100% agreement with every word of this
I'm still scratching my head as to why we need him NOW
We've already got better, and he's hardly 'ripping up trees' currently for us to sign him now, as one for the future.
Let others have him. When Briers retires, I'm sure we can do better than Ratchford, and we've allready got better options at centre...keep clear imo

Rob, if we do get him, the vibe is he's coming as Hodgson's replacement, not Briers. (as that third pivot at fullback).

It will mean I presume that he'll cover the halves next year, playing the odd game at FB whilst learning the position. I don't see a replacement for Hodgson kicking around in SL, so I think it's something worth doing myself. He's an elusive runner and has a good pair of hands.

We could still then get a replacement for Briers from either SL or the NRL.

His best position IMO would be centre. Throw a couple of stone on him and some of his movement would be Newlove-esque.

Jeez lets give the lad a chance. IF he does end up at the HJ that is.

I don't see what's wrong with developing O'Brien with Myler (if we want to take a risk). If not, we get someone in from NRL.

I've yet to see (regularly) how Ratchford could improve our side/squad, and he'll account for a decent amount of wage, too

I see what you mean, sign a stand off for big money thats occasionally played at centre and groom him as a fullback.

You may point to Sam Tomkins reverting from the halves to fullback as an example, thats a different story as he's a freak of a player talent wise that was already on Wigan's books so it wasn't going to cost them anything money wise to try him out at fullback, its going to cost any club a fair bit for Ratchford's services.

Ratchford doesn't look like a natural last line of defence to me, can he read the game like a Wellens, Radlinski or Hampson ? Ive seen no evidence of that from the times ive seen him on sky, Tomkins even when he was in the half backs was always looking for work and tackles, i'm not so sure that ive seen Ratchford go out of his way too often to get involved in defence and the graft that he'll need to do at fullback.

I just prey we don't sign him any capacity, i can't see how he'll be an improvement on what we already have in Hodgson at fullback or Briers at stand off. Any signings we make of a significant note (Like possibly Ratchford who would be a significant signing money wise) must be better than what we already have to improve us, i don't see him as that.

Ratchford Might be staying at Salford after all !! Just been on the Super League Show !!

Well I think we safely say it's either stay at Salford or go to Warrington.

Yes, One or the Other !!

Grix has converted from a utility player to a SL fullback, some people think he's perhaps the most improved player in SL at present. There's plenty in RL that have made the transition.

We have to replace Hodgson Rob in a years time, if Smith thinks there's no fullbacks kicking around of that standard who can fulfil that role - not just play fullback but act as a third pivot and create say 30 tries a season, but he sees a player playing in another position at the minute that he feels he can convert to play the 'Hodgson role', I don't see a problem. Plyers don't regress at our club, they get better.

Forget the salary, it's not about that. It's about how we (as a club) find a way not to miss Hodgson, then try to do the same with Briers, then Morley, then Monas etc ... That'll be the trick.

"I could still stay with Salford" - a trick to get the Salford fans onside me thinks.

I think it is pretty much certain we have him. Too much smoke for there to be no fire.

League express says today he's signed a 3yr deal with catalans

Does anybody think it's because of his riff with Carvell and their training ground bust up a few weeks ago

And is it true he doesn't even speak to Westwood

I heard exactly the same thing. Allegedly TS asked LAnderson to find a new club over this incident.

Note this may be completely wrong!

I thought the club had offered him a new contract and were disappointed that it wasn't accepted.

Fighting with Carvell and Westwood sounds better though.

Pity he's leaving as I really like him & the impact he has, hopefully it will free up some4 space on the salary cap for the younger lads

The rumour about the Andersons and Westwood has been going around for years. Can't imagine it's true. Never heard the Carvell rumours, our town loves a good gossip, so it's probably bs.

Maybe it is a mixture of the two? Like a WWE grudge match where LAnderson had to fight Carvell for a new contract, Carvell won by holding LAnderson in a four figure armlock and making him tap out.

I've heard the Carvell and Louis rumour, I was told that was why Gaz wanted to leave but then Louis agreed a deal with Catalans so Carvell then stayed.

Sounds abit peculiar mind. Again, don't know if it's true or not.

Why would anyone fall out with the Anderson's? Never a nicer couple of blokes have I met.

Its definitely true about the bust up, I heard it from a certain wolves player.
Carvell and Louis Anderson did have a training ground bust up, weather Smith asked Louis to find a new club on the back of it im not too sure.
Rumours also have it that both Louis and Vinny Anderson fell out with Westwood a few years back.
I would not be surprised if Louis was not well liked by the other players and I would not be surprised if that was one of the reasons he is leaving.
Next time Anderson plays watch how he interacts with the other players especially Westwood and Carvell, body language is very telling.

I played rugby many moons ago, i couldn't stand about 4 or 5 players, it's not as big a news as people make out, team mates doesn't equate to friends away from the game.

As long as they listen to the coach and work together on the pitch it really is a mute point.

What did Westwood do? He always reminds me of the honeymonster, how did these fine people end up falling out?

Don't be nosey

They argued over you. Louis said you were okay, Westwood said you were a tosspot, one thing led to another, Ben pinched Louis, Louis gave him a dead leg. Not spoke since.

I'm 'TEAM BEN', me.