I just don't get the problem people have with Mathers, its bordering on obsession with some folk
I'm not aware of any better FBs we've had in the SL era?!?
He's our VC, get behind the man for goodness sake!!!! getting sick of hearing it

Prescott
Halpenny

There's two imo

Holland,
Blaymire in his first season at the club.

If that's your view musson old lad I'm sorry but I for one can't respect it

IMO Mathers has always been a "pillar to post" player, never thrilling or enthusiastic rugby from him whether at Leeds, Castleford or any other of the 7 or so teams hes played for.

I say good riddance if rumors are true.

Denis Betts must be off his rocker.

Eh?

Think he is talking about a Mathers to Widnes rumour that is going round. It would surprise me greatly as Hanbury is a much better fullback than Mathers. And Richies love for the plastic pitch is well known.

Yes - I thought that myself when I heard the rumour. I would imagine Halifax as the more likely destination.

Do some of you actually believe what you write or are you so obsessed that you allow your personal feelings to cloud reality. If we released Mathers who would we play in his place. Sykes no you don't like him, Sammut no you think he is wasted at full back so who, some teenager out of the under 19's. I wait your usual rabid and ill thought opinions.

This is why, I find it all a little boring about Mathers. He's under contract, we've no money and we have no other specialist fullback on the books who is up to it!
Mathers has his faults but he is not the reason for our poor showing so far. OK, I know defensively he is not the best but often he is exposed because those in front of him have failed.
He's the best we've got so live with it!

Why not try Sykes at full back and Mathers at centre for his attacking abilities as he seems to like coming up into the line.

Sykes is a worse option than Mathers at FB and Mathers aint a centre

Sykes shouldn't be in any position where is extreme lack of pace and poor tackling technique can be exposed. Best position is on the terracing as a spectator these days.

Mathers actually might do well at centre his best attribute is his attacking ability and he would at least look to feed his wing man and his defence is no worse than Lynes but who then plays full back.

Washbrook? His defence is apparently awesome - that's why he gets picked every week.

Hasn't Riley played some games at full back before? I wud give him a go with lynne on the wing and kleinhorst if he ever gets fit in the centres

This anti Mathers stuff is doing my head in. What about all the other crap defence before the opposition get to full back. To my mind he does a good job, joining in attack when possible. There is a creeping anti Mathers campaign which seems to be spreading. Wakefield supporters always seem to want a scapegoat. For God sakes get behind the team (I know it's hard at the moment) but they need some positive support not this constant backbiting. Rant over.

and he always seems to have a particularly good match against Cas!!

Ive said it before, but i would try Mathers in the Centre. He played there for Cas on a few occasions, once against us at Belle Vue and im sure he walked away with the MOM. Put him there and he isnt so isolated and also his replacement would hopefully offer more when returning the ball.
I just dont see him as a full back anymore. The pace isnt there for starters.

Riley would be a far better option. Sykes for me is in much the same boat as Mathers, maybe one year too long at the top level.

holland was excellent under the bomb and his last line defence was excellent. as far as hid attacking abilty went it was none existent

blaymire was a good defensive fb. his abilty to clean up grubbers on the line was exceptional

a fb has to be able to offer something in attack mathers does and neither of the 2 mentioned came close

To be honest Defense wins you games and if it came to having an attacking or a defensive one i'd have defensive every time. A pro at top level should be able to pass the ball so I dont see a problem.

People say Mathers offers something in attack. Have you seen the games this season? He scored 4 against London and offered nothing in any other game...

I don't think you base players attacking ability on the amount of tries they score.

Attack is creating space for other players, creating time for players, putting forwards through the gaps, your passing game, kicking game, side steps, hand offs, and controlling play.

Tim smith was instrumental in our attack last year and without him on the pitch the team was clueless yet he hardly scored any.

I think Mathers brings good attacking play for the side, but at the moment he's getting the ball in the wrong places and at the wrong time and unfortunately is playing in a team lacking any structure at the moment

You certainly don't. I wasn't disputing that. Can you say Mathers offers something in attack more often than not based on the games he has played this season? I'd struggle to say he does.