The seeds of that lethargy started when we lost the 2013 GF and lots of key players left. The feeling hung over us that our window with a special team had closed. It's hard to adjust from being a dominant juggernaut to going back in the mix of quite-good-kinda-contenders. The same happened to Cas after they lost the GF in 2017. We lost our edge.

There have been some brief periods where it was revived, eg Sandow's half season hot streak, Price arriving and bringing a new set of ideas and organisation and Blake Austin having a Sandow-like stretch for a few months.

But if you exclude those spells, for the last 8 seasons before this one we were basically in a purgatory of being good enough to be relevant but not good enough to be significant. Then this year we've blown it all up to start again.

I can understand there's a bit of a feeling that the slate will be cleaned before we enter 2023, and there's a hope that 4 forwards to come into the squad beforehand will be the cavalry that we've been holding out for. Nevertheless, its far from easy to have any confidence that Vaughn, McGuire Dudson and Kasiano will be our required panacea, when we've created yet another unbalanced squad.

Were still looking at having Mata'utia at 3, Currie at 11 and Holmes at 12. Add that to Ratchford at 7, Clark at 9 who are no longer able to compete at former level, and either Minikin or Thewlis at 2 (not having a pop at Thewlis, because he should be at fullback, but we've brought in Dufty rather than a 7). All this makes us look even more unbalanced than we did at the start of 2022, with a lack of grunt. We could even be a centre short, should Wardle not sign and King be 2023's version of Josh Charnley.

Happy days ahead? I don't believe that DP has put together the right squad, as he hasn't been ruthless where the above are concerned. I have a feeling that at least two out of Philbin, Harrison, Mikaele and Bullock will be out on loan to enable a couple of backs to come in, and thus continue the stop gap situation that we encountered in this season. It's not professional enough.

Either the rebuild has not finished yet, or we've done it just to remedy the prop issue, at the expense of the organising spine, the outside backs and being stuck with a non functioning second row. I'm far from being onboard.

Good points. In my opinion D Clark will have more success with big forwards creating fast play the balls, scattered or late retreating defenders. But we do need a number 7.

A new 7 or let dean/ Hayes have a chance there to see if they can control a game or give us an effective kicking game, Wardle plus another right centre and I'll be really happy with the squad.

I have a feeling I'll be moaning about our half back partnership and centre options when the squad numbers are announced.

So why as it never worked for Hull FC they have been with a big pack for years but have never been that good and always falling away at back end of seasons.

That's a good point, I'll have to think on that one.

Hull have loads of bad apples just like us but their bad apples are bigger? Like bad cooking apples?

CW8 has covered how I would have answered, in that Ratchford is not the answer at half back going forward, and as DP does not appear to have belief in Riley Dean, he's not had enough games to really form an opinion. Riley Dean has potential, but so many opportunities were wasted this year when he should have been in the starting 13. It's either give him a go, or Thewlis to FB and Dufty in the halves. Ratchford's best days have come and gone, he's not the answer, shouldn't be in the starting 13 and shouldn't be captain. We need a leader on the park, and someone quicker than Ratchford in the halves.

He is only 18, and small for a halfback, but Leon Hayes is the organising half that we need in our 1st team.

Behind next year`s big pack, he could be dominant.

It's a little bit much to put on the younger lads shoulders but if we want to find out whether they have the mettle to hack it as first team starters then you need to throw them in, wrapping them in cotton wool and taking them out of the firing line won't do them any good in the long run. These last 4 games are a massive missed opportunity not giving them a couple of games each or Riley Dean all 4. He will play ratchford and won't see that it doesn't work despite the fact it won't in any of those games. I'd be much happier with stef at right centre all next season as a starter than him be in the halves. I'm really not against ratchford at all, he'd be fine in the halves alongside an organiser with a kicking game (same as Williams) but he isn't and Williams is a better options than him there for running and structured halfback play.

I do wonder how hard our lack of a settled half back combination has hurt us. I appreciate that only Saints have suffered as a result of injuries this season, but makes you think…

He would have his own personal minder in Josh Maguire, so I think he would be OK and would be the perfect foil for Williams.

I agree, won't happen though. Powell seems to have stubbornly made up his mind. We ned to free Williams to play how he is most effective not concerning himself with field position and ki King strategy but making the most of what's in front if him on the back of an effective kicking strategy. IMO of course, I'm not rugny league coach but I really don't see how he could think no kicking game would work.

Well if the rumours are true that we’re after Wakeham then Powell can’t be that set in his ways of Ratchford at 6. Unless he plans to play Wakeham at 9 and get rid of Walker.

After seeing the gouging incident I’m not sure I’d want Wakeham as that grubby act would make McGuire blush.

I am looking forward to having an enforcer on the pitch in p&b again

Leon Hayes - surely his nickname should be 'Olympique'. That's one for any fans of French football out there...

Hannibal Hayes and Kid Currie, for any Western fans on here.

It's better than him being known as Geoffrey.

You should google Adam Clune



Not signed yet, but a contract has been offered.

Newcastle half back? If we are after him or wakeham what on earth were we doing giving ratchford a 2 year contract and our coach saying he wants him as our half back next seasons? The whole thing is farcical

If we sign him, then at least we won`t have Ratchford occupying a halfback role, but I can`t see a position in the team, where Ratchford will play, and hence why has he got a 2 new year contract with us?

EDIT

Sorry Moe you beat me to it.

Newcastle Knights Twitter feed says he's been released early from his contract to go to another NRL club

Hence the 'not signed yet' bit of my post.

I can, name me a better utility player at Wire you would rather have on the bench?
I can name another that I’d have back,
Livett.

Ratchford is too slow for our backline now and not tough enough to play in the forwards.

He has been a loyal servant and great player for us, but Old Father Time has caught up with him.

I would like to see Livett back at Wire, but I believe he has signed for Huddersfield.