Considering how low we must be on cap, I think Russell is a coup in contrast, we aren’t going to get anyone better for the money.
We at least have some depth in the outside backs now.

I think we are a better squad with him than without him. He had a good WC for Scotland too, so he’s in good shape.


As alway for me at the start of the season, a clean slate. Welcome back Matty.

Dead right Ducky. Clean slate.

He had a pretty good 2014 ? campaign IIRC. Was scoring tries and supporting well. Also topped the stats of tackle busts and post contact metres. Then it all went pear shaped. Can't really say i've been impressed with him for Toulous or Scotland. So this definately comes as a surprise.

My problem with clean slate is that he dirtied it here. He's said himself he was overweight (and I think turning up drunk/hungover), we nursed him through that period so as a club, we have a clear conscience. To resign a player who has had issues and has caused the club issues it questionable. Especially seemingly at the expense of youth.

My post by the way is in no way intended to damn Matty to a life of hard labour, i wish him well,.i just would've preferred to wish him.well at Wakefield, not here.

I'm also surprised Powell has taken him considering his end of season interview about attitude etc.

As ever with these things, nobody happier than me if I'm proven wrong but I don't like this signing one bit.

I have no words.

But I do have a keg of my experimental lockdown mulled wine/Harvey's cocktail that is calling me.

When I saw the rumour it did make a little bit of sense to me. It would be great to have somebody like Makinson that Carrie's the ball well on tackle 1 or 2 but is also a world class finisher but there are not many of them around. Blake Fergusson would have been a better target.
Russell was the only opposition player when we played Tolouse that I was worried about. He is still a handful early in the tackle count and i was always concerned about the speed of the play the ball and defenders still on the floor. I appreciate that he might be blocking a pathway for a younger player but with Thewlis and Ashton returning the ball on tackle 1 and 2 they are often dominated and we struggle to get a roll on.

I am not too disappointed. By his own admission he had some problems at the tail end of his first stint with us and let's hope he can put a few things right. However the moment he is 5 yards out from the try line with defenders coming across and he puts the brakes on there will be a meltdown here saying x player would have scored.

We would all like a winger that scored length of the field tries every week but in the modern game we have to accept that we also need them to create havoc on play 1/2.

Providing the rest of the team are in on the plan & can spot a chance to support the ball carrier ,scooting from DH is probably the best chance of creating broken field running which we have done well with in the past.

Shit signing

People trying to defend this signing are part of the problem. No other top 6 or even top 8 club would touch him(and before anyone starts, I know we finished 11th!). Daryl "I give opportunities to young players" Powell has lost whatever plot he had.

We really have turned into a comedy club.
Even more baffling than the return of Blythe, a few years ago.

As I've said for years, ANY youth players we have (unless they're the reincarnation of Ellery Hanley) , may as well leave.

Well here's 1 fan less they'll see next season if he plays regular 1st team rugby.

What a joke.....

Any chance you can share that around, a few of us feeling numb by this signing.

Literally can't complain with this at all, he's experienced, strong, still a try scorer and he's still fast as fook. He's signed as cover on a 1 year deal and will keep Ashton and Thewlis on their toes. And if Ashton or Thewlis.....or hopefully not, both get injured. He'll do a good job stepping in. Literally can't complain at all other than just to moan.

Did you attend the Wire v Wigan game at the HJ?

Bevan French was brilliant, and certainly no better than Ashton or Thewlis on plays 1/2.

1% improvement on Minikin



Not sure how feel about this signing, I can see the pros and cons to both sides. Yes he’s an experienced winger, makes a lot of meters and difficult to tackle but remember how poop he was at the tail end of his last stint with us. Whether he was fumbling behind his own line, out of position from a kick in behind or completely miss-reading an opposition attack and punching out the line.. I just hope he’s improved on those fundamentals.

Take Dufty, Thewlis & Ashton out that back line it looks more like we are planning for the championship then the top 4..

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... n-25597858 Perhaps brings a sense of perspective (and yes I know stats don’t always tell the full story, but they seem pretty consistent)

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... n-25597858 Perhaps brings a sense of perspective (and yes I know stats don’t always tell the full story, but they seem pretty consistent)

Similar to the rhinos signing Derrell Olpherts.

It's a back that will make good yards out of backfield, win a few pens , win some 6 agains and generally get you on the front foot. Probably a steady Eddie and might make some handling errors. Again, like Olpherts.

It's a funny one and I understand why coaches like these players compared to a flying youth team winger who might be quicker and score more eye catching tries but won't make the same impact returning the ball in their younger years as they're not physically at their peak, like Qareqare at Cas for example.

I feel short term vision is OK but potentially negatively impacting the longer game. Saints did it fine with makinson the battering ram and Grace the pace.

I think we once claimed Basil Richards was the 'new Hanley'. Pretty much a comedy club back then. I've just been in St.bens club and they had a re-run of the 2009 Cup final playing on the big screen. I've just had to watch the likes of morley, Briers, King, monaghan, Westwood etc playing for us a few hours after hearing we've re-signed matty Russell! What on earth has happened to this club? It's not as if we're skint.

I don’t think he’s that bad as a back up winger, but he’s just not needed. Potentially taking a spot away from Thewlis, Wrench, Thewlis, Lynch. If we didn’t have Minikin I could come to terms with this signing, (and I think Russell is better than Minikin). But his cap value should have been added to the pot to bring in the best centre we can afford - a position we are really short in.

Hopefully Ashton and Thewlis don’t get injured otherwise our back line will be:

Dufty
Minkin
Mata’utia
Ratchford
Russell

Blimey ... with the clean slate theme in mind ... he looks a useful boy to have around. Those who do nothing but moan will have their fun. The rest will wait and see.

To be honest we did well to get him. Saints, Wigan, Catalans and a couple of top NRL clubs were in for him given his record and all round game.

I think you have a very high opinion of an individual supporter’s influence on the club than the reality. Which of course means that you labelling those of us that haven’t donned the sack cloth and ashes as “part of the problem “ is laughable.
Keep up the good work though.

Sometimes it’s that extra 1% that someone can put in, that makes a difference.

2023 is DP’s own team.
Clean slate.
In Powell we trust.