You are sounding jaded.

Hull FC are just as much a disappointment as we are over the years.

More reacting to the reality of the situation - we are totally crap. 2022 is in the top 3 worst Wire teams I've seen, up there with the teams of 2002 and 1998.

One positive is there's a feeling now that change is inevitable. Powell is changing a lot, and it will either work, or we'll have to go through some even more profound change and shake up some of the things that had slowly rotted behind the scenes really since around the time Gatcliffe left in 2014. Because we've been generally competing for playoffs and making a few finals we always had enough reason to justify carry on with the same old. The bleaker reality is that going down either this season or next, is within the range of possibilities in a way it hasn't been for 20 years.

We are and it is.

Long, long overdue changes and shock to the complacent culture where "there or thereabouts" and "going places" was the mantra and blowing smoke up players was the style.

I'm giving Powell time, but if we are not in the top 3 after 6 games of 2023 he can go as the excuses will be gone and he will be proven to be not up to the job. If I cared passionately about Warrington, in the way I did in my callow youth, I would be livid right now.

Wasn’t we still around the top 3 this season by the 6th game?

Just saying.

Can we send Karl back to 2014? Please and thank you.

There seems to be a problem of trust with giving Dean and Longstaffe a run in the first team, which I think is a symptom of our slide down the SL table. I'm frustrated that they've hardly featured in the first team, but have shown enough promise for me to be worthy of further first team experience. The recent examples of GOB BP and HL, all had far more game time, which helped to make ones mind up regarding what their ability level was at the time, and going forward. Without being party to what he wanted, and what we offered, personally, I'd have kept GOB as he would have made a very useful squad player.

Things is, were in a position where we cannot judge Dean and Longstaffe, due to limited appearances, in the same way that we currently judge Thewlis and Wrench. The latter are worthy of the shirt, and I have a feeling that the former are too, and would like Powell to give them a go. Powell seems to be missing an opportunity, where we sadly lack a creative half back, and have two very underperforming second row forwards.

This sends out the wrong message, in that there's not enough trust in what were doing with our whole academy development structure, and for some, on an individual basis.

Well there must be something Powell likes about Dean, otherwise we wouldn't have kept him. Maybe if we get pummelled by Cats Powell will finally give him a crack.

FWIW I think Sunday's game will see a different Wire, just because it's a change of scenery from the normal league games.

You should win, they had their best front row banned after the game against Saints and still have a load out injured as well.

Not sure if Whizzy Rascal's BMW will do 88mph, whether Karl can fit in it, or even if they'll let him have a go.

Think you're in a small minority with this.

No, I think it's fair to say we [ishould[/i win most of our games. Whether we[i will[/i win is another matter.

Yeah yeah. Next you will post on Redvee…”there is a deluded poster over on the Wire forum who thinks they should win”.

There have been times this season where I have been optimistic, but those days don't look as if they're going to come back until at least next year.

Standard.

It'll be easy to be optimistic if we're playing batley, London or Sheffield.

Nicely!

While I agree with some of this, it surely isn't as simple as throwing these lads in and hoping it pays off?

Firstly, what everyone seems to forget is that Powell and his coaching staff see these lads everyday in training and, for all we know, they might not be tearing up any trees there in the same way that Thewlis and Wrench may have done?

Also, and I think this is the key issue, Powell may be thinking that a relegation battle isn't the best place to be throwing too many youngsters into as a group and that it might sink a couple of them unnecessarily.

Undoubtedly, I think if we were 4 or 6 points better off right now, I think we would likely be seeing a lot more of Dean and Longstaff, as Powell would probably think there was less pressure and the lads could be eased into first team rugby.

So overall, I think unfortunately the pair of them are paying the price for the side's poor form. Their development would be a lot easier in a successful side - look at how Saints are able to bed in youngsters at a steady rate - its a strategy that we have never really mastered, but is one we will need to be able to do in the future if we are to ever progress.

Nick Ross advises that the reconstructions of Warrington performances this season were carried out by actors, and that you can help to catch the real criminal gang masquerading as the Warrington Wolves by ringing the Crimewatch hotline with any names, or information, after the hooter has sounded. He stresses that games against Batley, London or Sheffield are very rare incidents, and please don't have nightmares.

Agree with your opening question, and as I wrote, Powell has missed an opportunity where they could (and in my opinion should) have played earlier in the season. A relegation battle certainly makes it harder for a coach to give a shirt to Dean or Longstaffe. However, the question of are they good enough needs to be answered on the paddock, as training is no where near the same as what happens during 80 minutes of a SL game. I'm frustrated that we haven't began the process of getting an answer during Powell's tenure, when there's been a few who have not deserved a shirt for so many weeks in his team selections.

So we wait until we're relegated and then play them.......

“Remember, incidents like this are very rare. Don’t have nightmares. Good night”….

Dramatic drum intro begins.

Love it. Did the crime rate drop so much we don’t need Crimewatch anymore? Or do we just not care these days?

Crimewatch was screened to scare the carp out of enough vulnerable, elderly or those of a nervous disposition. Once Covid came along, with the regular TV presentations by the PM, Chris Whitty etc., Crimewatch's USP was no longer needed, at it was reclassified as light entertainment.

The peak years for reported crime were the mid 90s.

Well then, if there’s one good thing about the impending economic crisis, it’s that a new Crimewatch series will finally be justified. Every cloud, as they say.