One thing is for certain - Tyke wouldn't just be given a contract to use up 'free cap space' as has been suggested; he has been given a 2 year deal because he has earned it despite what some on here seem to think.

We are fortunate nowadays as a club to be more choosy about who are given contracts, so the fact that Tyke has been given a TWO year deal is testament to what the excellent coaching staff think about him.

Plus One

I think a lot of people are being very harsh here. Last year at Wakey a lot of their fans were saying he's got a lot of potential and looks good. He needs a run of games in the team but with so many backrowers in front of him he's going to find it hard getting a chance at Wire.

I'd like to see him go out on loan to someone, get some valuable SL experience if possible, I think personally he brings a lot more to the table than Mitch does. How many of the best backrowers in SL are only 23 years of age?

In Smith We Trust.

Seconded.

You can't give Smith credit for getting the best out of Westwood. Cullen reinvented Westwood, he was a quality backrower long before Smith got the job.

As for McCarthy, it's all a bit knee jerk, we're all guilty of it you're either brilliant or crap. I think he's just middle of the road, finding his feet still and the club will hope that in the next two years he realises his potential which has been there to see from an early age.

He's had his injury problems and barring the odd run of a couple of games like 2009 when Smith left out Rauhihi in the final to play McCarthy lets not forget, he's never really had the run of games to make a spot his own.

He made a break this year against Wakefield and he looked quick - I think he tried to score himself when he had support but I did stand there and think 'we haven't got that', someone who can go through the line and score from 50m out with genuine pace, like Wilkin seems to do, Gilmour used to, Joel Tomkins etc. I hope he becomes that mobile backrower that I think we could do with to be honest for certain games.