Makes a few comments about Mathers.

"Needs to smarten up his act".
"become an irritating style of player who recieves no plaudits from oppsoing teams"
"His body language is wrong"
"Doing nothing to help the side"

That was the jist of it.

Stevo then goes on to say "don't write off Wigan as a spent force". He thinks we and Noble will fight back and points towards Bradfords 2005 Grand Final success when they started with 2 losses.

I think Stevo gets it all wrong to be fair on Mathers.

He makes out as though Mathers is a dirty thug who loves nothing better then swinging peoples heads off when infact if anything he's too soft. He timing things wrong and doing things like tripping people because he's not fully commited to the challenges and is going into them half hearted.

His body language also looks pretty good in the main and he's always encouraging people.

Mathers main problem at the minute is bottle and not him being an ar*ehole as Stevo trys to make out.

I know lots of people comment on the 2005 Bradford side when Noble got them playing at the business end of the season after a poor start, however just look at their 2005 GF winning team:

Withers; L Pryce, B Harris, Hape, Vainikolo; I Harris, Deacon; Fielden, Henderson, Peacock (capt), Johnson, Meyers, Radford. Interchange: Paul, Vagana, Langley, Morley.

That's a much better side than we have at the moment.

Why wont someone publically come out and say he is absolutely shocking? Because that what he is. Body language my backside. So what if he does plenty shouting about. Id hate to play in a team knowing Mathers is my last line of cover

one thing is for certain, when he leaves wigan, he wont play superleague again

That side would beat the one we turned out against hull/wakey oh look two british half backs something we not had in SL era ok maybe a few overseas players.

Stevo is right for once but anyone can tell you what he has said, I believe Noble can turn things around and will but it may take time for the squad to play as a team and it certainly doesn't help when were losing and can't have faith in key roles performing their required tasks (Mathers).

i agree he is playing bloody awful . seems like a nice bloke but for whatever reason his play is shocking. i would love to see him play spot on , unfortunately i just cant see it coming. his lack of form is bound to have a knock on effect in the team

I dont know about winning the grand final, but I think we will improve. Diddnt they sign morley on loan half way through that season? I loved that green away shirt they had that year

i dio no think were good eniough or going to be good enough for grand final spot this season . there are far to many teams stronger than ours

He's absolutely shocking, there, how's that for you !!

He has no confidence in his game what-so-ever. I really can't believe we offered him a new contract last season.

Part of the problem with Mathers is that he is so scared of making a mistake he cant help but make them.

I have never seen a player with so little confidence.

Add to that he is scared to get injured and you have a player who just does not cut it at superleague anymore.

I hope for him and us that he can work his way through this.

I think Stevo is only saying what a lot of people already think, in fact when you speak to a lot of fans they are often far more explicit with their description of Mathers and also on the decision to offer him a new contract after his initial interim period was over.

Admittedley i have not watched any of Wigans two games this season but was disapointed to hear that Mathers has been banned for two games due to a trip on another player in the Wakefield match. Not a good start for him thats for sure and it hardly reflects well on Brian Noble who made the decision to extend his contract.

I am also sure that year both Leeds and Saints who finished above them got major injuries going into the play offs. Wasn't this when Newton broke Long's jaw and they lost about three other key players as well? Leeds had a similar injury problem whereas Bradford had various players coming back from injury such as Hape in time for the play offs and were the much fresher side as a result.

Back then I thought they were odds on to win it and I have always regretted not having a bet on them.

Dave