Sandow is contracted only to the end of this season so far. That is a question mark over next season in my book.

Hi all, first post...

Was he not signed until end of 2017?

Centre to Penny for me but a close call between there and full back. It's a nice headache for TS to have though.

Pretty sure he's on a two year deal until end of 2017.

Welcome to the Board, and good first post. I believe you are correct, he is signed until the end of the 2017 season.

Quote ="Winslade's Offload"Welcome to the Board, and good first post. I believe you are correct, he is signed until the end of the 2017 season.'" www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/33637952 www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/a ... ris-sandow www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... -from-eels

Quote ="Winslade's Offload"Welcome to the Board, and good first post. I believe you are correct, he is signed until the end of the 2017 season.'" www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/33637952 www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/a ... ris-sandow www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... -from-eels

Thanks all, that's great news. I thought is read somewhere he was initially on a 2015 to end of season and 2016, had a brain fart.

I don't know where Ratch's best position is. But I suspect that if he is left out of the team, his agent will be sounding out the top 4 clubs and before we know it, he will be off to Wigan. I think he is also too talented not to be in the team. He can win a match with a touch of brilliance from anywhere on the pitch.

My guess would be that at some point TS will move Gidley to FB and slot Ratch into the halves to see if the combination with Sandow will work.

At the moment and if Sandow and Gidley continue as they are playing, when back to fitness I'd play him at fullback and then it's a choice of Penny or Russell for wing.
I'd slightly favour Russell because of his ptb contribution.

An extra support at acting half at the expense of pace on the wing when you have 2 fit hookers is a waste IMO.
Penny plays, Russell drops out until we lose a hooker or get an injury out wide.

We have this debate EVERY season. And if ratchford is still here next season we will be having it again no doubt. The problem is that is has never really had any oustanding performances for us whatever position he has played in. At fullback he has been poor. At stand off he has been ok, but i would prefer someone better in that position. His best games(saints away last year being an example)have been at centre. People say he is super talented and can win a game with a touch of genius. Can someone please provide some examples of this? Because he has been with us a fair few seasons and i cant remember too many. Sandow has produced a moment of magic in both games already this season.

Ratchford is a good player but he doesn't have a position of his own. He has some attributes across a number of positions, isn't a specialist in any of them but can do a job and even get MOTM in many games despite that.

Like Grix who is good across a number of positions (albeit with Grix that's further forward) he could be an ideal man to sign on for a number of years to be in the team on a regular basis to play in a number of positions over the season.

It's far better than just putting a centre specialist at FB just because we've got injuries and have to. Someone who can actually play a number of positions is an essential member of the squad.

A bit harsh Moe IMO he was that poor at FB he kept Hodgson out of the team tows the end of his time here and I don't remember many complaints apart from Brett and his missus.

Centre for me but he will have to fight for the shirt if everyone is available.

Ratchford stood in at fullback for hodgson in 2013 in the play offs and he did ok. Nothing spectacular, but nothing wrong. He was then picked ahead of a fit hodgson for the grand final,................think about that for a minute!

Those vote results tell a story in there own right....
No, not that he has a few more votes at centre over fullback, but because there is so much variation. He been selected in all options but winger and hooker.

Therein telling the story of just how talented this man is when he is prefurred to play so many positions.

He is a centre all day long for me.

Easiest poll vote ever.

If Atkins can rediscover his form and nail down the left centre position.

Could we use Ratchford as a "Super Sub" against a tiring defence, is a similar fashion to which Rob Burrows use to terrorise defences, while playing for Leeds?

It would need Clark to play longer minutes, & possibly mean that Dwyer doesn`t play at all, because the bench would be light weight, with both Ratchford & Dwyer included.

Playing as a specialist substitute could also enhance Ratchford`s international career.

I was never happy with Ratchford at FB or centre. He does okay there for me. I don't like it when Ratch has too much field to run at, he carries the ball one handed and scares the hell out of me. At centre he doesn't have the build even though he can pass.
At hb he can play behind a pack and exploit weakness.
He has 6 on his back for obvious reasons not because he is regarded as a centre.

here is a question for you ducky.... Now that the best HB at the club (and in SL)has left and joined Widnes... Is Ratchford the new best HB at wire?

You have 5 minutes to answer the question Duckie. The clock is ticking

Gone.

I think Ratchford will make an excellent centre for probably the same reasons duckie sees him (and Bridge) as being great halfbacks - their ability to find gaps in a line and the timing and accuracy of their passes (I'm still in awe of that tap to Johnson against Saints...). I don't believe he has the organisational skills to pair with Sandow the way Gidley does, and while I'd be happy to see him back at FB if he can regain his form from pre-2015 I think centre will work better for him. Only down side is the amount of competition in both positions!

If Atkins doesn't find and form, drop him, and Ratch in the centres.
Currie into the the 2nd row.

We have some smart rugby players in this team.

Ratchford
Sandow
Gidley
Currie
Westerman
Evans
Hill
Clark
Dwyer
King
Johnson
Patton

Brains in a team makes a difference.

In the latest Wire YouTube vid with Steph and Hilly, Hilly refers to him as a half back which may be an indication of where he has been preparing to play pre-season.