Weird career move for him, given he is smashing it down under, maybe wire through the check book at him?
Maybe Hill is being scouted by an NRL team and they need a replacement?

Or it may be the first genuine time a player is 'missing home' with nothing to do with the rugby

He mentioned he was "returning to family".

From the St George website
"The St George Illawarra Dragons have agreed to a release request from Mike Cooper that will see him depart the Club at the end of the 2016 season.

Cooper's current playing contract was until the end of the 2017 season but he has requested the early release on compassionate grounds to enable his family to return home to the United Kingdom."

So doesn't look as though any fee is going to be paid by Warrington, and he's coming home so his kid & missus can be nearer the family.

I for one am very pleased with Bailey's contribution so far ,but i wonder if maybe the bell is tolling for Westwood.

Westwood has only just signed a new deal...?

Ben Westwood has just signed a years extension which will probably bring his career certainly at Warrington to a natural close. We are really struggling to get Ben Evans out on the park and i would suggest that TS is looking at getting a player with a better record of being on the paddock. I hope he gets decent game time on loan and can finally shake off the injury prone tag. He has time on his side, but is Tony Smiths patience wearing thin.

I think maybe the club has an eye on the hole left when Briers suddenly had to finish. Cooper has come available & yes, we have Westwood on a contract extension ,but in all honesty, a tough end of season could easily affect his effectiveness & fitness for next season. Getting in early for Cooper is an excellent move.

Can we still pay westwood off his full contract for next year before november like we did with spider? or has that been closed off now?

Good move by the club.
When he left us he was a young prop that had a lot to learn and showed flashes of potential.
He wasn't great, he wasn't a first choice starting prop. He didn't make great yards, but showed some neat footwork and had reasonable hands..
But clearly he would appear to have come on significantly in the last 3 years and is regarded as a top prop over the water, so I am pleased based on that recommendation, and more than pleased that he's a Wire lad coming 'home'.
Just hope he has a bigger impact than another prodigal son who came home to the goons but has only played a few games so far and arguably with not so much distinction !!
It's also good that

Haha go on humour me as to why the club should consider this? inlight of benny's performance this year he has earnt the new deal.

haha, i didn't say to do so, just with someone mentioning it, i wondered it as a possiblity.

I heard a rumour going around Leigh a couple of weeks ago that Cooper was on his way home to Warrington and Hill was on his way to NRL.....seems it may be true.

Looks like a solid pack for next year,

Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Hughes, Westerman still first choice.

Cooper, Dwyer, Dodds, Laithwiate, Julien, Westwood a strong back up.

Bailey, Cox, Philbin, Wilde, B Evans, Harrison all in the mix fighting for places in the squad next year. Can't see all of them staying, but strong starting point.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Jordan Cox.
On a 1 year deal...... looks effective when he is on but doesn't play many minutes.

Personally I'd like to see him get a new deal....... any player that takes the ball in without any concern for his own safety has my backing.

Dodds is omly on a 1 year deal although i hope he wants another year.

Presuming we can keep them all out of the NRL...

Hill 28
Clark 23
Cooper 27
Currie 21
Hughes 24
Westerman 26

All British, all either internationals or potential future internationals. This pack potentially could be together for a long time.

Absolutely made up that cooper is coming back, I am sure that will mean that there will be a few being released to accommodate him though. Wheeler (surely), Ben Evans? Harrison? Dodds? I'd like to see Bailey and Cox retained and Dodds too if possible.

I can't see us making many more signings for next year after this news.

Seems perfectly possible, I'm sure he could walk into any top NRL club. However he tweeted this earlier regarding Coops

Massive signing for @wolvesrl who will bring the experience from nrl back with him, also have a good mate back home @MikeCooper_18

Seems a strange comment if he knows they won't be playing together next year.

Think Hill is fairly settled with a young family and doesn't fancy uprooting that. And thank God for that - all we need is for Ben Currie to have a few kids and get married.

I'd be surprised if Dodds will be here now, I'd struggle to see how we can keep him under the cap.

I think we will keep three from BEvans, Harrison, Cox & Bailey. A big part of who we keep will be dependant on what others are prepared to offer.

I think Harrison will stay and I hope Cox does, more so because he has age on his side. That leaves Bailey and BEvans - both playing for contract for me.

I think four props of Hill, Cooper, Sims & Harrison is better than anything else in SL by far. Add to that Cox and A.N.O plus Clark & Dwyer, we have a fantastic front row.

Very good tribute from St George`s Assistant Coach:- www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... n-millward

Very good tribute from St George`s Assistant Coach:- www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... n-millward

I think in these times of austerity that clubs will have think long & hard about which players they can afford to carry in terms of injuries especially if it means depleting the available playing squad & being a drain on the wage bill. Professionalism & sentimentality don't go hand in hand.

I would suspect that if there is a battle between keeping B Evans and B Harrison then BH would win purely on the fact of his known quantity whereas BE is a prospect. BE then drops into the battle with Cox and Bailey.

Cox excites the crowd with his runs, but they are so hard he always seems to rattle his head, which leads him to be less effective.

Bailey is an unknown quantity in the mind as he can be really good, but can loose the plot.

Evans a good young prospect, but sadly gets injured easily.

That leaves us with three very plausible candidates each with there own risks.

Good summary of the players attributes etc.

However, Harrison & Evans have contracts at Wire for 2017, & UP TO NOW Cox & Bailey contracts expire at the end of 2016 season

Bailey looks to be very focused and full of self control at Warrington. Looks a good acquisition on the evidence so far.