I don’t know if Thompson wants to come back (I’ve not heard such a rumour) but if he did Saints must surely have first refusal? And then there’s also the issue of whether he’d be demanding more money than he’s worth, which is fine if you’re a George Williams as there aren’t many decent half-backs around, but there are plenty of decent props.

This. 100%

I think butler needs some game time to see what he's got in the locker but we need to sign another IMO.

Bullock will not be Hill's replacement.

Just to be clear this was a mischievous suggestion, no basis for it whatsoever.

I know it was a bit of mischief, but I entertained the idea because we may well need a decent prop now. I'm trying to think who else is acceptable to replace Hill, but on a little bit less money?

When is Watts off-contract, and is he too disruptive?

I’m not sure there are plenty of decent props.

Hill will be a huge loss, he's looking like one of the best props in the league again; if he wants a 2 year deal, I'd give it him.

Anything like an adequate replacement is going to cost big money and will represent a gamble ..... particularly an NRL prop.

Bullock in for Akauola in addition to what we already have in Hill, Cooper, Philbin and Mulhern would be very good. Bullock in for Chris Hill? No thanks. A massive downgrade.

While Hill will be 34 at the start of next season I’m still convinced he’s well worth a two year contract. He’s back to his best this season, puts in good minutes and barely misses a match. With the addition of perhaps Bullock it’d also allow us to use him a little more sparingly in order to keep him fresh rather than flogging him like we have done over the last few years.

I really don’t get the thought process behind not keeping him. Realistically, how many props are there around and available who are better than him, or at least as good as him? Not many, if any at all in my opinion.

He’s been a magnificent servant for us and given his form this year, the club should be doing all they can to keep hold of him.

Be gutted if he does leave and can’t help but think it’d be a massive error on behalf of the club if he does go.

Tricky one, I mean how long do you keep a ‘club legend’ in the squad and apart of the team. Westwood hardly featured in his last season and had to bow out with a few injury problems as he turned 36, which if we do sign Hill for an additional two years he will be nearing the same age.

Roby is 35 now and a few Saints pals of mine have said it’s probably his most ineffective season as a pro, although he still gets picked week in week out regardless of results. O’Loughlin was 37 last year when he retired and he hardly featured in this last two seasons at Wigan. Tough decisions have to be made unfortunately, I’m in two minds about it….I can see the pros & cons if he was to stay or go.

If we have a solid replacement lined up who’s a good few years younger, then we’ve got to make the sensible decision here and let him go. Although given his form this year, he’s probably been our most consistent prop for me and seems to have cut out those needless penalties from his game, which has been scarring his performances the last few years.

One thing to bare in mind is that we are having a lot of players coming in and out of the team: this doesn’t for me feel right. I’m all for freshing up the squad with a few new players here and there, but we are potentially losing 7/8 players and replacing them with about the same along with a new head coach & his own team. Powell has got his work cut out trying to put together a new working cohesive team, it’s looking like we are going to have to go through another transition period. Which given our recent form in the league and how well we are playing as a team is a bitter pill to swallow.

I'm a bit late to the party in regards to hill.
I will say that he has been a fantastic servant to the club. And been consistently been one of our best props.

Loyalty would count for something. But I'd agree with Duckie that we need to be ruthless. (I do think mamo was worth 2/3 years as he will give us 15 tries a season and that will help immensely in the coming seasons. Thus why I think he should of stayed. He would be elevated further under powell. But that's by the by)

As for hill. Does he deserve a benny Westwood contract. Rolling year contracts. Until one of us decides it's time. (2 year contracts for a 34 year old prop next season at his money is not good business)
I would give him a rolling year contract at slightly less or equal to his contract now. Maybe a pay as you play style contract on his current wages. Sliding down by 10% each year due to age. And give him the assurances that if he stays at the level he has performed at consistently for the past decade. And stats injuryfree. That he has a home at warrington and he will be on the team sheet. It gives hill security. And it gives the club one of the best performing props in the league for the coming years.

Surely hill knows his time is coming to a end in the next few years and he is looking for the biggest contract and longevity. Which is good business for him. But not necessarily for a club. And he will have to recognise that he may not receive the biggest wages or contracts anymore
Giving him the rolling year contracts. As long as its mutual. Just te-activate it each year like we did with benny Westwood.

