Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:29 am  

Assuming we sign Drinkwater I guess he would be first choice kicker? Unless Matu'tia took it on full time?

Drinkwater hasn't done much kicking, last time he regularly kicked was 2018 when he averaged 67%, not great. Mata'utia last kicked regularly in 2020 he was at 73% ish.

Ratchford has regularly kicked 80%+ and has been up at 85% for the last couple of years, probably helped by the fact we can't shift the ball wide, so all our tries have been by the posts...

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:30 am  

PEAKEYBLINDER wrote:

Saints and Wigan have produced more homegrown players than we have for years although things may be starting to change. Our failure to develop halves in particular is a sad story and potentially good players have been let go which suggests to me we got it wrong. If our pack is going to be as big and strong as predicted next season Riley Dean must be given a chance he would probably get at Saints or Wigan. Ratch is not a halve and Drinkwater is a one track pony.
I smell an Aussie!

Which potentially good players have been let go?

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:42 am  

If Drinkwater is fit, why would Catalans release him? He's got another year on his contract there. He also spoke about how he was loving life in France and couldn't imagine leaving and missed a few months with a mystery foot injury that puzzled doctors around the world. If you're signing him, who are Catalans getting? They were very happy with Drinkwater, so must be someone big.

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 10:46 am  

PEAKEYBLINDER wrote:

Saints and Wigan have produced more homegrown players than we have for years although things may be starting to change. Our failure to develop halves in particular is a sad story and potentially good players have been let go which suggests to me we got it wrong. If our pack is going to be as big and strong as predicted next season Riley Dean must be given a chance he would probably get at Saints or Wigan. Ratch is not a halve and Drinkwater is a one track pony.
I smell an Aussie!

Josh Drinkwater is an Aussie.

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 11:13 am  

Saddened! wrote:

If Drinkwater is fit, why would Catalans release him? He's got another year on his contract there. He also spoke about how he was loving life in France and couldn't imagine leaving and missed a few months with a mystery foot injury that puzzled doctors around the world. If you're signing him, who are Catalans getting? They were very happy with Drinkwater, so must be someone big.

They seemed to prefer Tyrone May there at the end of last year and are lining up 2 new centres. I guess they would need to release Drinkwater for cap purposes.

Taukeiaho, Plus Tomkins, plus Pearce plus 2 new centres (think they where chasing Luetele?) won’t come cheap

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:46 pm  

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... on-wolves/

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... on-wolves/

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 2:33 pm  

All these suggestions of who we might or not be signing & who might be going are a pretty poor reflection on the man who has had his finger on the pulse for over 18 months. We will no doubt be dragged into a late spending spree once more to bring the overpaid over here to under perform.
And the club wants to sell season tickets.

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 2:54 pm  

Every time I saw Drinkwater last year he looked a stone overweight.

I recall seeing him make a break in one match and you could actually see the physio preparing the oxygen tent on the touchline.

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 3:21 pm  

As Saddened said earlier, he’s happy in France and he’s under contract. To me that says he wouldn’t be heading here for anything other than more money on a longer deal.

It’s a no from me. If Williams is good enough to be the England captain he should be good enough to steer us around the park behind a bigger pack. I’m sure Dean or Hayes have a good enough long kicking game to justify the other HB jersey (if Ratchford isn’t up to standard as we suspect).

I just hope we don’t throw too much money at Gildart for centre. He’s above average, but nothing that justifies King-style wages.

We aren’t half in a mess right now. I actually felt better last month at the end of an awful season.

Re: Half Back problem. : Tue Oct 11, 2022 3:41 pm  

So assuming we sign Drinkwater the squad for next season is looking something like:-

1. Dufty
2. Ashton
3. Ma'atutia
4. Ratchford
5. Thewlis
6. Williams
7. Drinkwater
8. Vaughan
9. Clark
10. Dudson
11. Currie
12. Nicholson
13. McGuire

Walker
Kasiano
Mikaele
Harrison
Bullock
Philbin
Wrench
Minikin