This

It’s probably a perspective issue.

When that was "leaked" about Mulhern going to Storm, Melbourne quickly brushed it off as nonsense, they did say they were looking at young English talent though

I’m not sure how legitimate the views of someone who gives his own post a “thumbs up” are. However kudos for realising it could be done and I’m sure my doubts will have minimal effect on such a massive ego.

*It’s on the KR site if anyone can be bothered looking (one of the Mulhern topics to be more precise)

Melbourne once signed Ian Sibbit so they're not the best when it comes to spotting young, British forwards.

They wanted Ethan Havard.

Now confirmed 2 year deal, people wanted props we’ve signed 2! Are we happy with the 2 signed? I’m pretty pleased, hopefully gives us some go forward off the bench and the ability to match the big teams like Wigan and saints once Hill and Cooper go off.

https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2020/ ... -the-Wire/ Mulhern signs, johnson the other direction, only on a 1 year deal though

https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2020/ ... -the-Wire/ Mulhern signs, johnson the other direction, only on a 1 year deal though

Smells a bit fishy to me

I'm happy with what we have brought in, Steve price has been given the tools he needs now, no excuses.

We have to see how they settle in to the side, only space for one in the 17 at the beginning of next season which I expect will be mulhern. Won't be long before Butler gets a go though, only a suspension or injury away from the 17. What both of these signings do mean is that we don't have to flog Hill and Cooper and will hopefully be able to keep them as fresh as possible for the business end. I suppose philbin could end up being the extra prop at 13 though with BMM going. That wouldn't be a bad option if both of the new forwards hit the ground running.

Yes, he said his strength etc..benefitted greatly when he started adding fish to his diet after being vegan. (According to sky commentator)

I don't like Philbin at 13, Jack hughes at 13 with Ellis Robson in the second row would be Very nice for me.
And yes i'm VERY happy with Butler and Mulhern added to our props. Like you said it massively takes the pressure off Hill and Cooper, we could drop Hill to 20 mins a side and get the best out of him and keep his and coopers energy and recovery levels much higher all season

I'm very excited now for next year if we can sort out our Halfback situation

Hughes at 13 absolutely, but Robson isn’t good enough for starting back row at a club with aspirations, not yet at any rate.

I like this 2 props signing because one doesn't come as "the saviour" and feel the pressure of being the prop that the CEO has said we need. Gives Butler time to adjust to a higher level.

Widdop might actually opt to stay now we seem to have invested in the pack.......

That's fair enough, pretty sure philbin started as second row. I'd prefer hughes at 13 but think he will be second row with currie and j Clark at 13. I don't like that one bit to be honest but expect it will be that lineup. I want to see currie and someone else more dynamic as our 2nd row and hughes at LF. Backs don't get involved enough for us because the ball gets run in from 2nd row almost all the time. I suppose that's a price instruction, why wouldn't he want back row playing like props if that's what he wants his wingers to do as well.

I don't think Robson offers much variety on hughes and j Clark to be honest, or matt Davies for that matter who would make a better bench options because he could hooker and back row.

This signing gives us the opportunity to go a little bigger and for size in the pack if needed to bolster it, for example.. We all know that Cooper can play long minutes, usually plays around 60 mins but he could play for longer if needed, with his offload game too he could be an option at 13. Then rotate the other props for shorter spells each to keep them fresh. If we really need to step up and bully a team, could go with this sort of pack and bench.

Hill
Clarke
Mulhern
Currie
Hughes
Cooper

Bench: Philbin, Butler, JClarke, Davis/Robson.

Ideally next, we could do with the Widdop situation sorted as soon as possible, the longer it drags on the bigger the egg on our already blushed faces!

Unfortunately it’s looking more and more likely he won’t return to us next season. Unless, the Covid situation settles down and when he is reunited with his family after a couple months, he decides to give it another shot - Hypothetically I can’t see it. I think being in lockdown since March this year probably chalked their overall experience, bad timing for all parties tbh.

I just hope when he does leave we have a suitable replacement lined up & not another Matty Smith type scenario... YIKES!

I fail to see how any criticism can be aimed at the club over the Widdop situation.

Tbh, im at a point where its either jack Hughes at 13, or not at all.

As nice a guy as he us, and as effective he is tackling, he's almost a non force going forward, he offers zero threat in attack, that doesn't help austin, thst doesn't help whoever at right centre or charnley.

Remember our purple patches from when gleeson joined and onwards, whoever was playing down the right was a threat, 2nd row centre or wing, swann, Westwood, gleeson Bridge whoever was on the wing, defences couldn't slack off on any of them as they were all dangerous.

Now, stand black, watch Hughes get the ball and shuffle to a stop and then slowly step inside.

As has been mentioned before we can't have 2 of Hughes and clark in the pack at the same time, its too passive. Robson might be a bit better running directly, but I get thr impression he's going to be used as a middle rather than a wide runner.

Great comms from the club, I received my "Members Exclusive" email about this at 5 am this morning.

Yeah i think Hughes attack is near non existant, he's had a few random games where he seems to realise he's a big lad and hits the accelerator and does really well. But those games are rare, put him at 13 and defensively in the middle we look a hell of alot more solid, and put someone else at second row......not J.Clark....i thought gelling would make an exciting second rower but ahh well not to be.

The next piece of the puzzle is Widdop. If Widdop stays, which I think is unlikely, or if we do a deal with another Aussie halfback heading this way then we have the conundrum of how you fit Ratchford and Ashton into the side together. One way is to move King to SR, Ratchford to Centre and Ashton at FB with Hughes at 13. If we need to find a halfback from within our ranks then Ratchford is the obvious answer leaving us with J Clark at 13. The first option sounds a lot more exciting to me.

mailman moaning about the mail

I'd be surprised if Rathcford was anywhere else other than full back or half.

Had Gelling stayed there would be the option to move King to SR and run with Inglis and Gelling as centre, now he has gone centres have to be King & Inglis, King is a good SR, but he is a better centre I think.

If Widdop stays (and hopefully by March the UK will be a different place and his family will be happier to come over) the question will what do we do with Ashton, wing or waiting to step up to cover injury / suspension.

If Widdop goes, keep it simple. Ratch in to the halves, Ashton Full back, consider whether we need a backup half or if Dean is enough to cover.

Either way I'd still like us to add an attacking backrower to the squad, whether that is through Sita / Latu going or Widdop leaving.

Personally I would not want to see Ratchford shoe horned into centre.