At times we have 13 players on the field who are ineffective in defence , such is the hot & cold nature of the squad.

Spot on.

I like Powell but I'm taking Clark all day every day. He was an absolute machine for us who always gave 100% and ran his guts to water every week, often playing through the pain barrier, the ultimate professional and always reliable. If there's anyone that deserved re-signing over the last 10 years it was him.

I'd say that we replaced Clark with Walker, (promoting him to starting 9 or not guaranteeing Clark a start take your pick) and replaced Walker with Dwyer subsequently Powell, it's not quite the same thing

I agree in principle and think I've stated this earlier in the thread but I'm not privy to the finer details.

Whilst any contractual arrangement needs to be fair, it does need to suit both parties, ultimately the Club needs to assess against the needs of others and the squad as a whole salary cap, future recruitment, and player development from the junior ranks.

clark had a good game for saints at the weekend, i've watched all their other games, he's been on the bench, i'm far from a massive walker fan, but i'd rather have walker at the moment, than clark for 3 years.

Also, the usual suspects who are complaining now, would be the first to jump on the club, if we'd signed him on a 3 yr deal, and he was e. as i've said before, with some people, they just can't win.

just to say, powell's better games for us have been when he's been playing 13, as first receiver/link man, and probably a better person shifting the ball than currie has been.

I would have rather had Walker starting and Clark on the bench.

Nah there wouldn’t have been many people miffed off with Clark getting another deal. It’s hardly comparable to Ratchford being offered another deal say.

Wasted Dc at Wire, he had all the necessary tools to be a world class player, unfortunately Wire dinner give him the opportunity to showcase himself. It was the right time to let him go, he had looked knackered for about 3 years now.

One player who my mate reckoned Wire should have resigned was Blake Austin, he said Austin would have been a brilliant 13 for a couple of seasons.

nah, size wise maybe, he didn't want to tackle and he was incredibly rigid in terms of game plan.

And looks a better 13 than Clark is when Walker came on.
At least he seems to enjoy the role when moved from 9.

Jenna asking Nicholson if he's staying or going threw me off, I thought it was confirmed awhile ago he's off to Canberra?

****Ahh just watching it it all now and sam just said he is off, thought it was old news ha ha

Matty Ashton new contract to offset some of the pain, to be announced as far as I know.

Nope hadnt been confirmed by either club just heavily repeated itk and paper talk

Well it’s official now and we have made an offer for Rhyse Martin.

Am I being miserable in not being enamoured with Rhyse Martin ? I really want Nicholson replacing with a beast of a second row…we lack size there.

Rhyse Martin is okay, whereas Nicholson is just becoming world class. However, there are good options available at second row coming through the ranks. Martin is a filler who is excellent at converting tries.

If we'd spent big cap space on a world-class second rower, we might have lost Ashton (international class winger) and not been able to bolster the centre positions (and I have a feeling we'll have to spend big on one of those for 2025).

I trust Burgess' judgement on this. He seems to have moderated KFP and reigned him and the board in from spending silly money. One prime example would be Tom Burgess... imagine how Hudds fans are feeling now, knowing all their filthy lucre is going on one prop (for three years!) who is past his best.

Surely we should be looking at taking Nikorima for the rest of the season at least? He's twice the player Drinkwater is and Drinkwater has a rejected a new deal and off to Salford next season.

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... on-wolves/

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... on-wolves/

I know nothing (think Manuel in Fawlty Towers) but whilst he may have talent he's been binned off. Why would you potentially disrupt the team ethic when all of this squad building should be part of a managed plan both in cap and building from the junior ranks?

You may say that for half a season what's the risk, if we've £space fill it but I think that it sends the wrong message AND you never know we may actually have a plan.

BTW no matter how it pans out I'm enjoying watching a group with better balance and a team ethic

Probably not. Decent enough but not going to figure in a team that wins trophies.

No!

27 years old with less than a dozen games in the NRL and only a dozen games for Catalans.

For a comparison see Lachie Miller at Leeds (age, lack of NRL games). Would you want to sign him, I think I know the answer.

On top of that, Nikorima seems happy enough to break club protocol ... surely not a signing Sam would even consider.

100% spot on. Think it’s crazy if this even entered into Chambers head. Given what’s come out regarding the contracts being torn up they should be lucky if they get a contract anywhere.

Well Burgess and Co were happy to sign Zane Musgrove. He makes Nikorima look like a church choir boy.

I hardly think Nikorima pulling a one off sickie is going to disrupt team chemistry. Deary me.

Is he a better player than Drinkwater? Yes. Will he improve us? Yes.

In other news, I believe Luke Yates has asked for an early release from his Hudds contract to join us this season.

Hope not.

"Deary me" what's all that about??

In the case of Musgrove perhaps Burgess thought that it was an area of the team that needed strengthening, he may have a relationship with the player or his advisors, it was a planned piece of recruitment and he might even had the time to speak with the player to set the club's stall out and to get some reassurances from the player themselves.

IF it was a one off sickie and this guy was squeaky clean in other aspects of his attitude and behavior I'm not so sure that's a sackable offence and it's still a no from me.

And yes I get that and quite like the fact that rugby league teams aren't generally built with "church choir boys" (I'm a big Boyd fan) but to rush into something like this a risk for a potential marginal gain doesn't seem like good business.