Fitzy hasn't been too bad this season,but let's face it,he isn't going to get any better.As others have said,if we are to move on this is one position we must improve.
The few times i've seen the reserves I've been quite impressed with Eddie Vaughan and it may be worth giving him a shot for the rest of the season.I also think that Ratchford would make a cracking fullback if he was prepared to give it a go.
Unsure about Matty Smith,had a couple of good games but his defence can be woeful at times.But he has time on his side and with hard work by him and the coaching staff I would hope that he could improve to become a decent Half-back partner to Holdroyd

[iShaun McRae has already hinted that Ratchford could find himself playing full back next season for the Reds.
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Jesus all this talk of keeping Fitzy, Littler, Sibbit et all, now weve gone and signed Holdroyd again we are going now where as a club!

Why do we do this? We keep saying get rid of so and so, but whats the point if we can't get anyone better? I honestly can't see us getting anybody better than Fitzy, who has been pretty good this season. Even if we get Patten, he is older than Fitzy and there are no guarantees he will be any better, plus we will be looking for another fullback shortly afterwards because Patten can't have many more years left in him. Keep Fitzy.

Have you seen Patten play?


They are mor or less the same age? (well with the exception of 8 months!)
Fitzpatrick – 13/09/80
Patten – 09/01/80

Different year at school

I have seen patten play and there is still no guarentee he will be any better than Fitzy, he wouldn't be the first player not to make it in Super League for us. I'm just saying we are probably best sticking with what we know. Fitzy is reliable and has offered some good options in attack this year. Patten won't come cheap and I feel the money would be best spent elsewhere, like on somebody to replace Alker.

And OK so they are similar ages but 8 months older is about a seasons worth.

Whilst I have no problem with us trying to improve the team surely the first thing that needs to be resolved are the areas we have no one playing at next year. IE Hooker & Centre. If we can get these sorted, in particular the Hooker then we can see what budget is left for improvements.
As for Fitz he is fairly solid, if not spectacular, and could we go out and buy an improvement, probably but is this the best use of what, is always, a limited budget ?

My Alan would agree 100% with redhope, use finances available to strengthen where we really need to.
Definitly think Fitzy worth another year at least, & new players dont always gel, ie, Matt King etc.
Dont think Fitzy has done much wrong this season & we need some new forwards, hooker & a top centre to replace Talau, they appear priorities

Sign Patten and play Fitz as hooker/back up hooker problem solved!

Knew you would see Al's point