With regards to Patton, he came into the team at the back end of 2016 and looked inexperienced but not massively out of place in A LLS winning team. In 17 we made NRL / NSW and ex kangaroo players look bad. We made Brown look bad when Bennet still had faith in him to take him to the world cup so all through last year and the early parts of this season is maybe not a fair reflection of Pattons ability at halfback. He has done ok in short spells at 9 but we still dont know what he can do at 6 or 7 playing in a team that is full of confidence and playing for each other (which they werent until April 1icon_cool.gif. Maybe the spells at hooker could be a longer term plan to toughen him up and for people around him to start to trust him, the forwards can get used to him calling the shots from 9 so that if he does have to drop in at halfback and he will be hearing all the calls from Brown and Roberts. I have not given up on him yet.

This Patton debate would have been super toxic if we had been struggling.

Aussie coach comes in, keeps home grown halfback out of the side in favour of big money Aussie import who is apparently undroppable despite indifferent form, and is now playing him out of position, meanwhile Wigan are apparently set to sign him.

That should have been debate of the year on here!

But a winning team, apparently happy camp has strengthened Price's position amongst the supporters.

Fair post Sally

A more relevant debate might be what is Patton's best position. I've always thought he lacks the pace off the mark to be a top half-back but he's looking like he could be a very decent hooker.

Patten is handy on the bench...much more value than Dwyer had been.
A bench of 3 forwards and Patton will win us the double.

Not sure if the door closes on young Smith now.

I'm finding it difficult to believe that Wigan see Dec Patton as a first choice half-back. Mind you I have been wrong before.

You could argue he's as good as Matty Smith and James L...they are both champion players for Wigan.

I agree, but they do have a habit of developing young talent further. One could also argue that they find it difficult to believe that Warrington see Kyle Eastmond as a first-choice halfback or centre. In both cases, time will tell!

It's strange that some are thinking that Eastmond might play centre in League. He will be being lined up as a Stand Off. He plays centre in Union but that's totally different.
re. Patton ... Wigan will have to be very clever if they can give him extra pace off the mark.

I agree.
I said it before. He needs the extended pre season to condition himself to lose fat. He'll be right come 2019 for hb.
Everyone seems to judge the book by its extra covering.

Why, it's where he ended up for Saints? He was good with the ball at 6 in terms of ability, but when he was with us he was literally terrified of taking the line on. At centre he was dangerous as early ball would give him plenty of room to use his pace. Those who have watched him recently are questioning whether that pace still exists and for me that's what will decide both where he plays and whether he'll be a success.

If he still has pace the logical place for him to play is fullback. It's where he'd be playing if he came through the league system now.

He'll get that pace back when he loses a stone.
....yes I'd play him fb and get Ratchford back at 6.

Ratchford at 6? Quelle suprise....he's fine where he is at the moment IMO, decent under a bomb and joining the attacking on both sides, where previously he, or may be we, went predominantly left.

It surprises me that both Smith and Price were/are keen on Eastmond to be honest. Is this Morans influence by any chance, rather than someone Price has identified as being a good fit?

Who were your half-backs at the time?

Ratchford has to stay at FB for me.....IF he comes...and its a big IF IMO...he will replace Brown at 6

No way. Ratchford was a poor six and is thriving from not having responsibility as a main play maker. Right now he is playing the best football of his career at fullback and it would be a ridiculous decision to move him out of that role.

Agree with this.

It wasn't that long ago you said he wasn't a fb.

Ratchford is the best English fullback in Superleague.

I wouldn't argue with that...but if I had Sam and Steph in the same team....both of them would play and Ratch would be my 6 and Sam my 1.

This. Crazy to suggest anything else!

I think initially it was Leon Pryce and Sean Long (And we still didn't win the Grand Final, shows how standards have dropped in SL. Can you imagine how dominant a team with those two in the same side would be these days?), but quickly became the infamous 'Lomaskell', Lomax and Gaskell. Eastmond did play at 1, 6 and 7, but was terrorised by the fans, players and coaches in the halves at Saints because he was so scared of taking the line on.

Looking at Youtube clips of him from last year, he seems plenty fast enough, lightening quick. I think he could be a great signing for you.

He'll do for me. Everything is a risk but I'd be dead chuffed if we get him.