the stats again, and the lack of assists from both King and Atkins is worrying.

You would expect at some stage of the season Wakefield would have worked an overlap for Atkins to simply hand the ball on to his winger, yet he doesn't have a single one to his name. Gleeson was good at this, and Bridge also has 10 to his name this year.

We have seen this as a real weakness in King's game. Against Salford, he went 90m with support both sides of him, yet got caught a metre short. That really shouldn't happen. For me, King's strengths are equally suited on the wing, provided we have a decent centre as replacement. My worry is that we have often been told that Atkins doesn't pass, and tbh the stats back that up.

Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
King
Riley

Reserve: Atkins

Expensive reserve!!!

Not really, as he would get plenty of game time.

It's a 17 man game.

Atkins has taken a lot of stick from some of the wakey supporters for his failure to pass on occasion and it's an area of his game to be worked on, but i'm sure he can improve upon it (and it's notable he's offloaded a little more in the past few games). What he will give you is power and pretty good pace - he's very strong in defence (especially near the line), will help out on occasion with some great drives and a strong finisher.

99.9% of wakey supporters are gutted he's leaving and clinging to the hope Millard is as good as he looks in highlight clips on you tube!

i like Bridge as a player, but for me Atkins is a cut above at centre and this signing will improve your team and probably weaken ours.

Dave, i can`t see Ryan Atkins coming over here to be a bench warmer or a squad player. I`m that confident he will be a starter that i would put money on it, he`s not the type of player you would have on the bench as he is a specialist centre, he`s not like Johson, Grix or Clarke who can fill in for quite a few positions. Usually your bench is 2 props, an impact hooker and a utility player, i wouldn`t class Atkins as a utility player.

One thing that does concern me and its a point you raised before, neither Matt King or Ryan Atkins are known for being creative centres, both rely on strength and power to break tackles, Matt King`s assets are close to the line where he can use his size to go for high balls and use his strength to crash through tacklers from short range, Ryan Atkins strengths are in his power to break through tacklers and he has pace to finish from distance but neither are noted for drawing tacklers in and slipping passes to their wingers.

You find a lot of right wingers will play left !

It's all about passing! Fron RW you spend your whole time passing right to left (usually jsut from dummy half of course) and it's the same at left whereas at Right you pass more to yor left etc etc!

Dind't Wakey move Atkins to RC at some point this season? And for a simialr reason? He passes least than any other out and out in this league but his best running is on the left but can only pass really to the right... or soemthing along those lines!

I agree, it's what I'd go with as opposed to what I think will happen.

I think Riley has really proved himself this year, and he deserves his spot, yet unfortunately he is likely to be the one who has to make way.

The saving grace is the fact that Bridge is your reserve half, and will probably be called upon during the season, giving Riley plenty of opportunities.

No.

Yes - And he got killed defensively by Senior.

Live on Sky Sports 2, also available on HD2 Channel 408.

Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
Atkins
King

that is how I'd expect us to line-up if we have a fully fit squad next year.

Didn't King refind his form out on the wing when Grix was playing at left centre?

Unfortunatley sky sports don`t seem to show everything in HD, i wanted to see that wasp attacking Stevo in HD but i think Eddie stamped on it before it got the chance





Thats how i think we will line up as well, King is a good target man for both Lee Briers and Richie Myler`s kicks, we would have a big, strong left hand side, time will only tell how good the defence will be on that side.

If Atkins is left handed I would presume he will play right centre as it is more natural for a left handed person to pass to the right,but I think TS knows what he is planning and if he is on the left and we have King.Atkins and Solomona on the left that would imo be the most potent left hand side in the whole of SL ,along with myler and briers pulling the strings can't wait !
I do wonder who will play hooker ,will Clarke just be a squad player ? is Monnas staying ?

In the past, all these selection dilemmas would sort of, worry me. Now, I just shrug my shoulders and think "Ah well, I'm sure the best coach in World RL will know what to do with them, cool."

I am not really a huge fan of Atkins TBH but when you see the potential left side line up of King and Atkins with Louis and Solomona rotating and Myler there to collect the offloads, it does look very mouth watering.

Have to feel for Riley but he will most likely be the first man to come in for any of Mathers, Hicks, Bridge Atkins or King should they get injured.

Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
Atkins
King

Harsh leaving Riley out but you cant really drop Bridge he has been a sensation at

Interesting Widnes will be short of a full back next season by the sounds of it and rumoured to have 2/3 Wire lads to go on Dual contracts (hope we don’t get into that but what can we do!)!

Maybe Riley? As he’d get a game in his favourite spot every week when wasn’t needed at Wire?

It's awesome isn't it? Instead of worrying about having a handful of quality players and players who just fill in the gaps, now we've got a squad of quality players and are spoilt for choice. The slightly infuriating bit is most of these players we've had all along, it's just taken some world class coaching to get the best out of them. Long live Tony Smith!

I think that's what he'll go for - harsh on Riley, but at the end of the day, TS dropped him to be replaced by Carney, after only two games back, so what's to stop him dropping him for an international centre and winger.

I really like Riley, but that's what I see happening - but if this years anything to go by (as per the previous two) he'll still get plenty of game time as we need a big squad....

centre bridgey wont be at warrington next season!!!

Errr why not ?

He could well be right.

Until a few months ago and his move to the centre position, about 9 out of 10 Wire fans wouldn't have minded a jot about Bridge being moved on to another club....now many, myself included, would be slightly disappointed if he left, mainly because he looks like he has finally found his true position to fulfil his undoubted potential.

There are certainly other established players I'd ship out before Bridge...

Well he's wrong.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bridge did leave, al be gutted if he does. He offers a bunch of things and would prefer him to start ahead of Riley in the team.

Mathers
Hicks
Bridge
Atkins
King.

i wouldnt play Atkins imo i just think he his overrated
just hope the lad proves me wrong