Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Tue Sep 27, 2022 3:11 pm  

easyWire wrote:

I’m a Ratchford fan, and even I don’t think he makes the 13 next year. He’s an ideal experienced utility either off the bench or as back up, and behind the scenes he’s probably great in the leadership group helping bring through the younger players.

Surely it’s got to be time to blood Thewlis at the back every week with Wrench at centre. We could do with an established organising half for a year or so while we bring the likes of Hayes through. We also have to accept that young players will make mistakes from time to time and that it’s all part of the long-term picture.

Thewlis will be getting blooded on the wing whilst dufty is here. Wrench(once he's fit)will no doubt be regularly starting at centre.

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Tue Sep 27, 2022 3:28 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Ratchford should be nowhere near the starting 13 next season.

For me, he shouldn't have been in starting 13 in 2022.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:47 pm  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

For me, he shouldn't have been in starting 13 in 2022.

I might agree with you but think we had too many variables and they were all over the pitch. The back line conundrums alone, where to play Widdop (when fit), how good (or how much trust does Powell have) are Thewlis, Wrench, Ashton and Dean, after shipping out Charnley and King, the 'form' of Mata'utia (the Ray Wilkins of RL without the end product).....

With better planning, or bottle, there's a decent shout for him to be the 17th man and cover 1, 3, 4, 6 and 13 from the bench, or feature due to injuries and run in's with the disciplinary

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Tue Sep 27, 2022 6:46 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

Ratchford should be nowhere near the starting 13 next season.

If we do get another half in I reckon he gets a squad number at best.

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Tue Sep 27, 2022 7:19 pm  

I've long been a Ratchford fan, but I think his time has gone now.

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Tue Sep 27, 2022 10:04 pm  

If we don't sign a new half then Ratchford will start in the halves next season.
If we do sign a half then i think Ratchford will become a pure utility player playing wherever is needed when injuries strike.

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Tue Sep 27, 2022 11:54 pm  

easyWire wrote:

I’m a Ratchford fan, and even I don’t think he makes the 13 next year. He’s an ideal experienced utility either off the bench or as back up, and behind the scenes he’s probably great in the leadership group helping bring through the younger players.

Surely it’s got to be time to blood Thewlis at the back every week with Wrench at centre. We could do with an established organising half for a year or so while we bring the likes of Hayes through. We also have to accept that young players will make mistakes from time to time and that it’s all part of the long-term picture.

Wrench is an ACL season long absentee.
It’s probably his contract, that we will be saving via the loophole, to sign a halfback with the rest of the cap we have left.
If we don’t, Ratchford is good enough with this pack.

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Wed Sep 28, 2022 6:45 am  

rubber duckie wrote:

Wrench is an ACL season long absentee.
It’s probably his contract, that we will be saving via the loophole, to sign a halfback with the rest of the cap we have left.
If we don’t, Ratchford is good enough with this pack.

I thought I had read May/June for Wrench to return?

The long and short of it is, Powell has given Ratchford a 2 year deal, so he has a plan for him. If it was 1 year on significantly reduced terms it might have been a case of keeping him as a spare part/good influence, but to commit to 2 years there has to be a plan, surely.

I think Powell might agree with you, and think that he is a halfback. Or at least did at one stage of last season. If not half, then the obvious choice is that bench spot.

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:02 am  

Barbed Wire wrote:

I thought I had read May/June for Wrench to return?

May was the original estimate and that has been reiterated in today’s Warrington Guardian.

I don’t like the idea of Ratchford at Half-Back. I’m fine with him as cover for Full Back, Centre or Half but not in the starting 13.

Re: Ratchford and depth in the halves. : Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:51 am  

Brisbane have released an experienced organising half back … highly rated still over there… believe his name is Tyrone Roberts … just saying