Powell first priority is to get our players to play as a team.

We have been beaten in a lot of key games under the Price regime, by inferior squads of players, simply because of their teamwork.

Agreed, I'm a little concerned up front but we have some real quality, if Powell can get the best of Clark, Williams, Widdop, Currie, King, ratchford and Ashton then we will hurt a lot of teams. I think the new additions could be good for us too and charnley being used more as an offensive winger could be a breath of fresh air too.

I genuinely hope that Charnley is still an attacking force, I’m not sure last season’s version was solely down to coaching. Powell seems to have had the Midas touch for wingers though so fingers and everything else crossed.

Charnley was our 2nd highest try scorer in 2021 and has scored 50 tries in his 87 games! Imagine what he can do if he is given the ball in space...

I understand all that but my impression last season was that he didn’t have the confidence to back himself where previously he would have. I accept that may in part be due to defensive efforts. I wonder if the lack of scrums has also been an issue as it often takes a couple of plays for the defensive line to get set, but I haven’t really analysed this.

Wires 71's stats are interesting, his season didn't' feel that successful and there may well be an upturn in Charnley's 'fortunes' in '22 under Powell, I hope so.

I did hear from a third party that his contract wasn't going to be extended (I THINK it's up at the end of this season). If that is the case I'm not aware whether that's a pre or post Powell edict, or if this is a season where the player and club can convince each other to agree a new deal. Let's hope he (and the team) smashes it

Charnley's try scoring is neither here nor there for me, as I've said for 2/3 seasons, it's the team approach, give him a chance and he'll finish it.

His problem this year was fielding kicks and continually trying to win cheap penalties.

I wouldn't bet against us for second, Powell knows what he's doing and aside from the loss of Hill I'm fairly happy with the squad.

Elsewhere I think the big unknowns are Leeds and Wigan. I'm not sure the Austin/Sezer partnership is compatible and I have my doubts about their three-quarter lines defence.

As for Wigan? Huge question marks all over the place, from coaching team, to half-backs, centres and front-row. Their new half back is going to have a huge amount of pressure on him, they need French to be fit and firing and they need less niggle and more go-forward from their props. I think they may struggle to make top 6.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/favourit ... led-45645/ Second Favourites for the Cup. Should make the fans appreciate what they are watching.

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/favourit ... led-45645/ Second Favourites for the Cup. Should make the fans appreciate what they are watching.

And his dire defence which cas exploited

Hopefully the ex-Cas coaching staff can show him where he was going wrong and sort him out then

I fear with Charnley that we're getting the disillusionment/lethargy of a player who has once been in a top team environment and realises he's now treading water in Warrington.

We saw this with a number of those signings from Bradford and Saints in the later Cullen era. It's like it dawns on them that their best days are behind them and they have nothing left to look forward to other than playing out their career in a team that is on the fringes of the playoffs, while their former team mates continue competing for Grand Finals.

This argument would have more weight if he wasn't our incumbent strike player. Any disillusionment didnt affect his try scoring even in the stagnant environment of a Price team and self acknowledged personal issues. I am at a loss why he is getting so much critique ahead of other players. (Ie King being touted as the messiah, clamour to extend his contract then 1 try in 4 months return). Maybe I have a blindspot.

I see no reason why he cannot thrive in a Powell side that enourages moving the ball to the wings. He is a class finisher and winner and one of the few in our side with a GF ring.
As for his defence, he kept us scoreless for an hour in the 2018 grand final.

We have pressing weaknesses in our squad that may prevent us challenging the final but I dont see him as one of them.


All will be revealed.

I too have some sympathy.
You can look very exposed defending on the right wing if mistakes have been made inside.

Interesting stat. He didn't seem to get much a sniff of the line when I watched us last year, maybe it's my fault! Agree that it would be an advantage of getting Charnley into space, but that also goes with Ashton, as he's more of strike weapon for me.

He didn't get much sniff of the line. As a comparison ...

Ashton has scored 10 tries in 17 games (0.59 tries per game)
Charnley has scored 50 in 87 games (0.57 tries per game)

Both very useful players.

By comparison

Chris Hicks 71 tries in 82. (0.86)
Chris Riley 120 tries in 160 0.75)

Our most potent winger in modern times was the superb Joel Monaghan with 145 tries in 145 games. (1.0) He can be second only to Brian Bevan on rate surely.

If we look at centres the difference is a little more stark nowadays

Matt King 66 tries in 106 (0.62)
Toby King 44 tries in 112 (0.39)

I too am anticipating (hoping) that Charnley will have a much better season next year especially as it is the final year of his contract. However, the stat comparing his try scoring rate against Ashton is a little unfair as most of the latter’s tries have come from full back. Perhaps a fairer comparison would be against Ratchford who scored one all season.

Comparisons are always difficult, Matt King spent plenty of games on the wing too. Him, Hicks and Riley also played in some far more potent attacking teams than T King & Charnley.

I agree with this, stats of a Steve Price side v an early Tony Smith side are very harsh IMO. Compare matt King under lowes as that's the same sort of level as price IMO.

This highlights why we need to build for the future, and get Thewlis more game time at full back in 2022.

Chris Riley played outside Ryan Atkins who people used to say never passed to his winger.

Yeah, I'm not saying I'd be pushing him out of the door or that he's a bad player, just that he seems to be in a state of drift which could say more about us than him. I felt the same about Martin Gleeson towards the end of his time here and he was still a good player and played a part in winning a Grand Final after he left.

Quote ="sally cinnamon"Chris Riley played outside Ryan Atkins who people used to say never passed to his winger.'" To be fair Atkins himself said he couldn't pass and didn't give much service to his winger https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/rugby ... s-16849956

Quote ="sally cinnamon"Chris Riley played outside Ryan Atkins who people used to say never passed to his winger.'" To be fair Atkins himself said he couldn't pass and didn't give much service to his winger https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/rugby ... s-16849956

Atkins assists:

2010 - 13 (only Bridge got more as a centre in the competition)
2011 - 12 (again, only Bridge)
2012 - 14 (highest)
2013 - 3 (not near the top)
2014 - 4 (likewise)
2015 -unable to find stats
2016 - 6 (behind Cudjoe)
2017 - 2 (not near)


All in all, I think it’s evident that Atkins followed the trajectory of the team, but could in fact provide for his winger. Not a Gleeson style, but effective. I can’t recall Riley having to do too much for his tries more often than not. No disrespect, he did his bit.

The rate of Charnley is actually impressive given his recent use as a back up prop/spectator

I liked Adkins, an explosive, powerful runner with an eye to the try line and an impressive try scoring record across the competition. I also remember the passes into the 2nd row seating of the north stand or behind/in front of winger.