Confirmed. Blake Austin to Leeds on a one year deal after the end of the current season.

Well let's make the most of him at loose forward when widdop returns...

Be interesting to see how he fits in with Sezer and Gale already under contract for 2022, my guess is he's signed a one year deal try try and take Gale's spot for 2023.

Not bothered about him going but you just know he'll get MotM in his first game against us.

Well if our players can’t spot his “step” then they should resign in embarrassment.

Austin leaving can only be a positive - it basically confirms that Widdop is staying, doesn't it?

That's been nailed on all year. He still has another year on his contract. Austin was always going to be going this year. Especially when the news of both trueman and then Williams started to emerge.

As far as I know. Someone may correct me trueman still has not signed a new contract at cas beyond the end of next year. He enters his last season and becomes eligible for a tree transfer after the end of next year. Cas have rejected 3 big offers for trueman from us. But with trueman not signing that cas extension. It maybe worth us holding out till he is a free agent.

2022 will be a Williams and widdop half back partnership with 2023 possibly being a Williams and trueman partnership.

Well, I'm sure you've all been extremely pleased with my absence and have enjoyed a break for my doom-mongery and 'glass half empty' persona, but that has now come to an end.

After a year of whatever furlough means, I'm back in the office. And because I'm not a huge fan of the whole "let's all be best mates at work and socialise" I've decided to return sporadically. In order to offer my rugby wisdom and insight.

This is the news I've been Waiting for. As Good as Blake is and the talent and skillset he undoubtedly possesses, he just isn't that good. He isn't an organiser, he's lazy, his defence is questionable, his kicking game is average and predictable, his running game (Which is is strongest feature) has become predictable, which ties in with my point about his laziness.

His first half of the season in which he arrived had us all thinking he was going to be our saviour. however, we just haven't seen anything like that form since his injury at Catalan.

He's on an absolute wedge an all but were not really seeing any consistent performances to warrant it. So, all in all, good news all round for the Wire. We're cutting loose some deadwood (I know he's at the end of his contract but by not offering him a new deal we're cutting ties and letting him go) and signed a better replacement in Williams.

Blake will 100% rip us to shreds when we play Leeds, but if the Leeds fans are happy with that being his one big game a season, then I'm happy for us to facilitate that.

If Blake put half as much effort into his Warrington Career, as he did with his image on Instagram, then he'd be unplayable. However, he doesn't; so he's not.

I agree with a lot of what you say there but don't think it's an issue with his effort or attitude, I think he's a limited player and after those first few months, other teams worked out how to negate his strengths and he wasn't as effective after that.

It is a good move for him though. With Austin, Myler and Dwyer, Richard Agar is starting to assemble a Wire team capable of winning a Grand Final.

Does this leave us with only Matautia as a contracted quota player for next year ?

Does Widdop not count as 'overseas trained'?

Not the worst import of the past 3-5 years and arguably one of the better ones if we compare him to a Roberts or a Sandow.

He didn't play the homesick card, he settled into life with his family and invested his time with the club.

When he goes I'll applaud him on the way out, I'll applaud him upon his return and I wont look back thinking he was the worlds biggest mistake.

Why not Williams and Dean for 2023?

Last year we had BMM, Clark, Austin, Sita, Latu, Mamo, Gelling, plus Widdop, so it would have been 8 from a quota allowance of 7, unless one of the previous 7 had a dispensation for some reason?

I agree with that. I'm not his biggest fan but he's stuck it out and until that injury at Catalan (Micky Mac classic) he had me on the edge of my seat.

I'm yet to see enough of Dean that makes me think he can make the step up to Super League.

Squad for next year up to now. I've probably forgot some players. Where do people think we need to strengthen? Still feel we need an out an out winger.


Stefan Ratchford
Toby King
Peter Ma'autia
Josh Charnley
George Williams
Gareth Widdop
Chris Hill (?)
Daryl Clark
Mike Cooper
Ben Currie
Jack Hughes
Joe Philbin
Oliver Holmes
Joe Bullock
James Harrison
Jason Clark
Matt Davis
Danny Walker
Matty Ashton
Rob Mulhern
Rob Butler
Ellis Robson
Josh Thewlis
Riley Dean
Eribe Doro
Ellis Longstaff

Wish Austin well. Not the best import from down under, but not the worst. Cannot fault him for effort.

The question mark over Chris Hill is massive for me. If he does go then we need a top notch replacement but really good props are thin on the ground. Some people say not to use quota spots on props (not sure why) but if we can get a 60 minute per game machine from the NRL we should be busting a gut to do it

A top notch prop.
Even if Hill stays, him and Cooper are getting no younger.
Back on thread, the last 2 seasons have just been ok, with the odd flash. Started off like a train, though

As most have already said, he hasn't been the worst import we've had, but I think it's fair to say he hasn't lived upto the hype that greeted his arrival and he definitely hasn't lived upto his marquee billing.

Says a lot that his he has only managed to get a 1 year deal at another club, likely on a lot less cash. Compare to Mamo, who has totally exceeded expectations and got himself the security of a 3 year deal, on what I imagine, will be better terms than he is on presently with us.

And that is exactly why nobody is up in arms over Austin leaving.

Could have spat his dummy out when he was dropped but fair play he stuck at it and like many have said nowhere near one of our worst signings and got a feeling he’ll do ok at Leeds.Good luck Blake.

He's a good player, but he isn't marquee standard. He looked like he would be at first but there was a definite decline after the injury. I'd still back him to go really well at Leeds next year but Williams is a more than adequate replacement. Can't keep them all and i think this is good cap space freed up from our point of view.

My guess is he will partner Sezer, Gale is not flavour of the month just now.

Blake Austin to Leeds seems the right move for all concerned.

Wire have Williams, Austin gets a new challenge and Leeds get to freshen up their half backs with the arrival of Austin & Sezer.

Hull KR want Gale for next year apparently.