He won’t want a one-year rolling deal if he can get two at Huddersfield. Who can blame him? To be honest I thought it would be Leigh he’d sign for, but staying in Super League at one of the more financially able clubs makes sense.

Exactly, at this stage in his career that extra year from Huddersfield - even on less money - is far more valuable to Hill.

These are always judgement calls, plenty were critical of us for signing Morley on a 4 year deal back in the day, that was a good judgement call on our behalf. Who said it’s better to let a player leave a year early than a year late?

What’s important is the replacement we have lined up, that’s the bit that concerns me as there doesn’t seem to be much out there.

If he's that good, and I think he is, why on earth would he take a one year rolling contract decreasing in value by 10% each year? Until we know (i) if he's going and (ii) who our fourth prop will be next year, then we can't make a call on any decision. Cooper, Philbin, Mulhearn (plus Butler, Bullock) is good if the replacement to add to that list is at least as effective as Hill. If not, then we might struggle.

Thought he was immense the other night. Seems to have found top form again.

He has really found form this season, possibly related to no captaincy responsibilities? I can see why we would only offer a year and he would want 2. Hilly owes us nothing, been an exceptional player, if he goes there should be no bitterness from us.

Taking into account length of service and value for money is Chris Hill our greatest prop forward of the modern era? I'd say so.....well if you take Mark Jones and Dave King out of the equation.

Has Jason Clarke's retirement been announced ? I wasn't aware if it has ?

I raise you with Adam Fogerty, emergency plumber with Winston Wolf.

Mighty_Wires88 wrote:
One thing to bare in mind is that we are having a lot of players coming in and out of the team: this doesn’t for me feel right. I’m all for freshing up the squad with a few new players here and there, but we are potentially losing 7/8 players and replacing them with about the same along with a new head coach & his own team. Powell has got his work cut out trying to put together a new working cohesive team, it’s looking like we are going to have to go through another transition period. Which given our recent form in the league and how well we are playing as a team is a bitter pill to swallow.

But that his sport. What makes me smile is posters on here will be the first to criticise the team when we go out at the first stage of the play offs, the same as the Castleford semifinal. We’ve had these winning runs before. The truth his Wigan are playing pants now, will they come October, No! Until we get back to being champions over the course of 26 games we need to learn as supporters that it doesn’t really matter how we’re playing at moment, it matters in September and October.
For me playing the championship over 26 games will also bring the fans back. The Australian model doesn’t work here. It was a novelty for first ten years and now the a..e as fell out of it. To get the crowds back every game needs to matter with just another cup competition for top 6 at end of year. 90% of games are dull as dishwater.
As for the 7/8 players transition that is what proves you a good coach and why you are paid well.
I remember Man United in 1995 having just started being successful all of a sudden letting Ince, Bruce, Kanchelskis go.
Fans couldn’t believe it. They weren’t that bothered 15 year’s later. As I said at beginning of post that is sport.

He's off-contract isn't he? Did I accidentally retire him? Maybe I'd heard him talking about it in an interview.

I'm not sure he's Powell's type of player.

Jace Clark wants a gig at Wire.
He’ll ‘go back home and probably work with his dad on the docks’

It's between Hill and Paul Wood.

I'd say peak Hill was better than peak Wood, but Wood provided better consistency over a longer period of time.

Also remember Morley was here for 7 seasons too.

Its hard to do value for money as it involves guesswork as to what the players were actually earning, so if you discount the contract size and look at overall contribution taking into account longevity I would say:

1. Morley
2. Wood
3. Hill
4. Cooper
5. Carvell

Value for money includes minutes on the field. No-one comes close to Hill with missing so few games, minutes played per game and utter consistency.

And all that will take it’s toll on someone who’ll be at the wrong end of his 30s sooner than later.
Someone has already mentioned offloading a year too soon is better than a year too late. I cannot give them an argument.
I’d love Hill to do another season at Wire to run along side his plumbing, that Simon apparently helped him set up in the town.
This is why I cannot fathom CHs reasoning to take up a 2 year offer at Hudds. Shirley the plumbing should come first now? Playing local will help him grow it, unless he’s doing so well, he’s already considering expanding into West Yorkshire!

Makinson and Lineham have good form for messing with plumbing so I'm sure he could find them some work too, as they approach retirement.

And for the really hard to reach pipes, you could always give John Hopoate a call.