Congrats. I don't think there is anything shocking about this.

It's like saying who has sold more records Cliff Richards or Fleet Foxes.

One was on top for ages and appears to have left the glory days behind them and the other is infinitely more talented now and will go on to better things. (Wire are the infinitely more talented one in the analogy)

In all seriousness Saints had a dominant period when Wire were finding their feet (poor excuse... we'll say struggling) and I don't think any Wire could deny that. As I said congratulations but there is no shock there.

I am much more interested in the future. I think Wire will do well this season and if not... Qui sera

The future signs are that Wires success could be short lived. For the 2012 season wire will have 10 to 11 players over the age of 30, saints have released around 2 players a season when this situation arises.

So what will wire do, will they release 5 or 6 players a season which would mean the team being unstable when you add the usual injuries. In 2 years they will probably have to replace Briers, Monah M, Monah J, Morley, Carvell, Westwood, Woody, Clarky, Solomona, Hodgson, Waterhouse etc, and replace these players up to the same standard to carry on any future success.
Leeds are a similar example now where they have around 5 players not up to scratch consistently, whereas saints are on the upward side of transition and still challenging that all all important top 4 status like they have done for the last 15 superleague years.

We already know the Warrington Youth service area is one of the worse for development progression, with young players being snapped up by wigan and St helens amateur feeder clubs. Maybe the wire will find a couple of players playing in the Warrington Basketball League.

Well a lot of that was tosh. So much so that I think may struggle to address all the mistakes you have made.



There is no reason to suggest that being over thirty is a bad thing, firstly! Hodgo is one of the best fullbacks in the league (if not the best) and he is over thirty. Same with Monas. I personally don't know how many Wire will be looking to replace in two years and I certainly doubt it will be the number you have stated. (I am assuming they are the ones mentioned further in the post) Some players will certainly be released. Solo, Moz and Hodgeson being the most notable players and probably Briers. However, no one knows the performance that players just turning thirty will have on the team. If I asked you who has provided the most to their team this year; Moz or Perry? the answer is plain, Moz, and he is very close to retirement.



They won't. That is one of the stupidest things I have heard. I think the most to go in one year will be three. However, I doubt Tony Smith sees that many going at once.



Having already mentioned that up to Moz's age, age is just a number, I will instead just ell you who will most likely still be good enough in two years.

Micheal Monaz (just turned 31) will be 33 then
Joel Monaghan (29)
CArvell (just tuerned 30) will be 32 (I may stop doing simple maths for you here)
Westwood (29)
Wood (almost 30)
Waterhouse (31)

I certainly believe that these will still be good enough. If not they can be moved on as their contracts expire around this time. So far Wire will have lost 5 of those mentioned and Clarke hasn't played for months (excluding last night) so call that four. That would equate to, by the start of the 2013 season, 2 players going a season.
Additionally, We must remember that there will also be additional players brought in, naturally, and there will obviously be the likes of Ben Evans, Gaz O', Rhys Evans, Rhys Williams, Cooper, LAithwaite and many more that are good enough to dismantle super league teams.


I won't go too far into the area of Stains and Stains' team for nest year but losing Graham, maybe Pryce, Eastmond (regardless of what you say about his current attitude) is going to dent Stains and they haven't invested amzingly so far. For example, bought a fullback for the halves. The youth aren't as good as one would hope. Gaskell with never be a saints half on what I have seen this year. IT is too late for it to be stage fright. Although Lomax is looking to have some potential.

This does have tinges of truth. In the past, well before Cullen, this was the case and no one could deny that. However, I think we need only look at the youth tables to prove that, even if saints take their boys on holiday or offer them more money, Warrington aren't exactly struggling for youth.

Warrington certainly don't have the reputable clubs such as St Pats or Blackbrooks but we are doing okay.

In summary, we will miss losing Briers and Hodgeson in the next few years. However, that is no the end of Wire's chances, as much as you'd like to think it. Wire still have many irons in the fire and the acquisition of a big Aussie signing such as Waterhouse, as well as the successful youth teams, suggests the future is rosy for a Warringtonian.

Oh and I am glad you have stopped citing Bridge as one of the old fogeys at Wire.

More like The Rolling Stones and The Strokes I'd say. One's been at the top for years and will go on until they die and the other were the hottest ticket around for a year or two before they sank back into the pack before calling it a day.

As for having players over 30. You can get by with them because they have immense experience which is important but players over 30 pick up more injuries and take longer to recover from them. Both Briers and Morley are currently injured and you have to factor that additional missed time into any benefit they bring. They may well still be competent performers, even excellent, but that competency is irrelevant when it's up in the stands watching.

FLeet Foxes really? Really? REALLY?

If you have 2 older players leaving each season, and you currently have 11 who are 30 or over, surely even if you offloaded the oldest two (rather than the worst two) that would mean you'd have two 35 year olds playing for you? That's quite old isn't it?

Exactly, I don,t think jdrocket can do his maths. It would take 5 seasons to release the 30+ club of wire players. In that time there would probably be a further crop of players reaching the end of there careers. I still stand by my opinion that the wire will have to do a serious cull of 5 players somewhere along the line. Some wire fans mention the club is good at releasing the older players at the right time.............many thanks for Paul sculthorpe.

for 2011 season Saints releasedSo what will wire do, will they release 5 or 6 players a season which would mean the team being unstable when you add the usual injuries. In 2 years they will probably have to replace Briers, Monah M, Monah J, Morley, Carvell, Westwood, Woody, Clarky, Solomona, Hodgson, Waterhouse etc,and replace these players up to the same standard to carry on any future success.'"

Lolz

I'd say Rolling Stones and N Dubz.

With Wire being N Dubz of having mediocre success in 2009 and popular amongst the chavs.

Corrected !

It really makes no difference who is right about age , Look at Menzies at Cats , a superb player at god know what age , if they feel they can go on then fine, if the club feel they can do a good job then well done to them, all teams change over time, evolving into something different Warrington are doing well there is no denying it , but lets se what the next few seasons bring before calling the donwfall of Saints and the rise of the Warrington all conquering dynasty

Incorrect assumption I'm afraid, we're just laughing at some your fans who think two cup wins makes you a great team, that requires repeated and sustained success over a long period.