Thanks for putting the list together DB.
On paper it looks like there is a fair bit of depth after No 17 with Ratchford, Russell, wrench, Bullock, Crowther, Green etc.
The problem I think we have had for a number of years is are those players really putting pressure on the first 17 or are they there for cover in case of injuries and suspensions.
Wigan replaced Sam Powell with Brad O'Neil as starting hooker half way through the season. In 2022 French was mainly playing Wing but then Cust lost his starting spot to French and Miski brought in on the wing. So they had Cust and Powell struggling to get into the team on form. The moment Cooper suffered his injury Hill took his place to appear in about 15 games after playing only 1 previous game.
Using similar scenarios I cannot see a situation where Dufty is not in great form but is replaced by Thewlis and then Russell brought in on the wing purely on form. I cannot see Drinkwater being replaced by Hayes purely on form and if a few of our middles gets injured I cannot see Thomas or Green get 15 games. We are more likely to shuffle things around and see Ratchford play at 13 (last year it was Matautia and Clark playing 13). Ok. I think Thewlis did start one game at FB but iirc Dufty was on the bench but the status quo resumed the week after.
I hope that Big Sam creates an environment where everybody is under pressure to perform and has the courage to make the change but the players outside of the 17 need to be busting a gut to get in the matchday team.
Look at Saints. They have a big name in Hurrell. They could have shuffled things around for Hopoate to go to wing and Hurrell at centre to fit the big names in but instead Benison kept his place. They get a few injuries in the pack and they could have started sticking centres in the back row to push players into prop but they trusted in Delaney to cover at prop.
Surely Harvie Hill or Delaney are not that much better than Thomas or Green?
We have been guilty of having little or no faith outside of the initial 17 and being too reliant on them. That needs to change and we need true competition for places.
I do remember a few years ago that Phil Clarke stated that we have too much of our salary cap tied up on a small number of players and that maybe why we have had this problem.
