For me, no one in the Widnes side could hack it in SL.

For Leigh, Only Chris Hill has an outside chance. The rest of our squad have no chance.

The gap is far too big in my opinion, but the 3 year gap of non promotion will have an obvious affect.

No doubting that Widnes have potential SL players, but to make the step up after 3 seasons in our division will do them no good.

Just my opinion of course, but you can probably count on one hand the amount of players who could make the step up in Champ and C1.

I think everyone seems to be in agreement. The young ones haven't done a lot wrong and if they improve further in the next 18 months then no reason why most of them shouldn't be given an opportunity. The only player I think I would disagree with is Matt Gardner, he doesn't take a lot of credit, but I think he's done really well for us and maybe worth a shot - if we get there. Jim Gannon is another I give a go to - if he wants to carry on that is. He seems to keep himself in really good nick and as things stand, doesn't look like he's on the way down as yet.

The only younger players that would be at risk would be Scott Yates and Mathew Strong -they are not [ithat[/i young anymore and haven't yet established themselves as top Championship players, never mind SL players. I think both Yates and Strong would be 24 by then, but 18 months is a long time and if I was either of them, I'd still believe there is enough time to show what I could do.

To say noone could hack it is a bit harsh. Unless by hack it you mean stand out or be a star. If you look at the Cas and Hull KR teams they still have players who played in their promotion years, so it would be prudent to think some would still be able to make the step up.

I agree with most of what you say but i think Matt Gardner deserves a chance.He has played well for us this year.Some of our yougsters could be even better in 2yrs time.Ste Tyrer and joel tomkins where not outstanding for us in the championship and are doing good in superleague now.Richard Myler was good and did not think he become a top notch player.So shows if got better players around you, and fulltime it would make a difference.

Thackeray and maybe Haggis...

I'd hope we'd do a similar thing to Hull KR and faze out almost all of our NL player over 2-3 years max..

I'd also HATE to see us take any player to SL based on sentimental reasons.. If a player is not good enough - and lets face it if they haven't secured a move to a SL club in the 5years we've been in the lower league that is a fair indication they aren't upto SL standard

Nes

OOPS i meant joel tomkins the secondrower.Not the scrumhalf.

I always thought Gardner was most confident under the high balls out of Flynn,Ford and any other players who have played winger/full back over this season's games.

At Leigh Hill, Bibey, Lulu, Nash and the 4 DC lads. Would also take Higson, Meekin and Ridyard as possibles.

SuperLeague????

Ford - as a centre
Flynn - wing
Thackeray - halfback
Pickersgill - bench frontrow
Smith - bench 9
Allen - squad player
Grady - squad player
Hulme - squad player

Doesn't make good reading does it?

Gaskell - nowhere near good enough
Varkulis - nowhere near good enough
Kohe Love - too old
Webster -not good enough, too old, too slow, too predictable
Gannon - too old
Doran - nowhere near good enough
Gerrard - nowhere near good enough
Coyle - not good enough, overweight and not suited to top level
Haggerty - nowhere near good enough, lazy
Kavanagh - not good enough, lazy
Yates - nowhere near good enough
Gardner - nowhere near good enough
Strong - nowhere near good enough
Thompson - not gonna be good enough
Houghton - not gonna be good enough, no athleticism
Mullally - no idea whats happened to him

Did I say not good reading? I mean bl00dy frightening!

You have a squad needed to compete in The Championship. You'll have a new squad when you get into Super League. Why waste a SL squad in The Championship when you don't need to? Simples

I do worry that if we are granted a licence, then year 1 could be very damaging in the short term so much so that it could be hard to recover from. A major player turnover and the chance of a new squad taking time to gel. This could seriously affect the younger players at the club in terms of confidence.

I think there'd be a need to recruit a new coach. That might surprise people I know.

But i'm talking about keeping Cullen and the current backroom team but adding a new face that is known for bringing people together. Somebody in the mold of Frank Endacott (I know what you're all gonna say).

What I mean, is a person who has good interpersonal skills that can get the lads bonding. I dont get the impressionthat Cullen is that sort of bloke. He seems very stern and set in his ways and not somebody who is easily approachable. I may be wrong, but thats the persona he has.

To me the franchise winner takes the bulk of the losers squad and imports better. It is then hoped that the winner can produce their own after a couple of years

Have you been watching rugby leaugue for long? If not then you must be a visionary. Give SOC a call - he'll be wondering why he gave PC the job before speaking to you

.

Yes I see that. The quality is definately a worry. I really hope we can produce some talented kids. Some great young players coming through at the moment. I suppose the true test of our development of players will be seen in a few years.

Redchemic, I dont get the point you are making????

Year 1 will be difficult - it always is in terms of player turnover, that's why 3 year licences are granted.

Someone like Frank Endacott - well you said it "I know what you're all gonna say".

This seasons team has the best team spirit I've seen for years. As for bonding, I don't know if are best mates or not but they don't have to be bosom buddies, just as any workmates don't have to be - they just have to do their jobs to the best of their abilities - and this season AFAIC they are.

I'd sooner have them playing as a team and for each other as pros than be best buddies like Franks party people.

Frank Endacott as I've said was an example. I'm talking about a type of person rather than the person mentioned.

How do you view team spirit?

How do you know that everybody was best buddies like Franks party people?

Team spirit IMO is what the team does when their backs are against the wall. Coming back from certain defeat - or as near as damn it.

I'd imagine Franks boys were all pretty close being as they were on the pop together at every given opportunity behaving like they were on 18 -30 holidays for all the town to see.

Agreed on the team spirit topic.

In terms of the Endacott team on the pop, I never had the good fortune to see that so i'll take your word for it. I'm assuming that by your insinuations, you witnessed this first hand? Or is it another case of 'I was reliably told by my best friends brothers boss who heard it in the betting shop'?

Real Widnes fans, i.e. not people posting from multiple IPs addresses and hiding their real identity by using multiple accounts, tend to know it was going on at the time. I'm surprised you don't remember the chicken incident!

Peter, I was once a regular down at The Vue bar et al. The party boys were evident for all to see.

Misili Manu - and some people slag Scott Yates off - jeez!!

I remember all the rumours but didnt tend to give them much notice. You'll have to let me into the 'chicken incident'.

and Manu? wasnt he the Usain Bolt of his generation?

Can I add, on a slightly seperate issue, that I think this is why he is'nt playing in SL anymore.

How many games did he actually play for Warrington 1st team?

He is still a relative youngster and was certainly only a kid when playing for warrington so I'm not sure how much 'big game experience' he would have picked up.

He wouldn't have been a major player in their side would he?

Not knocking the lad, but surely you only pick up 'big game experience' by playing a major part?