Winning is everything. If suddenly we started picking "plenty of young kids" & started losing we'd soon find out from our fans. I'd give 'em two games before the sparks would fly. Selectors pick who they think is their best team. Of course we don't all agree with the selectors but that is how it is.

Who would you give it to?

We have a player in our ranks who is respected across the Rugby League world, is a guaranteed starter if fit and is the current England captain….no brainer. It cannot be Ratchford again…..and I’ll be telling Sam this tomorrow.

Tbh I don’t have a clue simply because nobody spoke up when we were down. Ratchford was not the answer last season, now whether the Maguire thing really did cause a split in the team or not we have never known. All I know is we need someone behind the sticks geeing the lads up if we are down. Since Briers who was a monster with his vocals on the pitch only players I know was Gidley and Sims that would often have a voice. I just think you have to have a vocal leader on the field.

Surely Williams is a candidate as the previous poster opined.

Paul Vaughan might be a goer. Well respected & sure of his place. No matter who is chosen as Captain the main decision maker on the field will be Williams but he may not want to have the captain label on him.

We've squandered so many opportunities when we have been poor, and in no danger of relegation, that I have little confidence of Hayes and others getting a go.

We don`t seem to grasp that the youngsters actually want to win games, and always try their best.

It is just a job, to Drinkwater Dudson etc, most of the time last season, they couldn`t give a monkeys whether we lose.

Steady on. Know lots of old farts who have run their blood to water & several young 'uns who have so much to learn & have no influence on a game. It is not quite as clear cut as it seems. Picking out the good youngsters is the key ... not just picking youngsters.

Well Mr Burgess is a big fan of Crowther so you can see that out and out effort is going to be rewarded.

“Well Mr Burgess is a big fan of Crowther so you can see that out and out effort is going to be rewarded.”

And that’s why he was so keen to sign Powell apparently.

I don’t like squad numbers as it displays seniority with the first 13, giving them a sense untouchability, like Drinkwater 7.
I can see with the post on here that you think that too.

Go back to earn the shirt, or if squad numbers are mandatory, then award alphabetically.

Change my name to Josh Aardvark then

Or it’s a target on your back for up and coming players to aim for. The problem for young players is often that they don’t get a natural run of games so when they get an opportunity they have to really seize it.

Yes it's not easy to force yourself in when you haven't trained so much in that position & and the standard of defences is so different at Super League level than at Academy
or Reserve level.

The NRL never used to use squad numbers (not sure if thats still the case)
I remember watching games and the 1-17 was accurate to whoever was picked in those position. If Brad Fittler was playing 13 that day he wore 13 not 6. I like to know what positions theyre playing based on the number. However i understand having squad numbers is money driven and is extra revenue for the club.
As for the drinkwater example. i believe no player should be untouchable and a younger player should want to aim for the no 7 shirt regardless of whether another player has their name on the back.

Been a bit of talk of Hayes not being big enough. Not sure about this as Saints did there very best to trample all over him when they battered us for a full 40 minutes and I thought he stood up superbly in defence - won't get many bigger tests than that.

NRL still don't use squad numbers.

can you imagine the itching on here by the usual suspects if we did that.

jesus, i'd hand me cards in.

Australia did it in the world cup based on number of caps, didn't they, with the captain as 1.

So, Ratch can get his number 1 shirt back lol.

Who is our longest serving player after that? Currie?

Just go back to the days of match day 1 to 13, with subs of 14 to 17.

The problem previously was not squad numbers, it was the inability (or reluctance) to drop the 'big' players out of the side on form I am hoping this will not be the case with SB. i.e) if Drinkwater plays in 2024 as he did in 2023 then the '7' shirt won't protect him. Just like the '6' shirt did not protect Cade Cust for Wigan.

Some players have the number written into their contact before they sign, so the club honours it wether they perform or not I’m afraid.

I am sure the club would say that idea is nonsense.

Not Saying Warrington do, but some SL clubs do , especially regarding big money / marquee signings.