Mark Riddell ?

[Guest]

[Guest]

i wish i could do that....

[Guest]

St George

2001 - 26 games, 6 tries, 12 linebreaks, 3 try assists, 6 offloads, ?? tackle breaks, 163 runs for 1284 metres, 512 tackles
2002 - 18 games, 10 tries, 15 linebreaks, 2 try assists, 27 offloads, ?? tackle breaks, 154 runs for 1461 metres, 311 tackles
2003 - 24 games, 7 tries, 10 linebreaks, 3 try assists, 21 offlaods, 48 tackle breaks, 203 runs for 1758 metres, 532 tackles
2004 - 24 games, 7 tries, 11 linebreaks, 5 try assists, 39 offloads, 57 tackle breaks, 215 runs for 2041 metres, 463 tackles

Eels

2005 - 24 games, 6 tries, 12 linebreaks, 3 try assists, 16 offloads, 41 tackle breaks, 191 runs for 1930 metres, 376 tackles
2006 - 22 games, 1 try, 2 linebreaks, 2 try assists, 15 offloads, 42 tackle breaks, 150 runs for 1384 metres, 407 tackles
2007 - 23 games, 5 tries, 3 linebreaks, 2 try assists, 19 offloads, 42 tackle breaks, 169 runs for 1501 metres, 418 tackles
2008 - 17 games, 2 tries, 3 linebreaks, 0 try assists, 7 offloads, 20 tackle breaks, 85 runs for 771 metres, 351 tackles

Super League

2009 - 25 games, 3 tries, 5 linebreaks, 1 try assist, 4 offloads, 22 tackle breaks, 185 runs for 1357 metres, 530 tackles
2010 - 24 games, 2 tries, 4 linebreaks, 1 try assist, 7 offloads, 19 tackle breaks, 238 runs for 1369 metres, 521 tackles

The good thing is his consistency. He has only had two seasons where he has played less than 22 games (2002 and 2008), but after the Eels relatively successful season in 2005, his form has sharply dropped. His linebreaking ability is far lower than what it was before, he has less offloads, and less tackle breaks. He is now 30 years old too, so he isn't a spring pigeon.

[Kingbilly]

well done 4inch that is very good

[Guest]

i agree with the general sentiment and since this morning, this acquisition has really grown on me. as others have identified, we have lost our number 2 and specialist impact hooker for the majority of the season so he has already filled a potential hole. Our team is inexperienced, something he is certainly not, his contract is relatively modest for someone of his ability and experience and his position mirrors that of jason ryles this time last year - 30 years old, looking for a return to the NRL for footy reasons (rejecting the big money o/s) and he is a player like ryles that smithy has had a bit to do with and obviously rates.

i can see him playing a 15-20 min stint at hooker to relieve jake - whether that be at the begining of the game playing the riley brown role or in the middle/end is something smith needs to think about but i think also a bit of a stint at lock with jake also on the field for 10-15 minutes during games could also benefit us giving us extra penetration and bite up the middle whilst also giving someone like myles a bit of a rest (something that he could have done with a bit more often last year as his wearing body showed towards the back end of the season). Handy little signing indeed.

The only question mark or potential issue that is left with our side is our left edge. With linnett set for a full preseason having had time to recover from his various ailments and j carney fighting fit and eager to break into the team i think left centre will sort itself out - even in those 2 alone we have 2 players who have shown how much ability they have fighting for that spot with other younger players and even graham more than capable there as well. The issue therefore remains left wing. carney or linnett could simply be shifted there or graham could play there like last year (even though i dont think he has the purpose in his kick returns and running game to be a truly potent winger). that or a youngster like naughton, kherrilah, blair.

I guess there are enough quality players to fill the spots but i wouldnt mind seeing our club look to sign a winger somewhere between the age of 25 and 30 and release graham (i can imagine parra wouldnt mind picking him up) to give us a more genuine, well proven option down that edge. Someone like robertson, quinn, nightingale, talanoa. all of those players named are also at clubs that would be under salary cap pressure (storm, dragons, souths) or already have a glut of wingers (manly). Any of them could come for decent value and provide us a genuine and more seasoned strike option as a specialist winger (something we admitedly dont have) like graham but imo, all could do a better job

[Guest]

I'm happier about this than signing Watts....still think he's a mediocre player and a grub.

