Dufty is second in the league for tackle busts and both Ashton and to a slightly lesser extent Thewlis are easily capable of beating men inside or outside.

I always said I think Wrench will be Wire right winger in the future and in the meantime is Centre/Wing cover for injuries/lack of form.

Sorry, I meant back line as in 'threequarters' rather than including Dufty, who is probably easily top line breaker.

I think Wrench's step, swerve and passing ability is too good for him to be on the wing. Wasted opportunity. Maybe I don't know what sort of attitude he has in training though.

Cool, I think step and swerve is just as important for wingers, but I agree his passing has come on leaps and bounds. I want him to do well at Warrington and be part of the team for years to come. Tai is a bit of an unknown and who knows what King we will get, if Connor Wrench finishes next season as dream team centre and has it nailed for the future I'd be well happy.

Abe mentioned Dudson, Hayes, Thomas & Holroyd. to Widnes, unless a missed a later post?

Apologies. I'd seen it posted somewhere and thought Abe has said it. I've just checked the recruitment thread and he hadn't.

I can't find the post from Abe that mentioned the swap deal of Drinkwater for Cleary, but I'm sure it's in this thread somewhere.

Its in the Saints Appreciation Thread next to the Mata'utia man of steel confirmation.

Dufty
Ashton
Tai
King
Thewlis
Drinkwater
Williams
Musgrove
Walker
Vaughan
Currie
Fitzgibbon
Nicholson

Ratchford/Dwyer
Crowther
Bullock/Harrison
Philbin/Kasiano

Strong looking Squad, stronger than this year with and Actual Leader as a coach, Quality attacking Coach in Gleeson, Ade Gardners doing a great job fitness wise. And with Hayes and Dean breathing down Drinkwaters neck, Bruines and Wrench Breathing down Tai and Kings neck, Crowther and Harrison pushing to start ahead of Currie, Fitzgibbon and Nicholson. And all our props pushing to get in the 17 nobody is safe next year. Breeds constant competition which is a good thing

Back row wasn’t a deficiency for me, it became a weakness following the McGuire debacle.

Currie McGuire Nicholson Harrison Philbin, and the academy lads.
That ought to have been enough cover , but after McGuire and 3 lengthy injuries, we were found wanting when Harrison and Philbin returned having to play as props.

I’m with Barbed Wire Curries was top draw again in the opening season, becoming a scapegoat when not having that room as a running threat once the front row became a one man unit.

Currie to me is a top player in a dominant team, but sadly, not one to pull the team through a bad patch.

He is not the player when the going gets tough in low scoring games. Before injury he was a real attacking threat on games we dominated.

And that’s the thing before the injury, so he has been nowhere near that standard since yet gets a 3 year extension. He maybe on lesser money but I’d rather they had found someone else.

The main issue with the new 3 year contract for me, is that a lot of his game is based on his speed, which will inevitably diminish as he ages.

He shows very little interest in helping-out with the other forwards doing the hard grind and his defence is poor.

Not sure who is dealing with our contract negotiations, but Currie should never have been offered a 3 year deal IMO.

He should not be a starting 2nd row put Harrison there bring Currie on to face a more tired defence when hopefully our forwards have got us in the front foot. Then Harrison goes into the props rotation.

Defo think he is being scapegoated and people make out pre injury he was like some peak Hanley!! Who do we get that significantly improves us on the same cap space as him ?

I'd like him to show a modicum of aggression and passion.

He's not alone in this ....some players are here for paychecks based upon past reputations and are not all in effort wise to win ... the club themselves aren't really of the necessary mindset either ....for example charging stupid money for a meet and greet with the new coach ...money for nothing as dire straits once sang is the root of the indifference by club and players towards the bigger supposed goal

Currently it seems the CEO!

£55 to £80 to meet Sam Burgess!

It’s obviously not targeted at the fans, who are the club trying to connect with!

Fgs, someone really doesn’t have a clue.

If currie needs a dominant pack to get the best out of him then the club have failed him massively by failing to provide it. This season has been better and I hope it will be better again next year. Currie is still one of our best players IMO, yes id like to see a bit more from him but it's been hard for anyone to look effective in our recent attack which has been clunky at best. I'd like to see philbin as an impact 2nd row, he'd maybe need to improve his passing skills though.

Let's see what gleeson can bring to the team with a solid pre season and a coach that hopefully demands more from the squad.

Don’t they always do some form of pre season meet the coach / player / function? Given the reduction in central funding over the past few years I wouldn’t be too critical of them looking to exploit every angle.

A chance to meet an actual legend of the game before he devotes himself entirely to coaching. An opportunity for the club to get some money in the coffers. I really don’t see the problem.
(Trying to compare meeting Peets when he was appointed to Burgess shows how desperate some are to criticise our club.)

I think the front row is the general weakness. A lot of this can be remedied quickly, with a bit more preparedness and attention to detail, players like Philbin and Bullock ‘can’ be really effective, but we need to balance out the impact with with resilience and consistency that Vaughan provides.

Harrison will be better for a full season in the Super League under his belt. Musgrove adds another big body. I just think that we need to get a grind/dirty job man in that 13 shirt. Crowther makes sense. He’s not a great ball carrier but is a grafter off the ball, works hard in defence and puts pressure on kickers. But, the temptation would be to just throw all the big guys on at once to try and blow teams away in attack, but that needs the balance in my opinion. Harrison did this really well to support Morley and Carvell. I’m sure it won’t be lost on Burgess, having Clark playing that role in his South’s pack.

Centres need work, but that is taking shape now.

In all honesty a lot of damage was done to our attack when the club signed two forwards who could only do 15 minute stints. Add to that the McGuire saga & Mikaele going home early & injuries to other forwards & Vaughan was left with too much to do in most games. How could we hope to get on the front foot ?

There are a number of positions where we could be better and some where we're pretty good.

My big concern is that I don't see in our squad a leader, the one geeing them up or giving out bollockings behind the sticks, the one pushing the rules to breaking point and beyond, the one ruthlessly doing absolutely whatever it takes to get the win and take his team with him. If I'm missing the obvious candidate please point it out to me but I just don't think we have one.

We have not had one since Briers. I know Morley was the captain but Briers was the voice.

Indeed, and I haven't seen one this year and can't see one in next years squad unless Burgess is going to get back on the field.