Joined: Apr 16 2003 Posts: 498 Location: Living closer to the Pie Dome in Ashton
DaveO wrote:Riddell is averaging seven more meters per game then Higham. Hardly a significant difference and he is hardly error or penalty free either.
And Riddell has scored fewer tries, has fewer try assists, made fewer tackles, fewer offloads and fewer dummy half runs than Higham. And that is without the basic schoolboy maths of averaging them stats out.
So basically the only significant playing statistic (runs, tackles tries and so on) Riddell is better than Higham on is meters per game by a whopping 7 meters a game. On all the rest Higham is better and of course if anyone slags Lockers off for too many penalties that is, we are told, because he is more involved in the game so it's bound to happen. So the same must apply to Higham and one thing is for sure is that he will be more involved in the game than Riddell who is rivalling Feka for bench warming.
Anyone suggesting Riddell is outplaying Higham this season based on three selectively chosen statistics is clearly guilty of wishful thinking.
Dave
It should also be remembered that in Warringtons first 4 matches (approx, not sure exactly how many) Higham played for the full 80 mins in each.
I also think that the way that everyone goes on about the amount of "dummy half runs" is totally irrelevant. You could scoot from acting half every tackle, but it doesnt mean youve done well if the defence had controlled the tackle and you make no yards. Its about spotting the opportunities when they arrive and being clinical.
Riddel is averaging 3metres more per carry!
Last edited by newton warrior on Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
DaveO wrote:Riddell is averaging seven more meters per game then Higham. Hardly a significant difference and he is hardly error or penalty free either.
And Riddell has scored fewer tries, has fewer try assists, made fewer tackles, fewer offloads and fewer dummy half runs than Higham. And that is without the basic schoolboy maths of averaging them stats out.
So basically the only significant playing statistic (runs, tackles tries and so on) Riddell is better than Higham on is meters per game by a whopping 7 meters a game. On all the rest Higham is better and of course if anyone slags Lockers off for too many penalties that is, we are told, because he is more involved in the game so it's bound to happen. So the same must apply to Higham and one thing is for sure is that he will be more involved in the game than Riddell who is rivalling Feka for bench warming.
Anyone suggesting Riddell is outplaying Higham this season based on three selectively chosen statistics is clearly guilty of wishful thinking.
Dave
Ha ha are you honestly being serious with this one?
Higham is one of the worst hookers Wigan have ever had! A one trick scooting pony and even he couldn't even do that well
3 World Club Challenges 19 League Titles 17 Challenge Cup wins ONE CLUB WIGAN RLFC
Joined: Jul 04 2005 Posts: 903 Location: Formerly of Whelley via The River Caves, but now in the next best thing, Chorley!
We're only a third of the way through the season and the signs are already there that we aren't going to see the best of Riddell this season.
It makes sense to me that playing Riddell/Leuluai at 9 would benefit the team the most allowing the Stand Off/Scrum Half slots to be occupied by more naturally, creative players than Tommy is.
'Do you remember when we had that meeting in Orlando? We talked about how we were knocked out the previous year by Leeds. And at the end, I asked you one question. "Do you want to be a semi-final team? Or do you want to do something special?" You all said you wanted to win. But talking is easy – it needed you to believe. It needed you to work hard – harder than you had – and make sacrifices. You did all that. you worked for each other. You stuck together when it was tough. And because of your efforts, you sit here tonight as champions. I'm proud of you. Be proud of yourselves. You've done something special.' Shaun Wane's post-Grand Final speech. 5th October 2013.
I still think the best way to play it would be to start Sam and Tommy at 6 and 7.
Piggy at 9
And have Smith coming off the bench to replace Piggy, and then put Smith to 7 (or 6 depending if you want Sam at 6 or 7) and Tommy to 9.
Also, maybe when Sam and Smith play together then dont play them as a set 6 and 7. I have heard that Hull KR played Cooke and Dobson at 6 and 7, but let them change around and just both play as a half backs. Then the defence would expect to find one of them in a position and they werent there but someone else was there.
I feel this could be used with Sam and Smith.
Joined: Feb 13 2008 Posts: 445 Location: Egham-ish
thepriestman85 wrote:Ha ha are you honestly being serious with this one?
Higham is one of the worst hookers Wigan have ever had! A one trick scooting pony and even he couldn't even do that well
I take it you never saw Mark Reber...
"I have this system where I support England first, then the other Home Nations, then the rest of the Commonwealth, then the rest of the World, then France."
DaveO wrote:Riddell is averaging seven more meters per game then Higham. Hardly a significant difference and he is hardly error or penalty free either.
And Riddell has scored fewer tries, has fewer try assists, made fewer tackles, fewer offloads and fewer dummy half runs than Higham. And that is without the basic schoolboy maths of averaging them stats out.
So basically the only significant playing statistic (runs, tackles tries and so on) Riddell is better than Higham on is meters per game by a whopping 7 meters a game. On all the rest Higham is better and of course if anyone slags Lockers off for too many penalties that is, we are told, because he is more involved in the game so it's bound to happen. So the same must apply to Higham and one thing is for sure is that he will be more involved in the game than Riddell who is rivalling Feka for bench warming.
Anyone suggesting Riddell is outplaying Higham this season based on three selectively chosen statistics is clearly guilty of wishful thinking.
Dave
Regardless of the postive/negative stats in each players favour, I'm much more content with Mark Riddell as our starting hooker.
He controls the tempo of the game and his distribution is very good. His awareness around the ruck is of a high standard and selects the right options when it comes to forwards running off both sides of the play the ball.
Whether he's met expectations or not, we now have a starting hooker which I'm happy with. His running game and fitness just need to be tweaked.
Joined: Dec 22 2001 Posts: 14395 Location: Chester
Alex BP' wrote: Whether he's met expectations or not, we now have a starting hooker which I'm happy with. His running game and fitness just need to be tweaked.
How on earth anyone can be happy with a player who fails to meet expectations is beyond me. Were you happy with DV? Are you happy with Fielden? If not why are you happy with Riddell? Riddell is here for three seasons and 11 games of one have gone and he won't be getting any quicker.
Dave
Last league derby at Central Park 5/9/1999: Wigan 28 St. Helens 20 Last league derby at Knowsley Road 2/4/2010: St. Helens 10 Wigan 18
DaveO wrote:How on earth anyone can be happy with a player who fails to meet expectations is beyond me. Were you happy with DV? Are you happy with Fielden? If not why are you happy with Riddell? Riddell is here for three seasons and 11 games of one have gone and he won't be getting any quicker.
Dave
Because Riddell isn't performing badly.
The only thing missing from his performances are his running game and fitness.
Mark Riddell's defence, ball distribution, decision making and all round presence is very good and of a much, much higher standard of Micky Higham. Unfortunately, a decent running game does not warrent the no.9 jersey and that's all that Higham offers ahead of Riddell.
Alex BP' wrote:Because Riddell isn't performing badly.
The only thing missing from his performances are his running game and fitness.
Mark Riddell's defence, ball distribution, decision making and all round presence is very good and of a much, much higher standard of Micky Higham. Unfortunately, a decent running game does not warrent the no.9 jersey and that's all that Higham offers ahead of Riddell.
Bout time we moved towards more creative 9 play
3 World Club Challenges 19 League Titles 17 Challenge Cup wins ONE CLUB WIGAN RLFC
Users browsing this forum: muttywhitedog and 216 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum
