Club's website has Ratchford's contract expiring November 2016. Was that contract extension ever announced.


Guess the announcement of these 11 extensions just gives us another year listening to how we are going to be in trouble when we have to replace half our squad at the same time.

If memory serves the Ratchford extension was announced in the middle of an unrelated article around May time. I think it was rushed through after shedlad announced that Stef was a dead cert for Salford next year. I think the club got wind of his post and gave Stef millions to stay.

Re the 11 - generally pleased but would have released M.Monas, and Chris Riley personally. I also would have retained Carvell but that's just me.

Spot on Charlie; Tyke has been FIRST CLASS for the club on AND off the pitch and deserves nothing but praise for ALL he has done.

People suggesting we should have released Chris Riley are madder than Mad Jack McMad (winner of last years "Mr Madman" competition.)

Not his best year for us but we'll worth another two years.

Ill be honest I'm surprised at M Monas getting a new deal. A shadow of his former self.

Ben Evans will be leaving for Bradford permenantly next season apparently.

I think M monas is here for another year while clarkeis loaned bsck to cas for a season.

A Cas fan PMd me that on here not long ago. He seemed to be quite sure of that situation happening.

Ditto. I think Chris Riley is a weak link in our team defensively, I also like wingers to take on their opposite number, centre and full back and to back themselves occasionally.

Is an understatement

Great news. That puts the daft rumours re Ryan Atkins and Glenn Riley to bed. It's also not too long ago that there were nasty rumours on here that Ben Harrison couldn't stay at the Club if another player was still here. just shows that some people take in and believe absolute rubbish penned by low class journalists.

It wasn't complete rubbish Teesidewire in terms of the reported incident, although the details were slightly skewed. But what was rubbish was the notion that either player would have to leave the club.

Which confirms what I said. I really hate these stupid rumours that some people take in and then add to. They can do an awful lot of damage.
I'm also pleased that Chris Riley has a new deal. He does make some defensive errors, but look at his finishing. Worth another two years for that lovely little kick through when running at speed against Wigan. Great bit of skill.

If we add Ben Jones Bishop and Clarke to the squad, I'd be happy at that.

very happy with this news...especially Atkins staying.

Still the biggest disappointment for me is the loss of Gaz Carvell, I think we will miss him badly next season.

The Brett Hodgson to Bradford rumour has also gone a bit quiet

I agree, another decent effort from Carvell this year

Totally agree, looking forward to reading about his new project in the programme this week.. Outstanding professional on and off the field.

It took about five years for Chris Riley to convince Warrington fans he was up to it. Twenty-odd tries a season, every season, playing nearly every game, consistently putting his body on the line against bigger players, coming up with great plays in attack and defence.

It appears to have taken one slightly inconsistent season for the usual backstabbers to reappear.

That's an inconsistent season consisting of:

15 tries (14th in league)
21 clean breaks (8th in league)
63 tackle busts (19th in league)

In terms of missed tackles, he's missed fewer than Westwood, Grix and M. Monas, so I expect those three to be kicked out of the club.

As one or two others have said, Chris Riley has proved himself god knows how many times. He's fallen out of favour for whatever reason a couple of times, and each and every time he's come back and got the job done way beyond what we should have expected the way he'd been bounced about.

Yes his defence isn't the best, he'll often lose grip on a tackle, but you can bet your life he gets right back up and hounds the player down until he has him on the floor which is more than you can say for a lot of others. Chasing down Richards and Hall from the other side of the field comes to mind to show you his intensions and passion for every game he plays.

He's also in the same vein of Wellens and Tomkins, in that you can bet your life he'll escape the clutches of at least one defender when he gets the ball.

Just personal preference that's all. I just prefer modern wingmen in the mould of Joel Monaghan, Pat Richards, Ryan Hall, Chris Hicks etc.
There's no need for people to leap to Chris' defence. Obviously none of us are in a position that really matters, and clearly TS thinks he's worth a new contract so I'm happy with that.

I think that his positional (defensive) awareness and (defensive) ability is not that which befits a top 4 side. He offers little under the high ball, and I dont often see him take on other wingers for pace or power. Other than that, he's a good player. Good strike rate, hard worker, and will never give up.

highlighting that part there, for the people who think we could/should do better in that position, who could we replace him with on similarish wages that you would get significent improvement from?

there's not many i can think of that i'd replace him with.

The stuff about 'backing himself' and 'taking on his opponent' is something that really riles me (no pun intended).

You only take on your opponent on the outside if you have a 40% or better chance of beating him. Otherwise you turn into Ryan Atkins of 2011 vintage and get pushed into touch 20 times in the season.

Riley's never had a problem taking on his opponent in to the corner. In fact, he's scored some terrific tries where he's crept into tiny spaces where the odds were stacked against him. Against Hull in the cup, he took the gamble near the end and was inches away from delivering.

You judge a player on what they do, not on which players they are not. If every team had two Joel Monaghans or Pat Richards then the game would be extremely dull.

The only time when Riley winds me up is when he over-runs his centre, because that's one thing he could iron out of his game with a bit more concentration.

And therein lies the rub, for his "cap number" we'd probably have to disgrace ourselves with the likes of a Peter Fox or a Ben Cockayne. Ergh.

I think Riley's form has dipped this season but that's as much a reflection of his contribution over the years as it is his play this season. As Just Browny notes, his numbers aren't exactly crap this season. I take 71s point about him taking people on, I think that's maybe down to size as - he'll get smashed into touch half the time, he's only a little fella. As for the future, I'm happy we're keeping him and I'm certain he'll get back to his best next year.

On a tangent, was it me or did Monaghan (J) look quicker than usual last Saturday? Has he lost some Terry?*

*Waite = weight

Comparing the number of tackles missed without considering tackles made is facile. Currently his stats show he has missed 28 from 100 tackles.


What is "back stabbing" in this context? Passing on your opinion on a player you have watched regularly for years on an RL forum is not back stabbing. I just don't rate him as highly as you do.