Re: New coach : Tue Apr 13, 2021 3:01 pm  

I'll bite.
If 5 years ago somebody would have said that in 2021 our backs could include Ratchford, Charnley, lineham, King Inglis, widdop and Austin the biggest question mark would have been against Toby King. I would have bitten your hand off with the others knowing that all the players from the 2011 team would have retired.
Strange to think that the one I would have questioned would be the one that I now have the least concerns about.

Re: New coach : Tue Apr 13, 2021 5:54 pm  

Deus Dat Incrementum wrote:

I'll bite.
If 5 years ago somebody would have said that in 2021 our backs could include Ratchford, Charnley, lineham, King Inglis, widdop and Austin the biggest question mark would have been against Toby King. I would have bitten your hand off with the others knowing that all the players from the 2011 team would have retired.
Strange to think that the one I would have questioned would be the one that I now have the least concerns about.

I mentioned in another thread, if you take a like-for-like player out of Saints or Wigan into that back line, does it turn us into world-beaters? If Warrington lined up with Coote, Grace, Bibby, Gildart, French steered by Fages and Hastings would we blow Hull off the park all of a sudden? I'm afraid I can't see it myself. It's about getting the best out of what is already a pretty decent squad.

I think it's true that we only have two first-class starting props at present, and maybe our backup signings aren't quite at the level of Paasi or a couple of Wigan's home-growns. It's not making that much of a difference though. Mulhern and Butler are more than capable of stepping up. I like Davis' attitude and Mamo's utility value, but not sure if Saints or Wigan would have taken them over their academy talent.

I'll be interested to see if Powell goes fishing into Moran and Middleton's pockets once our out-of-contract players are gone this season - I think he'll tweak what we've got left with a couple of key additions to pivot around. Maybe a young crafty half like Trueman on a long-term deal, and a pacy centre on the right side.

Re: New coach : Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:18 pm  

Deus Dat Incrementum wrote:

I'll bite.
If 5 years ago somebody would have said that in 2021 our backs could include Ratchford, Charnley, lineham, King Inglis, widdop and Austin the biggest question mark would have been against Toby King. I would have bitten your hand off with the others knowing that all the players from the 2011 team would have retired.
Strange to think that the one I would have questioned would be the one that I now have the least concerns about.

If someone had told you when Super League kicked off that in 2001 we'd have Langer, Walters, Gee, Nikau and Hunte you'd have bitten their hand off too.

I wonder if in 2026 we'll have a roster that would have won the Grand Final in 2021.

Re: New coach : Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:26 pm  

sally cinnamon wrote:

If someone had told you when Super League kicked off that in 2001 we'd have Langer, Walters, Gee, Nikau and Hunte you'd have bitten their hand off to.

That's a fair point

But looking back to 2009/2010 did our squad look like it was going to be at the very top for the next three years? You could argue Morley was just here for a retirement booster, Carvell was a slightly above average prop from an average Hull team, Higham couldn't get a gig at a top club any more, Monaghan looked like a Cullen vanity project that failed badly and Briers was the inconsistent enigma that only Warrington fans could see the potential of. Bridge and Atkins were rejects from Bradford's academy, Mathers was found out at Wigan after Leeds binned him, and we had a former Wakefield winger trying to become an enforcer prop/second row.

Yet somehow a coach with a fresh mindset came in and tweaked that bunch of misfits into 5 finals, 3 trophies and a league leader's shield (yes, I know we didn't win the big one).

Apart from the key players we know will probably not be staying - Austin, Widdop, Hill and maybe Lineham - I don't think Powell will want (or need) to make any major changes. Ratchford is an excellent all-round fullback with a great brain, Charnley still a very decent winger, King's ability isn't in question, Cooper, Philbin, Mulhern as decent as any front-rowers. Currie no question, Hughes who knows?

To put things in a sort of roundabout way, if Powell was staying at Castleford and went on a spending spree for all our big names, they'd be happy as Larry. And I'm generally happy for him to work on what we've got at Warrington, plus a few tweaks.

