Yep, one day Hull will gel and win the GF. On the other hand I’ve been thinking the same about us for over a decade.

If we are hypothetically going to swap squads then the first thing I’d look at is the spine of 1, 6, 7 and 9. If we think about our first choice props who will setting the platform, they’re both internationals (and with Currie and Holmes in the second row it’s not looking as shabby as we maybe think it is). So at Warrington we have in the spine:

1) Ratchford (international and Harry Sunderland winner)
6) Widdop (international and proven class in the NRL)
7) Williams (international and didn’t flop in the NRL)
9) Clark (international and Lance Todd trophy winner)

Are we really going to give that up because Leeds, Wigan, Cats and Hull have back up forwards that we perceive to be better? Leeds have signed a couple of NRL journeymen at half back. They’re good on their day, we know that, but they failed in the NRL. Suddenly they sign for Leeds and they’re world-class. Harry Smith, Sam Powell and Kade Kust? The Wigan forwards had better lay a decent platform because I haven’t seen anything to convince me that they’ll be tearing it up. Cats, yes they have some proven NRL experience there. It’s a closer one, but I’m not sure they’ll be the same without Maloney. Hull? Some big Polynesian forwards there. Not sure why Gale and Connor are seen as superior to what we have though.

The most interesting thing about that video of Powell’s first meeting the other day was his references to that famous Legacy book. One of the big things to take away from that book is the bit about picking a team on character, rather than just individual abilities. Maybe that has played a big part in Powell’s decision to let some of our bigger ‘stars’ go.

I think we don't have enough 'nastiness' in our squad.
Our pack is almost 'too nice'.

Which of our players do the opposition really dislike because they get under their skin?
McIllorum springs readily to mind. Truly horrible player and full of 'grubiness' BUT there is no doubt in my mind he brings a lot to Cats - even if that means he gets more attention from the opposition giving others more time.
Jake Connor is another one.
I think many opposition fans would put Benny Westwood in that category, but we don't have a player like him now I think.

Then again in this day and age, and the way the game is played does it matter that much?

Oli Holmes isn't a "Nice" player when he gets riled up and has Flattened a fair few people who have had a go at him He hits wellabove his weight and i'm happy as pie we have him.
But yeah i get what you mean about our forwards are too nice and not enough nastiness. But hopefully if we click and get Bullock and Butler firing right we'll be fine

Whether someone has past international caps or previously won an award in a big game is just a signal of reputation, what matters is how good they are now. Roy Asotasi had loads of international caps and had once been a top 2 or 3 prop in the NRL but that didn't mean anything when he played for us.

We have people on this forum talking up all our 'internationals' for years. Next time we're playing crap and 12 points down, look round the field at all the internationals and ask yourself which one of these is going to step up and show their international calibre and take the initiative to turn the game around. Or are they all just kind of frozen and going through the motions and powerless to change the direction of the game?

I would not swap Clark for anyone in the league, he is 100% top class. The other three....on the evidence of last year they were not the players they had been a few years earlier.

I am not that bothered about getting 'grubs' like those guys. When we had guys like Morley, Carvell, Hill, Wood they weren't doing grubby underhand stuff or winding up the opposition but they were guys nobody took liberties with. It's the same with Leeds when they had Leuluai, Peacock, JJB. They imposed themselves on the game without being little poops.

But we’re talking about those players relative to their counterparts at our nearest rivals. How did Austin, Sezer, Smith, Cust, Connor, Gale, Walker et al get on last season? We finished clear in 3rd and 3 points off 1st didn’t we? So we can’t be that bad. We just need to improve in attack and not get rattled in important matches.

Quote ="easyWire"We finished clear in 3rd and 3 points off 1st didn’t we? So we can’t be that bad. We just need to improve in attack and not get rattled in important matches.'" I think we were 7 points off 1st although Cats played 2 more games, 1 point behind Saints. https://www.rugby-league.com/match-centre Although it felt like more we only lost 5 league games Castleford (a) Hudds (h) Leeds (h) Wakefield (a) Saints (h) We beat Catalans home and away, Wigan home and away, Saints away, Leeds away, The rest of the league below us lost 10 or more games.

Quote ="easyWire"We finished clear in 3rd and 3 points off 1st didn’t we? So we can’t be that bad. We just need to improve in attack and not get rattled in important matches.'" I think we were 7 points off 1st although Cats played 2 more games, 1 point behind Saints. https://www.rugby-league.com/match-centre Although it felt like more we only lost 5 league games Castleford (a) Hudds (h) Leeds (h) Wakefield (a) Saints (h) We beat Catalans home and away, Wigan home and away, Saints away, Leeds away, The rest of the league below us lost 10 or more games.

I completely forgot that Ratchford was a Harry Sunderland trophy winner in 2018.

Spot on Sal, they left that to Ablett and Bailey.

A signing I try to forget

I think that we were duped with Roy (the warning signs were a bit late when he went MIA for Samoa) but yes despite his 'GF rings' Bailey was a low ebb for sure as far as our recruitment is concerned.

A TS charity case.

They've signed Pearce though who is better than Maloney.

More about bedding in, and team dynamics. Hence the uncertainty.

Better individually, but will Pearce have the effect that Maloney seemed to have on Cats? It was like he was a catalyst. I guess we'll know soon enough.

Also, Maloney managed to get a few games for the national team as well as SOO didn't he?

Definitely.

Smith awarded Bailey a contract at Warrington because he felt sorry for him.

Pearce and Maloney have similar histories in NRL in terms of appearances and SOO appearances for NSW. Maloney did play for Australia 3 times as well. There isn't much in it and I haven't seen enough of them to say if Pearce is better or worse. However Maloney fully bought in to the Catalans and became a key player who was probably their most important player, there is no guarantee that Pearce will even settle in the Northern hemisphere, nevermind be successful and become as important to Catalans as Maloney. There is a very good chance he does the same but only time will tell.

Catalans have made 3 great signings for next season in
Pearce, Dylan Napa and now Tyrone May. A proper statement of intent. It’s up there with Matt King, Mike Monaghan and Chris Hicks. We can only hope they too don’t gel in their first season. The squad is up there with Saints and again will be the teams to beat.

Pearce is not a patch on maloney. Massive loss for catalans.

In his prime Maloney was the better player but right now Pearce is better. He will be a fantastic signing.

Tomkins, May, Pearce is looking like a dangerous spine. Drinkwater was one of their best last season, interesting to see what happens with him.

I would hope that we'd hold our own in the early rounds. I'd be surprised if we hit the ground running, as we've a number of players that are missing the pre-season. If were top six after 8 rounds, I'd happily take it now, as I'd hope for better things to come as the season unwinds.

I think the players missing are mainly backup options though aren’t they? I think Holmes is supposed to be fit by the start of the season (obviously will take a short while to get up to speed). Our main threats will still be available though won’t they?

EDIT: forgot Clark. When is he fixed? Happy enough with the surprisingly good Walker as backup for the first few weeks.

Yes, this is a great opportunity for Danny Walker to fill his boots and those of DC.