Looking at those pictures on sky it's looks far too easy to get round Mathers I think Agar should look at moving him to somewhere else on the park.

So where would you move him, coach? We're short of props...

to the dressing room ,saw the same pctures

Listening on the radio it seems meli strolled passed his opposite number on many occasions so I think picking on mathers is unfair. That said I wasn't there.

Mathers has been one of the better performers this season so far.

I agree going forward he reads the game well and gets himself into some good positions but his defense is shocking.

I have asked this question before and so far got no answer - who do we go for that is better and available ?.
There in lies the problem.
If Mathers was as good at defending as he is on the attack he would not be at Wakey he would be at a top four club.
I did not go last night due to being at work so cant say what he played like but Mathers has been on of the better players so far this season.

never expected a win but the defence was lousy we were exposed for our lack of weight in the pack Fox and Mathers could not tackle my gran and they throw the towel in

I would move Sykes to fullback we also need to look at both wings because Sinfield is going to have a field day next Friday

Keep saying it Aiton fantastic in defence cant fault him BUT he gives us nothing in attack should have kept Ellis and let Wildie go

Are Mathers and Fox our scapegoats this year?



FFS support the team, I would agree that Fox is defo going through a dip in form, but there is far too much hate for Richie Mathers, he is one of the few players that puts in 100% (that's 100% of what they're capable of not 100% of what some people want him to be capable of) He is playing his head off and has been one of our most consistent players this season.
A few months ago in a similar "Hate" thread I posed the question, who in WTW wildcats recent history was a better fullback than RM and who that are available and affordable would people suggest as a replacement for him.
Personally it's a long time since we have had anyone in the FB position that gives us as much as RM does and personally I don’t think there are many other FB's in SL that would give us more that are within our budget and available

I was saying last night that Fox has been similar in a way to Mathers. His defence is definitely not his best asset but when you see him run the ball in (bearing in mind that a big part of our attack relies on good early yards from Mathers, Fox, Cockayne ) he very rarely gets driven back in the tackle and quite often makes yards even after being tackled. He gets his centre of gravity low and has a strong leg drive.
As people have said re Mathers, as a club we're not really in a position to be able to afford players who are the best at both and we have to compromise to get the best we can from our budget.

Last season wasn't much of a fan with Mathers he was abit inconsistant in my opinion, this season I can't fault him apart from his 1 on 1 tackles, he helps in attack and is normally decent under a highball.

Absolutely bang on the money FT
Saints ripped us apart down our left side last night, with Meli and Lomax running riot, but the anti Mathers brigade just seem to single him out.

Agree completely. He also seems to do an effective job in motivating the team. When we concede a try he's always the one gathering the team under the sticks and trying to pick them up again.

Can't believe Mathers defence still merits a thread.
He is what he is (an attacking asset more than a defensive one) as are others.
Until we can afford a fullback that can be a sensation at both, he is as good as we will ever get.
I'm still waiting for a list of affordable replacements from the lynch mob!!

thought it wouldnt be long before the cavalry came , believe it or not richie mathers as never done me any harm im just amazed that im almost alone in noticing the mans frightened to get hurt everything in his play shows this .The man lacks bottle end of.

Lacks bottle?

Anyone got a ducking stool?

I didn't go to the game, and I've yet to see the tries. However the impression I got that Mathers was involved in almost everything we did going forward. His defence wasn't questioned, although it did seem as if Fox's was questionable on occasion, as was his kick retrieval.

My view is that Fox hasn't been worth his place this year, his tries have been the RL equivalent of tap ins so I'd not use them as a defence. On more than one occasion he's not gone for the corner when he had a good chance of scoring.

isn't that what someone called Daryl Griffin last week?

It's Wakey rhyming slang!

I've just seen Josh Dugan get off a train at Sandal & Agbrigg and ask for directions to Belle Vue.

Mathers has played well this season. 1 bad game so what there has been the likes of Wood and Sykes who have been bad everygame thats more of a worry !

Personally thought Mathers had a good game last night, and throw his body at a one on one which some have been critical of him for not doing. So far this season i'd even suggest he's been probably in our top three performers

From a Saints point of view, Mathers had one of his better games against us. I've seen him play Saints for a few different clubs and he has had bigger Mare's than last night in better teams.

When the line is broken, it's always going to be the FB who is the last one near the try scorer, but that does not mean they are liable for all the tries scored.

If you are wanting a defensive FB, then you are going to have to look long and hard. Tomkins does not really do defense. Eden has been suspect at times. If you are looking for a Wellens type character, then that's going back a few years. FB's tend to be more of a pivot player in the modern game and Mathers fits that bill quite well.

Given you had so many out, for 50 minutes there was not a lot in it, but once we survived that onslaught on our line in the 2nd half. We took it too Wakey and did not let up.

Wakey played well for most of the game and given the players that were missing plus Mariano and Wood getting injured,we were well short in ideas on the Saints try line.possession wasn't a problem either for most of the game.We gave penalties away in poor areas ,weather poor play or poor calls,and got punished on most of them.I thought the score flattered Saints but pleased how Wakey played with men out of position and also lack of game time.Roll on next week,new faces back Trin win.

This is exactly it. I cringe at his defence like others but I honestly cannot remember a full back involved in attacking as much as he is - you have to go back to the likes of Wraith or Sheard.
let's remember this- from the games I have seen this season, Mathers and Fox were not the reason we lost some of them. They are becoming scapegoats for some and we should really be supporting the whole team not some if it.