Won’t be Salford, he will still be a marquee signing and not many clubs can afford that. Even with the Austin signing we still have a marquee spot available.

No disrespect to Eastmond, but he doesn’t deserve top dollar. Not yet. He needs to prove himself in RL after 7 years out of the game and then look for a decent salary. At the moment he’s struggling to get a decent salary in RU, so I’m not sure what qualifies him to suddenly command top dollar in a different sport, one that pays significantly less on average.

The other dilemma is where to play him. He’s not a creative half back, in the threequarters he’d be a small centre whose RL defence will need A LOT of work... at best he’d slot in at full back, but we currently have the best British full back occupying that position and I don’t think Ratchford would be pleased to see Eastmond take his place on a marquee salary with no justification.

Not saying it wouldn’t work out with Eastmond, but it’s a huge gamble that could upset the squad. He wasn’t exactly Billy Slater when he left 7 years ago, he was just an exciting runner. Kevin Penny was an exciting runner too but I don’t think I’d be looking to re-sign him if he’d left for 7 years in union either...

I think we have KE enough time and with the Million Dollar Man being available we walked away.
I believe we did leave the agent with a 'take it or leave it' deal.

I believe we did that with Sam too...after asking him to pretty much to add his own noughts in the cheque...and he still went back to the Pies.

Why not...we re-signed him after he left for Swinton?

I’m referring to the marquee situation Sally - of course Eastmond should get a chance on a cheap deal. That’s what I’d put forward in my first paragraph. Pretty sure Kevin Penny came back on around £20k with a view to proving himself in Super League again. Common sense should see the other marquee spot spent on an experienced pivot to guide us round the pitch.

There’s only three teams in this league who’ve regularly won Super League, and none of them seem to have been chasing Eastmond. Maybe we should try to emulate their methods first before we go experimenting with what I see as an expensive publicity stunt.

I think Austin is along that line Easy...I happen to think we'll win the GF this year any way.

Can't see it...Wigan or saints will win it....

We know the measure of Wigan....
The Saints game...well that's going to be coming at a time both teams could do without...it may not be a yard stick match.

I think you'll find Daz C is our other marquee player

It is a great testament to the patient squadbuilding that TS did over the past few seasons that he has left Steve Price with a squad ready to win GFs rather than needing to be reconstructed from scratch.

No he is not,Karl Fitzpatrick confirmed we only have 1 marquee player.

How can you type with your tongue so far in your cheek? Very impressive

Is it not possible we've shifted Clark to marquee when it suits?

Fishing again?

I will make it simple for you. Only 1 club in super league currently as 2 marquee players, Wigan with Tomkins and Williams.

No
I heard there was a period where Clark was to be used as a marquee.
Circumstance may had changed throughout a season so accounts didn’t have to include him?

I honestly don't know so just putting it out there.

There are 5 marquee signings in SL according to Carl Fitzpatrick.
G. Williams, S. Tomkins, J. Roby, B Barba and T. Roberts

Yeh I forgot Saints had 2 aswell

He he. Maybe we should get him back to oversee youth development, recruitment and to consult on "winning finals" attitudes.

Roby has done well to get that large salary as he approaches his 40s.

Why not....he has won three Challenge Cups, two Grand Finals and a World Club Challenge so at least he has been there and done it. What other current or former Warrington coaches have won as many finals?

Why do you keep comparing Smith to previous pre-Money Warrington coaches? You wouldn't do the same with squads as it is equally pointless. So let's compare objectively...

In 14 years as a coach at two wealthy clubs, that's a poor return by Smith.

It's quite obvious when you consider that in the period of the last 6 years where Smith has delivered absolutely nothing, Wane has won 2 GFs, 1 WCC, 1 x CC, Domestic double. McDermott 3 GFs, 1 WCC, 2 x CC, Domestic Treble.

Shaun Wane too blows TS return out of the water and only half the time and near equaled already by a then rookie Lee Rads in a 1/3 of that.

SC refers back to a time when we were broke or tight for comparison against our own history and never against our then current top of the league rivals.

SC is TS.

McDermott and Wane are both available for next season, will Warrington be an ambitious enough club to bring one of them in or will we do the usual 'snooze and lose'?

If we brought them in, would you expect them to replicate their trophy count with us and our resources, or would you secretly harbour doubts that say McDermott even with big resources, may not be quite as successful without his core of Sinfield, Burrow, McGuire etc around.

We might have a great team next year when Ste Price can have a pre season, & deal his own hand instead of playing with Smith's busted flush.