[Uncle Rico]

Re: Half Back problem. : Wed Oct 05, 2022 2:46 pm  

The Perry Boy wrote:

Isn't Richardson set to miss a large chunk of next season anyway after tearing his ACL and MCL against Salford back in August?

No idea when you played them, but he was quite pleased with himself and in rude health at ours 25th August . Yet another 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory' display by the Wire

Re: Half Back problem. : Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:29 pm  

Not sure he’s much better that Dec Patton. Still think he got a raw deal under Price, but I’m not sure if looking to bring in budget halfbacks is a progressive move, short or long term.

We’ve put the money into Ratchford, said publicly it’s Ratchford. Unless you’re going to unseat him, by a kid knocking the door down for example, it has to be Ratchford.

It’s not what I would do, but I wouldn’t have gave him a 2 year deal and said publicly he is going to be half back.

Re: Half Back problem. : Wed Oct 05, 2022 10:11 pm  

Barbed Wire wrote:

Not sure he’s much better that Dec Patton. Still think he got a raw deal under Price, but I’m not sure if looking to bring in budget halfbacks is a progressive move, short or long term.

We’ve put the money into Ratchford, said publicly it’s Ratchford. Unless you’re going to unseat him, by a kid knocking the door down for example, it has to be Ratchford.

It’s not what I would do, but I wouldn’t have gave him a 2 year deal and said publicly he is going to be half back.

What raw deal did he get? He got to play in a GF and a Challenge Cup Final winners medal.

Re: Half Back problem. : Wed Oct 05, 2022 11:28 pm  

Regarding the 2 year deal, it might have been the case that with so many others leaving Ratch could have had the upper hand in the length of the contract IF Warrington only wanted to give him a 1 year deal.
For me full back is his best position followed by his versatility to play anywhere from 1-7 and 13 at a push.
Yes he'll do a job for us in the halves but throughout his career he's never really excelled there.

Re: Half Back problem. : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:23 am  

Powell made himself hostage to fortune by announcing Ratchford as halfback when he signed his new contract. In reality he is an excellent utility back up player, can cover so many positions from the bench/for injuries and can kick goals.

Re: Half Back problem. : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:31 am  

Wires71 wrote:

What raw deal did he get? He got to play in a GF and a Challenge Cup Final winners medal.

And was dropped to back up hooker, or completely, after that. He wasn’t the finished article, but without playing regularly it’s difficult to become that. It’s not dissimilar to Walker, he’s in for 10 minutes, then out for 4 games, then in for one, out for 4.

I’m all for “earning the shirt” but the odds are stacked against when the playing pattern is like that.

It’s systematic of the club over a long period of time, we don’t really trust home grown players in key positions. So the title of this thread is a self fulfilling prophecy.

Re: Half Back problem. : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:32 am  

Wires71 wrote:

What raw deal did he get? He got to play in a GF and a Challenge Cup Final winners medal.

Patton played in 2 Grand Finals.

One for Tony Smith and one for Steve Price.

Re: Half Back problem. : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:33 am  

Didn't he play 100 games for us? He was given a chance for me. Then he was released and went to the championship which sort of says it all really. I like him, I want him to succeed but he wasn't the answer for us and still isn't.

Re: Half Back problem. : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:57 am  

Im hearing Josh Drinkwater could be on his way....

Re: Half Back problem. : Thu Oct 06, 2022 8:03 am  

Longbarn Wire wrote:

Im hearing Josh Drinkwater could be on his way....

Interesting. I would be happy with that.