Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 1:20 pm  

An escape rout from the rumours thread!
I think the majority of us agree that we have been fairly toothless at centre this season, question is why and how will it improve next season?
First let me put my cards on the table re Ratchford. I couldn’t disagree more strongly with the view that he has never really fitted in.
In fact he has done a good job wherever he has been asked to play and in his earlier days was a real running threat although the one handed carry was a concern. It seems strange that all those people who say they just want players to give their all rarely credit him for this aspect of his play.
I do think this season has looked a season too long for him at times, but given at the start of the season the left side was scoring regularly perhaps the blame doesn’t entirely rest with him.
In the other centre berth we have Matautia, I made no secret of my view at the time that he was a poor signing and take no comfort from being right. He was obviously brought in as Powell’s lieutenant in the dressing room and that hardly seems to have resulted in harmony. However batsh1t crazy Mamo was he definitely posed far more of an attacking threat than his successor.
With regard to Wrench we have seen glimpses of what he may be able to do, I reall hope he kicks on

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 1:29 pm  

I agree that some of the criticism of Ratchford is OTT and doesn't show enough respect for what a good player he has been for us.

Plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the centre position: we have just brought in as assistant coach the best English centre of his generation. And our head coach is a former England Union centre (ok maybe let's forget that bit).

Both Tai and Bruines come with a bit of a gamble but Wrench is (for me) a real talent and needs game time in his position.

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 1:56 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

An escape rout from the rumours thread!
I think the majority of us agree that we have been fairly toothless at centre this season, question is why and how will it improve next season?
First let me put my cards on the table re Ratchford. I couldn’t disagree more strongly with the view that he has never really fitted in.
In fact he has done a good job wherever he has been asked to play and in his earlier days was a real running threat although the one handed carry was a concern. It seems strange that all those people who say they just want players to give their all rarely credit him for this aspect of his play.
I do think this season has looked a season too long for him at times, but given at the start of the season the left side was scoring regularly perhaps the blame doesn’t entirely rest with him.
In the other centre berth we have Matautia, I made no secret of my view at the time that he was a poor signing and take no comfort from being right. He was obviously brought in as Powell’s lieutenant in the dressing room and that hardly seems to have resulted in harmony. However batsh1t crazy Mamo was he definitely posed far more of an attacking threat than his successor.
With regard to Wrench we have seen glimpses of what he may be able to do, I reall hope he kicks on

Ok, in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling thats a somewhat difficult read.
Are you a failed TEFLER per chance?

Regarding your content I concur that Ratchford has been a positive for the club but due to our lack of goal kicker succession planning his tenure is 2/3 years too long. Gleason should play himself next season

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:06 pm  

Ratchford has never let the team down, apart from the one handed carry at times. IMO though he is better creating space for himself than being a part of the three quarter line.

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:14 pm  

MRS_MOP wrote:

Ok, in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling thats a somewhat difficult read.
Are you a failed TEFLER per chance?

Regarding your content I concur that Ratchford has been a positive for the club but due to our lack of goal kicker succession planning his tenure is 2/3 years too long. Gleason should play himself next season

There should be an apostrophe in thats, perchance should be one word rather than two, and the correct spelling is Gleeson. I believe TEFL UK is based in Winmarleigh Street, if you fancy popping down?

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:18 pm  

hopefully gleeson is a big help for wrench, if centre is to be his position long term

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:28 pm  

MRS_MOP wrote:

Ok, in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling thats a somewhat difficult read.
Are you a failed TEFLER per chance?

Regarding your content I concur that Ratchford has been a positive for the club but due to our lack of goal kicker succession planning his tenure is 2/3 years too long. Gleason should play himself next season

Sorry about that, I’ll try using pictures in future.

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:33 pm  

I’ve got nothing against Ratchford. Good pro, seems to be a likeable man and has served the club well over the years. But the speed and elusiveness has faded away, and with it the threat. He can still catch and pass, but that should be a prerequisite.

It’s a Warrington thing. We often hold on to those who have served us well for too long. We did it with Westwood, accommodated him in a different position because he’d lost the ability to play his proper role.

A bench spot, maybe. Cover across the backline and a bit of 9/13 at a stretch. But he just doesn’t have it in him to be a strike weapon in 2023.

Developed into an excellent goal kicker though, to his credit.

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:44 pm  

In addition Ratchford was the last full back that I felt confident about when a bomb went up.

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Centres : Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:54 pm  

Captain Hook wrote:

In addition Ratchford was the last full back that I felt confident about when a bomb went up.

60/40 for me