Those were my thoughts.

It allows Thewlis to play as 1st team fullback, with Dean gradually taking over the halfback role from Ratchford.

I've been questioning how realistic it is that Warrington would give a 2 year extension to a player who turns 34 in July. But stranger thinks have happened at the club ie, Latu being given a contract despite Price being very clear to the board about not wanting him.

Maybe your mates right ? Time will tell

I guess that depends on the salary. I can't see Ratchford accepting massively reduced terms unless he couldn't get a contract elsewhere.

I think Powell sees a lot of value in Ratchford. I think he's probably the right sort of positive character to have around the club, and Powell tends to get the best out of those sort of players even when they're at the end of their careers (McShane?). It will make an easier transition for Riley and give us experienced cover in many other positions, even if it means sacrificing a bit of pace. Who (apart from Powell) thought Jordan Turner could make a decent job of it on the wing for Cas last year?

If Ratchford has signed somewhere else i reckon it would be Salford. A 2 year deal at 34 doesn't seem realistic, but you never know?

Ratch loves a pie or two

1. Thewlis
2. Minikin
3. Wrench
4. King
5. Ashton
6. Dufty
7. Dean
8. Dudson
9. Clark
10. Mikaele
11. Currie
12. Longstafff
13. Magoulias

14. Walker
15. Kasiano
16. Harrison
17. Bullock

King, Currie, Magoulias have not shown they deserve a place. Indeed if their contract was up this season they wouldnt get renewed.

Williams dedinately wouldn't lose his place even with his awful form. Powell won't drop a marquee player even if he should be. Most coaches won't which is daft.

Cooper to Wigan confirmed

Ye gods ,we are turning into a feeder club.

Madame Boyd on twitter now says Mulhern (aka Magnum) is asking for too much money and could be on his way out too.

I can't see us breaking the bank for a prop that cannot break 6.5m average gain.

(Dudson average gain 8.47)
(Kasiano average gain 8.36)

I can’t see any big clubs coming in for him. I don’t have a problem with him as 3rd or 4th choice prop if he can get to the standard of a good backup prop, like he was last year. But he’s got to be realistic about what he’s worth in the current climate. The top clubs have all the props they need, and he’s been out of form this year.

I really like mulhern, he's solid and consistant.....but that's it. I would not fork out loads of money for him, i would like him to stay but not if he's asking for too much. He'd likely end up at Wakefield or Salford as both need Props. I can't see teams rushing to sign him but he'd definately get signed.
If he does go we definately need 1 more prop to come in but Powell might be happy running with the 6 we'd have, depending on how well Harrison goes?

That pack wouldn’t frighten Woolston.

Mulhern's problem is that we already have enough props under contract for next season, at least quantity if not necessarily quality.

We started this season with Cooper, Philbin, Bullock, Mulhern, Harrison and Butler (order based on their squad numbers). Next season we have Dudson, Mikaele, Kasiano, Bullock, Philbin and Harrison already under contract. If you said that, based on this year’s squad numbers, the player’s salaries were in line with their number. i.e. Cooper was paid the most, Butler the least, then I don’t think that you’d be far off. I expect that Mulhern feels as though he’s underpaid relative to Philbin and Bullock, and he’s probably correct. It’s just that, based on this season’s performances, Philbin and Bullock wouldn’t be signed up on the same money if their contracts were up for renewal.

Mulhern was signed by Wire in a player swop deal for Lois Johnson brokered by their agent Craig Harrison.

I would guess that he will be on a much lower salary than our other props, given the circumstances of how he was signed.

Better forwards are on there way as long as they are not coming to top up their pensions.

Same source says Paul Vaughan is a done deal now.

Josh Maguire is also mentioned by MEN in a report, I know were are short of props, we seem to be making quite a collection. The same report states that Vaughan is joining his team mate Matt Dufty and that Widdop is signing for Cas Tigers

Paul Vaughn & Josh McGuire, will be 32 & 33 next year, certainly a dads army in the pack, along with Dudson & Kasiano. So does this mean we see the back of Hughes, Clarke & Mulhern, we know Cooper is confirmed. So 4 in 4 out. Let’s hope Powell’s signings give us so much needed oomph that we have needed all season, let’s hope that Harrison and Mikaele make some impact this year as well, we would then have quite a pack to choose from for next year. Here’s hoping so.

I've read that too, mcguire and Vaughan to be announced soon apparently.

I think Maguire can play as a 13 as well as a prop. Signing both of them would be a surprise but it would make for a bigger set of props. Starting pair - Dudson and Vaughan, off the bench Mikaele, Kasiano and Harrison with Maguire at 13. Just need an aggressive tackle breaking second rower and we should look a bit stronger in the pack next year!

1 Thewlis
2 Minikin
3 Mata'utia
4 Wrench/King
5 Ashton
6 Dufty/Dean
7 Williams
8 Vaughan
9 Walker
10 Dudson
11 Holmes/Longstaff
12 TBC/Currie
13 Maguire

14 Mikaele
15 Kasiano
16 Harrison
17 Clark

Mulhern is defo off, he's asked for more money club have refused.

Vaughan's numbers are impressive. McGuire is a grub but that's something we've not had in about a gazillion years.