: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:15 pm  

I like Higham. Theres certain things he can improve on, but definatly one of the better performers for Warrington so far, IMO.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:44 pm  

saint billy wrote:

I like Higham. Theres certain things he can improve on, but definatly one of the better performers for Warrington so far, IMO.

He's pure garbage.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:28 pm  

leegregory wrote:

For the first time in my life, and definietly the only time I agree with Rogues. Higham apart from the odd decent dart from the ruck is a woeful hooker. Higham has no passing game whatsover and gives his fair share of penalties away.

Wigan should revert to Leuluai playing at 9, and give Coyle a chance at seven, the cant do any worse. There still a quality prop short but carry on the good work Noble

Not a chance, BOTH the Coyle brothers are now at Oldham.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:43 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Have you seen Riddell this season?

Yes I have, I saw him Friday night, the fella is rubbish, He looks about 2 stone overweight and struggles to bend his back to pick the ball up. He even managed to injure himself whilst taking a goal kick!

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:48 pm  

JLM23 wrote:

Yes I have, I saw him Friday night, the fella is rubbish, He looks about 2 stone overweight and struggles to bend his back to pick the ball up. He even managed to injure himself whilst taking a goal kick!

I thought his second spell was good. He took Wigan forward from acting half, and his distribution was excellent, something we have been missing from the Wire penalty machine.

Maybe he should take some of Kierons "slimming pills"

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:51 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

I thought his second spell was good. He took Wigan forward from acting half, and his distribution was excellent, something we have been missing from the Wire penalty machine.

Maybe he should take some of Kierons "slimming pills"

I think I saw him actually run with the ball about twice, and the guy is no where near fit enough currently to play hooker. AJ said that he'd been injured since the leigh game so maybe that's why.

Maybe he does, Or maybe he could just get off the Barry Ward diet.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:07 pm  

JLM23 wrote:

I think I saw him actually run with the ball about twice, and the guy is no where near fit enough currently to play hooker. AJ said that he'd been injured since the leigh game so maybe that's why.

Maybe he does, Or maybe he could just get off the Barry Ward diet.

One of the reasons we are so cr@p at top level is this obsession with "running from dummy half"

Where has the craft gone from a ball playing hooker (I've just read that back to myself).

IMO we have too many hookers who are failed scrum halves.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:30 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

One of the reasons we are so cr@p at top level is this obsession with "running from dummy half"

Where has the craft gone from a ball playing hooker (I've just read that back to myself).

IMO we have too many hookers who are failed scrum halves.

I don't think we are obsessed at running from dummy half, as you say, it's more to do with the defences. Last season, Phil Clarke, pointed out why teams run from dummy half, and it's basically because once you get around the two markers with a dummy, there is a great big gap to run through.

Now, as simple as it may seem, 1 player being put into the gap behind the markers would stop the running from dummy half. But, the players only run, because opposition players are offside from a break or simply because of that great big gap, and they think they can get through.

I've noticed a few times since Clarke said that, that there are gaps behind the markers, and that people with a good dummy and pace off the mark, players such as Roby, Burrow and Pryce, exploit this gap.

The hookers aren't failed scrum halves as you say they are, they are just capitalising on poor defences and thinking on the ball.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:30 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

One of the reasons we are so cr@p at top level is this obsession with "running from dummy half"

Where has the craft gone from a ball playing hooker (I've just read that back to myself).

IMO we have too many hookers who are failed scrum halves.

Yeah you make a good point there, The top hookers can do both. Riddell's distribution was good, but his actual movement, defence, fitness and general ability to stay on the field are all sadly lacking.

: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:17 pm  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

He's pure garbage.

He's not that bad mate. Sure, he's no world beater, but he's better than Jon Clarke.