Where have all the drama queens suddenly come from.



He is a tough tackle and a decent ball carrier. He seems to the most driven so got the captains band when there was clearly no other option.



I've seen him play very well this year. We are battering him in the front row so won't get his best now but that's what we actually need as we ate lacking props.



One poor game and everybody starts moaning. They need more time....and more support from us than that.

Well said Pop Tart.



The guy needs to play second row and at least he put his hand up and had a go at prop, but thats not his position.

We shouldn't single out any individual player from Saturday, as we were poor from 1-17.

The Broncos showed what could be done with a very basic game plan with a decent kick on the last.

For me,we are lacking a midfield general. We struggle to make it to the last tackle and then if/when we do, we cant even finish the set off with

a decent kick, so there is no chance of building pressure.

The bizarre thing, is that we had played well for the last 3 weeks and then we had the worst performance of the season.

i for one would not single him out from saturday's game for any special attention. they were pretty much all awful from 1-17 as you say. for me the issue with southern is that we're paying him well, and he's just a straight up and down forward. surely we could have signed a british straight up and down forward? people do recognise that he's out of position, but i for one do not see an inspirational leader in him yet, perhaps this will come with game time if we ever get a prop. now ask me about aiton, he has captain written all over him at the moment.



if the rumours are true that he's not settled, then i doubt he'll see his contract out. it can be tough for people to be just tens of miles away from their support networks when they first have kids and not many thousands. i wouldn't be too surprised to see him complete the year then ask for a release.

Agreed poptart



The same was been said by certain people about Betham while he was here. He is now seen as a bit of a hero but I'm not sure if that is because of the 40+ tackles he used to make every week or the fact he tried to knock the tattooed freak out??



Maybe that's what you need to do on Friday Steve?

People are expecting the wrong things from Steve Southern. He's never been flash, just a respected work-horse with experience and a good attitude, which is why he was first candidate for captain.



As for the obsession with what people are getting paid, i just don't get it. Let's face it, whatever his salary is, he's hardly going to be retiring to a beach for his remaining years on the back of his WTW contract. I'm not party to what people are on, its unfair to speculate and ultimately i couldn't give a toss either.

Well said

Do we have a vice captain?



What role does he take?

Think it's kirmo, didn't he lead out players in london?

Can't see the issue with him being Captain either.



On the field, the playmakers are the ones that run the show, not necessarily the Captain. He is a club captain and seems to have the players with him.

On field, much like a Peacock, I just want him to lead by example and get the others going with him. At Widnes I was close enough to see him do that. At other games Smith has been the vocal one organising the team.

That is fine for me. The players shouldn't need shouting at to get some emotion. That is schoolboy stuff.

He is the captain when Southern is off the field?! It is apparent that Agar knew Southern was not a 80 minute man hence why he gave the vice captaincy to a player who would be on the field when Southern was off.



Call me traditional, stupid or narrow minded but I think a captain should be a forward or a play maker, as these players inspire the team with bone crunching tackles, barnstorming runs or a little bit of magic to get you on a front foot....this buoys the rest of the team up, from my experience anyway. Southern fits into this 'ideal' mold in my opinion as he makes the tackles, he does hit well and this will inspire his team mates.



Perhaps if RA used his brain a little bit, looked at the number on Southerns back and looked history of the games Southern has played he will play him in his favoured position and then we might see him enjoying his rugby a little more.

I concur.

Completely agree with the above post except to add that if Southern is also not fit he needs to be rested & get himself 100% fit (seems to be carrying too much around the middle) and then back in the second row where he belongs with Lauititi on the bench for impact as he did when at Leeds to good effect.



When the going gets tough Wakefield's bench is full of plodders except for Wood so Lauititi fresh from the bench could give WTW some extra impetus when its needed. I accept that its common practice to have 2 props on the bench but I think its because R.A. is concerned about the strength of his pack.





Its a squad game (not just 1-17) and if anyone is not 100% in the pack then use Matt James on the bench for prop instead of Wilkes who should start (Number 8 on his back!) with Amor and then Raleigh on bench , if James is not up to it then get rid.



Please give Ellis a chance at hooker and move Aiton to loose forward! Bench - Raleigh, Lauititi, Wood, James