The exodus continues...

No loss.

hes not a centre in a million years. where is he going to play in union? Wing?

he will play stand off in union and go ok. No loss to SL though.

I did, thought he played well. Caused Leeds all sorts of problems.

If it wasn't for the ref deciding flat passes are now illegal he'd have had two assists too. Quality player.

He ain't and what a well thought out comment any body going to union is a loss

Disagree, the top players or players who could realistically compete for an England shirt yes, players like Ratchford are easily replaceable with the talent coming through.

For Ratchford, also see Stephen Myler, Danny Williams etc.

unless you are actually ratchford i doubt there's any truth in this at all.

my missus keeps in touch with him quite a bit as they grew up knocking about together (they actually used to be an item of a fashion

) anyway i digress...

he hasn't signed anything for any team or either sport as far as we have heard. for me, i think he would be a useful addition to our squad and would take up little cap space. i'm not saying that because of the link as above either.

Don't know why you think that?

Salford has offered him a contract, Warrington appear to be interested, Wigan may well be interested and rugby union sniffing around as well.

With that much competition for his signature the one thing he isn't going to be is a bargain pick-up for any club.

For some reason tho mate ewt that tinytim writes on this forum comes true funny enough so it will be intresting to see were his comment goes

well said

Wouldn't surprise me as he coaches at Preston Grasshoppers and really likes RU.

Myler has done ok with Northampton.
Ratchford is a better player and there's no reason to think he won't make the full England Union squad.
Myler was hopeless in League. Ratchford is ok but nowhere near Wigan standard.

That would be my main concern were we to sign him. That we may be forced to pay over the odds for him.

Plus I'd rather we stick with Mellor and Powell in halves. As for him at centre I've not been impressed. Certainly not when you compare him again Joel and Carmont and what their capable of at centre.

And do you still think that Ratchford would be a better signing that Briscoe?

According to the League Weekly today, Dave Parker says that Ratchford has signed for Warrington.

Admittedly, Parker roams the forums for rumours and claims them as facts, but he states

'Forget any further speculation, I am telling you that Salford's Stefan Ratchford will be playing for Warrington Wolves from 2012'.

Yes.

Briscoe scorred a very decent try today tbf but the hype over him in unreal.

Ratchford may not be the better player of the two BUT Briscoe isn't needed with the talented wingers we've got. As for him comming in at centre he's not the guy to replace Carmont either.

Ratchford wouldn't be a starter but would easily fill that utility role Phelps was in as he can cover a lot of positions with ease. A very useful guy to have IMO.

FWIW neither are good enough to bs the big name we need to replace Carmont.

I think much depends on the Tomkins situation. If we are going to retain Joel in the centre birth he offers the size and defence and would be the natural successor to Carmont for style of play. Briscoe would come in as the strike option cutting lines and using his footwork to make the breaks.

I see him as very much a young Kirk Yeaman style but with much more potential.

With the best will in the world Ratchford is an organiser and he lacks the dynamism that we need in our back line wider out in my opinion and while he would provide good cover to step in when we have injuries I do not think he has the ability to play in such a key position, either centre or half, consistently for a top side.

Watching Carmont over the past few weeks we can't afford to be looking for a replacement as we need the guy to stay. He's having a terrific season and looks like a 21yr old running around. As often said he must be the best value fir money signing we've made in superleague and the problem cones when you have to replace that type of player. He's been that good its going to cost a fortune to get an overseas player as good.

I always thought that Yeaman would blossom into a world class centre, just shows how much i know.

Always punched well above his weight but has failed to live up to the early hype. He is playing well at the moment, but he should have been ripping it up for the last 5 years.

Another talented young player that probably should have moved away from FC.

Spot on.

It's gonna take a very good player to fill the boots of Carmonts.

I don't think we'd be lucky enough to find another bargain like Carmont so it's gonna be a big earner to replace him.

I agree, worth another year on his current form, would be nice to bring in a young but ready first team quality centre to replace him though when injuries come in and when he needs a rest, with a view to him finally hanging up his boots at the end of next season.

The worry I have with Carmont is that Lenagan has already said he thinks he'll go home at the end of the year but since then Gleeson has left and now Lenagan must do everything in his power to get the guy to stay.

I could see Carmont staying because at the end of the day the guy probably won't get a club on the NRL as I don't think he's ever had much of a reputation over there and they may not realise what a late bloomer the guy has been. He's getting better year on year and I'd be made up if he stayed.

Hopefully him having about 50 kids will mean he has to prolong his career.

All indications are that Carmont will retire. Although I'm in full agreement he'd be well worth another year. I'd like to keep Joel at centre in 2012. But if Hoffman returns to Auz it leaves us light in the backrow IMO, particularly if Hock does indeed return as a prop.

We also mustn't forget about Charnley and the quality he would provide playing in the centre's.

The Gleeson situation makes it for me crucial, assuming he stays fit and on form Carmont remains for 1 more year. It would be very very tough to lose 2 centres in the space of a few months. Had Gleeson remained at the club, i would be open to us looking at a more long term solution, but the minute Gleeson went I feel we have to take a short term view and ensure we have some stability in a very important position on both sides of the field.

Charnley does become a long term option and also potentially Marsh but I feel they are a season or 2 away at bast for front line week in week out centre play.