Three lines then

Lets be honest, neither have done much so far, still a little early in the season to judge but its fair to expect a massive improvement in both.

I think everything needs to be tempered in the light of:

a) both lads have moved to the other side of the world, to a totally different lifestyle.

b) Wasn't Riddell Injured for a reasonable length prior to the start of this season

c) Robert's has only just had his wife and children fly over, and he must have been missing them like hell

will wigan ever have a gene miles and brett kenny

I think personally they are both getting better, but there is always room for improvement

So lets get this straight, we sign a player for three years and have to write off the first season while they settle in? Two out of three years is not good enough.

Roberts minus family I can accept. He is here a year earlier than he expected to be anyway which may have something to do with the fact his family did not arrive with him. Whatever, it's not been the ideal situation for him but that is a third of the season down the pan before that got sorted out.

As to Riddell I watched him in the warm up in Friday and he struggled with the short sprints! I could have done them faster than him.

As to him being on the other side of the world when did we start making this excuse for overseas players? No one forced them to come here. Riddlell isn't some wet behind the ears kid on his first trip away from Mummy and Daddy. He is supposed to be the fully fledged NRL pro.

I am not sure who spends more time warming the bench between him and Feka at the moment. It's a close call.

There are a distinct lack of threads in here being started by all those who were saying Riddell was the real deal praising his contribution. Hardly surprising given the way he has started the season is it?

Dave

My honest option so far is that I feel disappointed with both signings.

Both have offered very little to improve the team. Has Riddell improved the team that Micky Higham did? I can't honestly think he is any better.

Roberts hasn't really done much but regardless has people on these boards making up excuse after excuse for him.

Roberts is being shown up by our own Wigan lad Ainscough. Who is probably on a lot less but is worth a lot more. I would be far more gutted if we lost Ainy than Roberts.

Were the worth bringing from the other side of the world? IMO No.

Put it this way, if they went would they be missed?

NEW FB (Money from Roberts)
Richards Gleeson Carmont Ainscough
Sam (NEW SH (Money from Riddell)
Fielden Tommy Prescott
Hock Lockers
Joel
--------------
Feka O Carroll McCloum Hansen

Would we miss them? I do think so.

Ive not been too impressed so far by them both. Roberts could have won the game thur for us instead he was a major factor in the last and final try.
Riddell, jury still out on him although I feel he has played better than Roberts this year he came with a good reputation but hasnt really brought too much to the party.

but not a great reputation! he was just an nrl ham n egger, nothing more nothing less. no where near rep footie. he is no doubt nearer the top of the cap in terms of wages which should be a worry, for mine your not getting enough bang for ya buck. he's no where near the top hookers in sl.

look at buderus at leeds, his passing game out of dummy half is already light years infront of what we have seen for some time at HQ and his defence was outstanding against the bulls and he's nowhere near match fit.

but its still early doors for both roberts and riddell.

They're both good players but it is too early to tell whether they're gonna be fantastic players for Wigan.

Look at Richards, after the first season everyone was saying how rubbish he was... and now?

But the thing is about Roberts and Riddell is that the squad would not be that much weaker without them in it? Only time will tell if they are to prove that wrong.

There are two factors that are being ignored when people compare Richards with Riddell and Roberts.

1, Richards, a winger, was push in as a centre, so he was playing out of position, both Riddell and Roberts are playing in their chosen positions.

2, Richards arrived in one of the weakest teams we've had for some time, it was the 'year of the great escape', Riddell and Roberts have arrived when we have a far better squad/team.

IMO, it's not right to compare the two.

Roberts has improved significantly in the last two weeks it has to be said. He would defo be in one of my top three from Friday and the goal kicking seems to have got him more involved or got his confidence up no end. He’s still not what we expected but with factors such as he’s not had a preseason due to injury, he’s played outside Bailey and his family have only just arrived we can be happy with the progress he’s starting to make.

If he continues improving he will be a very good signing for us and now he’s outside Gleeson I do think that side of our attack will be a danger to all if not most teams in SL. Gleeson’s main strength is his ability to draw the player and create space for his wing man and after the Hudds game when Roberts finished excellently going low in corner I really do think we’ve finally got an attacking threat from both sides of the pitch.

I can’t believe also people are questioning whether Riddell has been better for us than Higham! Higham is well towards the bottom of the list of hookers in SL as he’s a one trick scooting pony with poor distribution.

Have we actually forgotten just how poor Higham was during his time at Wigan? It’s seriously pathetic how some people still put Higham on this pedestal as some sort of fantastically underrated, hard done to player pushed out of Wigan by IL. Riddell playing at 40% of his capacity is still heads and shoulders above tripe like Higham.

If you think Riddell has so far been a good signing I'm pleased you're not in charge at Wigan. For once take off the cherry and white specs and look at how poor some of our players are.

Before you go highly rating average players (to date) take a look at the league table and our results. As you'll see, we've had a god awful season so far.

Bout time people woke up and started seeing things for what they are instead of saying 'someone is a proven NRL player so he'll come good' or he was awesome today when in reality they did very little.

Riddell hasn’t been fantastic I’ll admit that but the constant comparing to Higham is laughable. I’ll repeat what I said before Higham is a one trick pony and we are well rid. As I said in my OP people seem to have quickly forgotten just how bad Higham was in Cherry and White and I’ve seen very little to suggest he’ll do Warrington any good also.

I don’t know if your last statement was in response to Riddell or Roberts but I really do think Roberts played very well for us on Thursday. After watching the game back on tv It confirmed by original thought at the game that we was one of our better players who looked dangerous in attack and very solid in defence.

I do agree with you, apart from the bit in bold. He bombed two chances for us one thursday, he overran Gleeson's pass, and he should have finished from Paletuas(sp) mistake.

He did have his best game yet for us, and as I've said before I can't wait to see him go the full length of the field, but I just feel that he still needs to improve. I'm clutching at straws now, but hopefully his families arrival will help

You're right Dave, it's not good enough, but unfortunately it's fact. It seems to happen to many Aussie players - even Barrett took a while.

It's no coincidence that the two clubs with the lowest turnover of players from year to year have occupied the top two places in the league for the majority of the last three years....and we have had one of the highest turnovers of players in that time period.

I think a third of the season has gone for Wigan.

One of the reasons IL said he signed Riddell was to liven up the dressing room. I wonder if he has.

That was me, accidently posted on my dads account he left it logged on.

What I mean is that we will see the best of him after this season, if you think your gonna get 3 amazing years of anyone signed from the NRL in that sort of position your wrong.

Your a good poster though, I think you just misunderstood what I meant.

Shaun Berrigan hit the ground running straight away at Hull FC. Same position and once now Danny Buderus has recovered from his injury at Leeds I would place a small wager on him doing the same thing.

Some Aussie players hit the ground running, but let's face it, the majority don't. The solution is to keep 'em once you've got 'em!

I don't think the laws of physics would permit Riddell the above.

God, you're soooooo funny!

Good point.

Leeds and Hull both have managed to recruit far better in such a key area.

Which leads me to think-How many players do we have who are world class or in the top 3 in their position considering NRL and SL?

Or how many young players do we have who stand a chance at being world beaters?

Read some Hull fans on their forum having a go at Berrigan the other day so maybe their not quite as hot on him as we'd think.

Alot of the time unless you watch these players week in week out it's hard to judge their form.