He's still under contract at Warrington.

I think we could afford him dependant on a few factors. Likely if Warrington would pay a percentage and who else we signed. I would say we still have a fair chunk of budget left with 11 or so players gone and 4 signed up.

If Ratchford were available he would be an ideal option for us being able to cover a number of positions.

He signed a new 2 year deal at the back end of the season. He was given the number 4 shirt by Wire just two weeks ago and the only player who would likely push him out of that position is Connor Wrench and he's out injured for the half of the season. In addition he is their primary goalkicker and the Drinkwater deal still hasn't been confirmed so he might be needed their yet. I'd say this is up there with the biggest non-story this board has ever had.

I don't think we'll be spending as much as we did last year, it's unlikely we'll be spending that money like for like. He'd be a fantastic signing for us, he's still a very good player. I just can't see it myself.

Neither can I but we could afford him I’m sure. I’m really excited to see smith though.

I agree. I've not seen anything other than what's on here to suggest he's available. And even if he was, I think there'd be bigger clubs in front of us.

I don't know. The club will always be willing to pay double for one player in comparison to another.

Nothing narky about the question you were asked, quite simply you did not have an answer to your comment and like the rest of us your not really in the know as you would have us believe.

I don't think you need to be 'in the know' to understand our budget limitations, the club are pretty open about it. But you're right, I've not seen the finances and we could just be waiting for the right time to announce a couple of marquee signings.

Sums my point up perfectly.

I don’t think there will be any ‘marquee’ signings by Trinity…..2 or 3 solid signings will do hopefully….

We have lost 14 players from 2022 while signing 5.


IN:
Taufua
Butler
Bowden
Proctor
Smith

OUT:
Johnstone
Tupou
Minns
Croft
Evans
Tanivalu
Miller
Walker
Adebiyi
Arona
Fifita
Shaw
Aydin
Batchelor

I think there should be another 3/4 signings with 2 being of good quality and another 2 being squad players.

If we signed 4 that’s 9 in 14 out so 5 players less.

I’d be fine with that.

Tbh though a couple were trialists that probably weren’t on mega bucks and a young lad.

Of the players on that list who have not been confirmed as re-signed or left the one I would be disappointed to lose would be issac Shaw… who (IMO) showed genuine potential… a former junior international who looked strong, mature and assured in transitioning to first grade…

I thought he had SL regular and possible international potential written all over him!

Did he leave?, quit?, pushed out?, gone travelling?

We don’t know if he has actually left, same goes for Croft. Mind you we only found out for sure that Evans was leaving because a journalist asked a direct question during the world cup and army John disappeared off the face of the earth without a trace. It’s an area that the club definitely needs some improvement in.

No idea on Shaw tbh, but we’re he leaving you’d have expected some press speculation. He’s not a super hot property like Murphy or Eseh but if the likes of Ruan and Wesley? Can garner interest you’d expect Shaw would.

He could be taking time out to finish exams maybe, does happen but I don’t know.

In thing I am sure about is that Applegarth will know better than any other coach in SL as to whether Shaw is or isn’t worth it. Not to say he’s infallible but all the same.

Quote ="Sacred Cow"He signed a new 2 year deal at the back end of the season. He was given the number 4 shirt by Wire just two weeks ago and the only player who would likely push him out of that position is Connor Wrench and he's out injured for the half of the season. In addition he is their primary goalkicker and the Drinkwater deal still hasn't been confirmed so he might be needed their yet. I'd say this is up there with the biggest non-story this board has ever had.'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63730072 Wire have signed Drinkwater.

Quote ="Sacred Cow"He signed a new 2 year deal at the back end of the season. He was given the number 4 shirt by Wire just two weeks ago and the only player who would likely push him out of that position is Connor Wrench and he's out injured for the half of the season. In addition he is their primary goalkicker and the Drinkwater deal still hasn't been confirmed so he might be needed their yet. I'd say this is up there with the biggest non-story this board has ever had.'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63730072 Wire have signed Drinkwater.

Seems a few clubs trying to offload a few quota players. Hopefully we don’t get any deals far down the line ambushed.

You could literally be describing Adin as well, very disappointed that we didn’t work harder to keep Adin and Batchelor

This one has been on the cards for a while now.
Good move for Warrington I think.
I assume Catalans are bringing in a big name.

I don't think we could have kept Batch no matter what. He wanted to go. It wasn't a last minute decision.
Aydin I'm not sure. I'd have kept him but he has the same agent as Batch as far as I know so his head was probably turned late on.

I know it wasn’t money with Batch, he was disappointed with his minutes on the pitch and his relationship with a certain individual at the club seems to have broken down so much that it was virtually irretrievable. That said, it wouldn’t take too much to have attempted to repair the relationship rather than digging your heels in and letting him walk.

I will make an assumption that this refers to one of the former coaching staff.

You know this how?

And even if you do, have you heard both sides of the story?

I don't know what happened by the way, but I do know it's never as straightforward as players all wear white hats and coaches/directors wear black.

I haven’t placed any blame or put anyones case over the other, just said that maybe more could have been done to repair the relationship rather than just allowing the situation to end with a parting of ways.

Batch is one of the best young back rowers in the country and he was home grown, I’m disappointed that it ended with him leaving

Batch really benefited from the increased opportunities the Reece Lyne injury gave him, but I think he'd already dug his hole by then though.
We spent too long in that certain for relegation slot during May/June/July too.