Thanks for clearing that up. I actually do know Simmy, he is in a different building on the same complex. Anyway if this is the reaction that you get for not agreeing with the status quo it probably isnt worth the hassle of posting on here.

The names change, but the rhetoric doesn't.



You're welcome to your opinion, pal. But for a newcomer you seem to know an awful lot about the 'cliques' and the 'status quo' on this message board.

I have read the posts on this board for a long time and so know full well what goes on. That is the main reason why I have never signed up and post on the other Wigan message board instead. I only signed up this time to have a go at Noble and because I had disagreed with much of what I have read over the last few weeks. Ah well now I know why so many newcomers seem to join and never post again after they get shot down.

For all those who think that Higham is so much better than Riddell then I suggest you look here.



[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?season=2009&stat=penalties&hs1=2009&hp1=2075&hs2=2009&hp2=374[/url





The penalties conceded and errors stats make particular interesting reading.



Jack,

Your thoughts please.

Obsessed

You have to actually do something to make a mistake.



Bearing that in mind, we could have ourselves the first ever "Mistake-free" hooker.

Riddell is averaging more metres per carry than Higham, which I'm sure you would not have believed if I hadn't shown you.



So he must be doing something, but obviously you are blinkered to it.



He is making less mistakes and and conceding less penalties.



BTW I'm comparing him to Higham because that is who he has replaced.

What is it they say about statistics? If you select the statistics you can prove or disprove anything. You could say Higham makes more tackles, makes more tackle busts and clean breaks, scores and assists in more tries than Riddel. You could also ay Higham makes more errors and concedes more penalties. If you are not biased you would say the comparison is pointless because 1 player has played 80 minutes x 3 in the worst team in SL whereas another has played 40 minutes x 4 in a better team in SL. Maybe throw the flawed statistics away and trust your eyes and decide that Riddel was outplayed by Randall and Leuluai and by every other hooker he has faced or played with since his arrival.

Or alternatively, you could wait a few more weeks and give him a chance to shake off his injury before passing judgement.



By the way, I agree - he's been very, very disappointing. But three games in is too early to write off a man who had quite a decent rep in the NRL.

Just been talking to my mate who lives in Australia and supports the Parramatta Eels. I have just been explaining how Piggy is doing over here for us and his words where 'He picked up a back injury last season with Parra but once fully fit will become a great player for us' supposedly he was extremely sad to see Piggy leave the club and rates him very highly.

Piggy is a class player.



Was also the first (and possibly only) player to go over to Shaun Ainscough after he missed a tackle in the first half.

Playing with an injury isn't helping him. Once fit, he should be a good signing.

How do you know?

How do I know what? That he is a class player having watched him for a number of years in the NRL, or that he went over to Ainscough right in front of him after he missed a tackle?

Is he playing with an injury?



Or is that some convenient story made up to cover his performances?



I certainly haven't seen any reports regarding his carrying of any sort of injury.



If you can point me to one, then maybe it would help my understanding of why this guy just looks crap to me.



Go ahead.

The club are not going to tell everyone how many were aware of the shoulder problem Fielden had until he went in and had an op on it at the end of the season or the foot problem he had at the end of last season until he had the operation.

He may be doing all the things you say in the post above, but I am certain that is more down to a statistical anomaly than anything else.



He still dropped the ball on 3 (Maybe more) occasions on Saturday, and yet, according to the SL stats he has still only made 1 error this season.



He may be averaging more metres per carry than Higham, if you believe the stats, but he is making less metres per game.



You can make these stats say whatever you like, but I remain to be convinced that this guy is any good.

Sorry mate, I don't do conspiracy theories.



He is either injured or he isn't.



What happens when he puts in a good performance? Will he not be injured?



And then when he puts in a bad performance? He's injured, but we can't tell anyone.



Nonsense.

Most players carry knocks or other problems going into a game. You will find when they are asked any problems a lot of players say no even if they have. Hock played on Saturday with a hip problem the one he picked up the week before.



Also on Riddell I don't remember him dropping the ball on loads of occasions on Saturday Smith did on the play of the ball Fielden did in a tackle Lockers did twice once with the try line beckoning and a few others did will watch it again later to see if i can see all his dropped balls but was down at the Stoop and have watched my recording at home but will have another look see if i can see them.

Ive also heard Riddell is carrying an injury.

The general chat around the club - in training etc - is that he's injured. However, I can't point to a specific news article carrying this information, and don't have access to his medical records, so I can't give you a 100% guarantee that it's true. Neither however, can you guarantee that it isn't. Stalemate, I guess.

If anyone went to Hull they will have seen that Riddell was injured after about 5 minutes of the game when he was taking the ball up.



Noble said in the interview after the match that he really shouldn't have returned but with Carmont, Bailey, Richards and Phelps also injured that he had no choice.



He only had 11 fit men on the field at the end of the game.

Apparently picked up a knock on the hip in 1 game but he's also playing with quite a bad ankle injury, rumour has it.



I'd consider resting him for a couple of games.

It certainly is because it obviously doesn't fit your agenda.







Those stats tell me that he has not been as bad as many have painted him on here, and has certainly performed better than Higham.



The reason many on this board were pleased to see Higham go are exactly the reasons shown up in those stats.



Too many penalties and too many errors.



I can't be bothered pulling up the stats again but I'm sure you're quite capable of doing that yourself, but just have a look at Highams stats for last year.



Same same.

Even IF Riddell is injured, he's still distributing the ball far better than higham did/does. Then when Riddell is off the field, we get the solidarity of McIlorum in defence and the spark of Leuluai's footwork going forwards.