THE gelling together of fledgling half back pairing Theo Fages and Danny Richardson was one of the many pleasing facets of Sunday’s win at Wakefield.

Richardson is playing with that brash, self-assurance that are standard personality traits in a good number seven.

But he has the tools to back it up and walk the walk at top level.

An excellent, varied kicking game, smart pass selection and a willingness to back himself to take on the line have made him stand out in recent weeks.

The more he has played, the less he has looked like a player on the fringes, waiting for the more experienced incumbent to regain the jersey.

It leaves coach Justin Holbrook with a huge decision to make once Matty Smith is fit and fully recovered from the horrific eye-lid injury he sustained at Leeds.

It is getting to the business end; Smith has been a big match winner and has the Grand Final rings and Lance Todds to prove it, but Richardson and Fages have provided that energetic, effervescent spark that has played a big part in sparking the team to life in the last three consecutive Super League wins.

Holbrook said: “Danny is going well for us.

“He is loving playing and it is great for us to have him in there – and he will there for weeks to come if he continues playing the way he is, he will be hard to hold out.

“Him and Theo are playing well for us and are combining really well which is what we need.”

Holbrook also singled out skipper Jon Wilkin’s performance at loose forward as being a quality stint in a fine overall team performance.

“We have a week off, but I’d love to keep playing but we are not in the Challenge Cup semis unfortunately.

“We have clawed our way back but we can’t afford to relax at all. We can enjoy that performance, but need to keep moving on.

“We are defending well and playing with confidence.

“Our first half was really pleasing.

“We knew how big a game it was for both teams and I thought we really turned up.

“We lost our way a bit I the second half but found it again.”