Absolutely. I'm pretty sure that two if not all three of the second half tries from Cas came when Merrin was off the field.

If we keep him he could well be the player that comes closest as a like for like replacement for JP. Immense work-rate in attack and defence, and if Walker learns to follow his offload like McGuire used to do with Peacock, he could be in for quite a few more line-breaks and tries in the rest of the season.

Immense performance last night from Merrin, that's what we paid big money for, and good to see him celebrating the pulling the badge on the shirt after he scored, think he was trying to show/prove his commitment. showed good hands at 13 as well thats were he needs to be, Cameron Smith and anybody except Ferres in second row now for me.

Yep. Cam Smith will be 13 in due course but 2nd row for now alongside Ward will do me, with a high-impact bopper interchange.

I do like Merrin, if we get a few more wins together I think he’ll glue in nicely. It’s a big upheaval to come over when he would have been expecting to remain in NRL.

I would make Merrin the on field captain as Watkins is not the man for the job and until he regains fitness and form is not certain to retain his place.

Agreed.

Completely agree

Agreed

Well Watkins was made captain really because there was no obvious leader in the team. I agree with the above we now have one in Merrin that would be a good move imo.

No he wasn’t. Ward was a better fit at that time. Watkins was given it because of the depression issues and the club trying to show support for him. Don’t agree with it, but still understand the club thoughts.

I’m not sure whether it was partly to help tie Kal up to the club at the time when he’s one of the best centres in the world and we have NRL clubs sniffing.

Maybe in your head Ward was yes but he wasn't a stand out and he always had the fitness issue holding him back, still has.

In the head of plenty others at the time if you look back at the posts. Either way Watkins wasn’t based on normal criteria, and was wrong for the role. Like I said though, I understand the clubs thoughts.

Ward would've been a good choice, and still could be in the future, but he simply doesn't play enough games

But you said Watkins got the gig because of his mental health issues. If anything Stevie Ward who had similar issues and started a support group on the back of that would have had an equal claim if indeed the club was giving the captaincy away on a charity basis.

I think you will find those issues were very much different.