Re: New coach : Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:29 pm  

easyWire wrote:

That's a fair point

But looking back to 2009/2010 did our squad look like it was going to be at the very top for the next three years? You could argue Morley was just here for a retirement booster, Carvell was a slightly above average prop from an average Hull team, Higham couldn't get a gig at a top club any more, Monaghan looked like a Cullen vanity project that failed badly and Briers was the inconsistent enigma that only Warrington fans could see the potential of. Bridge and Atkins were rejects from Bradford's academy, Mathers was found out at Wigan after Leeds binned him, and we had a former Wakefield winger trying to become an enforcer prop/second row.

Yet somehow a coach with a fresh mindset came in and tweaked that bunch of misfits into 5 finals, 3 trophies and a league leader's shield (yes, I know we didn't win the big one).

Apart from the key players we know will probably not be staying - Austin, Widdop, Hill and maybe Lineham - I don't think Powell will want (or need) to make any major changes. Ratchford is an excellent all-round fullback with a great brain, Charnley still a very decent winger, King's ability isn't in question, Cooper, Philbin, Mulhern as decent as any front-rowers. Currie no question, Hughes who knows?

To put things in a sort of roundabout way, if Powell was staying at Castleford and went on a spending spree for all our big names, they'd be happy as Larry. And I'm generally happy for him to work on what we've got at Warrington, plus a few tweaks.

I agree with most of what you say but I will take some convincing about Charnley. He looks like a spent force and has for some time.

Re: New coach : Tue Apr 13, 2021 11:33 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

I agree with most of what you say but I will take some convincing about Charnley. He looks like a spent force and has for some time.

I wrote Charnley’s name tentatively, I’d like to think it’s a poor few games rather than a loss of class. His first 12 months here was great, but he doesn’t see the ball except for a kick return.

Re: New coach : Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:41 am  

Charnley is still a good winger, I hope Darryl Powell comes in and gives the whole place the lift that Tony Smith did. We have a good squad which is underachieving. I want to see more professional attitudes and the lads enjoying their rugby again. We look like a team going through the motions.

Re: New coach : Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:05 am  

Widdop is contracted for next season so why the certainty he will leave. There were no takers in the NRL for this season so what will have changed. Austin is out of contract.

It would be very difficult to have to recruit two halfbacks and I can imagine nigh on all our transfer budget going on one.

Re: New coach : Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:32 am  

Paul Youane wrote:

Widdop is contracted for next season so why the certainty he will leave. There were no takers in the NRL for this season so what will have changed. Austin is out of contract.

It would be very difficult to have to recruit two halfbacks and I can imagine nigh on all our transfer budget going on one.

True on both counts.
Too many on here (and more than likely, Facebook) are of the mindset, " well, our Michael's newsagents uncle, who drinks in the King's Head, has heard he's off to the NRL. Plane tickets booked for him and his family, and everything". It's just people making up tosh. Widdop doesn't strike me as dishonourable type. He'll see his contract through. He's in his 30's, with a not great injury record. I imagine Aussie clubs have moved on, and have younger options.

As for recruiting TWO new halves, can the club PLEASE stop with the throwing huge money at stars for a while. It's not working. Talk of Truman coming here, when we've a squad full of names already here, and another who's STILL not yet match fit, despite signing a contract 11 months ago, really is galling. If Widdop and Austin are continuing to misfire, play one of the youth. No one should be undropable

Re: New coach : Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:52 am  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

True on both counts.
Too many on here (and more than likely, Facebook) are of the mindset, " well, our Michael's newsagents uncle, who drinks in the King's Head, has heard he's off to the NRL. Plane tickets booked for him and his family, and everything". It's just people making up tosh. Widdop doesn't strike me as dishonourable type. He'll see his contract through. He's in his 30's, with a not great injury record. I imagine Aussie clubs have moved on, and have younger options.

As for recruiting TWO new halves, can the club PLEASE stop with the throwing huge money at stars for a while. It's not working. Talk of Truman coming here, when we've a squad full of names already here, and another who's STILL not yet match fit, despite signing a contract 11 months ago, really is galling. If Widdop and Austin are continuing to misfire, play one of the youth. No one should be undropable

Dead right. I cannot see Riley Dean playing with York for long. We will need him back.