My thoughts exactly. In the Mick Ennis mould.

LMFAO @ ignorant fans thinking we're cheating the cap, look at the massive contracts we've shed recently, piggy won't make as much as one of those contracts.

[Wigan RL]

Hi, I've been watching Piggy for the past 2 years at Wigan and I must say some opinions of him on here are clueless. He is a very clever player and there wont be one person, whether it be a fan/coach/player at Wigan that wouldnt want him back. He played a major part in us topping the league and winning the Grand Final this year and IMO he is a fantastic acquisition for you.

He wont score many trys but he builds the platform fantastically for other players to finish the job. Good tackler & decent goal kicker aswell.

Dont underestimate the Pig. He is a very clever signing.

Good luck for 2011.

[Guest]

Good luck to Piggy - I loved him when he played for the Dragons - hated him when he played for the Eels - but am glad that he is now with Roosters! I am truly hoping that he will do his job and prove to be an asset to the club!

[Rooster_6]

Hi, I've been watching Piggy for the past 2 years at Wigan and I must say some opinions of him on here are clueless. He is a very clever player and there wont be one person, whether it be a fan/coach/player at Wigan that wouldnt want him back. He played a major part in us topping the league and winning the Grand Final this year and IMO he is a fantastic acquisition for you.

He wont score many trys but he builds the platform fantastically for other players to finish the job. Good tackler & decent goal kicker aswell.

Dont underestimate the Pig. He is a very clever signing.

Good luck for 2011.

Something that's been overlooked on here, his defense is very good. He'll never be a liability which is an improvement on our last bench hooker.

[theGman]

Hi, I've been watching Piggy for the past 2 years at Wigan and I must say some opinions of him on here are clueless. He is a very clever player and there wont be one person, whether it be a fan/coach/player at Wigan that wouldnt want him back. He played a major part in us topping the league and winning the Grand Final this year and IMO he is a fantastic acquisition for you.

He wont score many trys but he builds the platform fantastically for other players to finish the job. Good tackler & decent goal kicker aswell.

Dont underestimate the Pig. He is a very clever signing.

Good luck for 2011.

Welcome to the Pen - Wigan RL . I'm assuming you're England based?

[Guest]

Hi, I've been watching Piggy for the past 2 years at Wigan and I must say some opinions of him on here are clueless. He is a very clever player and there wont be one person, whether it be a fan/coach/player at Wigan that wouldnt want him back. He played a major part in us topping the league and winning the Grand Final this year and IMO he is a fantastic acquisition for you.

He wont score many trys but he builds the platform fantastically for other players to finish the job. Good tackler & decent goal kicker aswell.

Dont underestimate the Pig. He is a very clever signing.

Good luck for 2011.

that's all well and good, and hopefully he goes great back here, but he's going from a midweek welter straight into a Group 1 in terms of the class rise

[Andrew Walker]

that's all well and good, and hopefully he goes great back here, but he's going from a midweek welter straight into a Group 1 in terms of the class rise

What you are forgetting in you analogy is, Riddel is already a proven Group 1 performer. Many said the same about Ryles and he was on of our best all year last season.

Riddel will prove to be a very good signing

[Vasco]

that's all well and good, and hopefully he goes great back here, but he's going from a midweek welter straight into a Group 1 in terms of the class rise

Being a racing enthusiast I like the analogy.

These days Group 1 racing, in particular weight for age, is not as strong as it was a decade or more ago.

Riddell was a good weight for age performer and is now racing in lesser class. However, stepping back to weight for age racing may not be beyond him due to the lack of depth in this class.

[Cockadoodledoo]

that's all well and good, and hopefully he goes great back here, but he's going from a midweek welter straight into a Group 1 in terms of the class rise

Out of curiosity, if Anthony Watts was a horse, what would have happened to him?

[Vasco]

Out of curiosity, if Anthony Watts was a horse, what would have happened to him?

Bowed a tendon in trackwork and has gone for a 6-9 month spell.