Not sure i would say he’s playing well. Far too many passes are miss timed and go behind the man. It’s invariably Patton who is guilty.
He’s doing ok, but he’s not kicking on as he should. A top 2 team should not be picking a mid table at best half back. That should be resolved next year at least.

Halfway to being the most successful Warringtonian halfback in our entire history...?

Long way to go to be compared to Bobby Fulton.

Did anyone see Martin Offiah waiting for Patton at the stairs of the royal box/vip area. He stopped him for a chat...you can see it on the BBC programme.
He has probably earned a zero to his contract value.

Don't be silly. Patton won't get a look in next year. One swallow doesn't make a summer.

Hence my post.
Isn't Offiah a player agent?
He can see dollars.

It was probably his best game in a warrington shirt. Solid defence.

If you wanted to be picky, you could point out the 2 kicks.. first one that went wrong side of the flag, gave saints a full set, which they almost turned into a try (right at the end of the first half)... Second one where he kicked out on the full right on our own line, which lead to the saints try.... But im not being picky, so i wont.

Save for the two mentioned exceptions, I though Pattons kicking game was fantastic on Saturday and played a huge part in us being able to keep Saints out when they had their periods of pressure.

I don't think we will have the cap space to improve his contract and for me given the season on the whole he arguably doesn't deserve it. We have widdop and austin next season, with Ratchford and Dean (and Hughes when we play saints) as cover. If we keep him as cover then great, if he wants to leave in search of full time opportunities then best wishes to the lad, I hope he makes a good career from the game either way. He may end the season with another medal yet before anything is decided.

The first one you mentioned was Ratchford, wasn't it?

I would agree. It makes sense for Dec to leave at the end of the season on a big high. We need a creative HB, one that can punch holes in a defence and that aspect of his game is lacking. Riley Dean is getting to the stage where he will need some games after a settling in period in the Reserves next year, so 4 HB's is one too many.

Yep.

my bad.... it was indeed.

There was a Ratchford kick that went out behind the line early on. Pattons was a couple of minutes before half time and it hit the corner flag so a 20m restart with 7 tackles just when you needed to get in the sheds! That was inexcusable! There was no need to get it so deep just get it in touch for a breather! If you watch closely Currie gives him a right rollocking!!

There's little difference between kicking dead and setting up a scrum. Tbh I feel taking 7 with a full defensive line against lightening backs is preferable to open width from a scrum as the scrum is in essence still a zero tackle too and in effect still 7.

Are you still drunk?

and normal service is resumed

I think the first tackle from a scrum the ref shouts "tackle one" the first tackle after a 20m restart the ref shouts "zero" so you gain 10m or so from where the ball is played if it was a scrum and an extra tackle. You can also take 25seconds to form a scrum whereas the tap restart can be taken as quick as saints can get on side.
So there is a bit of a difference.
That said I thought Patton played well in executing that game plan. The bulk of his kicks split the full back and wingers and bounced 2/3 times before they were picked up. That was really valuable for the chasers.

A kick into touch which was simple from where he kicked it would have wasted valuable seconds would have Saints pinned 10 metres from there own goal line 10 metres in from touch! As I said if you have a look you can see what Ben Currie thinks about Saints lining up on their own 20 with 7 tackles in the bag when he's pretty much out on his feet!!

Yes I agree. The point being that holding the scrum itself is like playing the ball through your legs at zero...it's away of restarting the game...plus it's also a penalty because the team against the head don't have a defence structure shape...just outside backs vs outside backs with space.
If you kick the ball dead..a favourite of Leeds for seasons until they tried to restrict the play by adding 10 yards to the restart....you will always have a full defensive line...plus if you lie out in the field of play while you get cramp attended too...you get more than a minute stop clock.

Imo...the last team you ever want to give head and feed in a scrum with a minute and seconds on the clock...is Saints. I was happy with the touch in goal call.

Do you think that Patton was aiming to kick it out of play behind the dead ball line?...and that Currie was congratulating him on doing so?

I don't often comment on this forum although I do read it regularly. I'm sick and tired of the pile on bullying on this Forum, except one or two individuals, of Dec Patton, even after a great Wembley performance by the entire team, including Patton. Indeed he was the sole halfback on Saturday for the Wire. Since Blake Austin has been injured he has been given and taken more responsibility and to my mind very effectively. Sure there are other faster, jinking halfbacks in the competition but he doesn't deserve 45 pages of armchair cynics biting like sharks tasting blood.
Oh, and by the way I am not related to Dec Patton, just someone who has supported the Wire for over 60 years, so I have seen a lot of halfbacks playing for us (and others), he should be afforded the respect like any other Warrington player.

Well said

It would be too much to ask for those who said we won't win anything with him in the half's to come on hold their hands up and admit they are wrong not only did we win the cc final with him as our half he was our only half back!!!

That followed by the kick out of the full which led to our try was poor, but then followed it two very good in the second half which eased a lot of pressure on our line. He defended well & stuck to Pricey’s game plan which is all you can ask, yes it’s frustrating as he’s a local lad you want him to improve and do well. But unfortunately, he simply doesn’t have enough talent in comparison to an Austin/Widdop/Hastings.