NOW IT'S OFFICIAL......

rlHERErl



Stefan Ratchford said: "It's a great honour to be called up. I feel lucky to be going out there and playing Super League every week but this really is a big deal for me."

One year into a three-year contract, Ratchford won Salford's player-of-the-year award last week and coach Shaun McRae feels his call-up is justified.

"Stefan has had a terrific season for the Reds and it just goes to show, no matter which team you play for, someone is out there monitoring performance and talent will be recognised," he said.

Trust me Dave T if myler performs like the back end of his season next season with tears in your eyes and a empty wallett you'll be looking for a refund, you wont get one mind.

Well Done Stef Rachford shows you can still get selected for england even if you dont play for one of the big four and warrington.

Well done Stefan much deserved call up

FFS can we all forget about Myler,he is the past and Stefan is the future.
If another club comes sniffing round I hope that Salford have the common sense to tell them to pi$$ off.
The coaching staff obviously knew Stefan was a better prospect than Myler, so although they have said they were unhappy to see him go, I do not think they made too much effort to keep him.
He left Widnes now us all for financial gain lets see what tempts him next.

To be honest mate, I agree it is a gamble, but one we can afford to take.

This isn't going to break the bank for us, we are fortunate enough to have a backer prepared to pay for transfer fees. I genuinely haven't seen enough of Myler to know how good he could be, as you guys haven't been on TV too much, however I know that the last two 7's we have signed have been hookers so I'm hopeful that he will at least be a step in the right direction for us!

As for your last comment, it wasn't really needed, bearing in mind that this is the train-on squad that happens every year which contains players from outside of the top teams. Indeed Myler made it into the squad last year when you were moving up from the NL.

On the original point, I am very happy to see Ratchford in the squad, and it will be interesting to see if he gets a runout in the Wales game, and see him in a team that is on the front foot, no disrespect to Salford, but a lot of the time he is playing in a losing team. Like Myler, I haven;t seen enough of him, and this could be the making of him.

As for your comments about Myler, the club did make a big effort,as we keep getting told, they offered him the highest ever contract for a Salford player. That looks like a pretty big effort to me.

Warrington P27 W12 D0 L15 649 705 -56 24

probably feel like home from home then

Token effort mate.
They knew he was going, offered him a contract which they knew he would turn down and then raked in the money.
You have one greedy selfish basrstool on your books now.
Wonder how the older experienced players will react to a 19yr old being on more money than them ?
Anyway good luck to Richie as I have said in the past.
I still think we have the better player

From the 2 games I saw Wigan play you in this year, I felt Ratchford was the better player. Good to see him called up to the squad, and hopefully you can build a team around him over the next few years.

Really pleased for Stefan and also Alan Hunte our academy coach! It's encouraging to see a player come through our academy and make the England squad, the news must have given all our other academy lads some hope for the future.

As for Ratchford being a better player than Myler? They are two completely different kinds of half backs. Ratchford is a more creative player with better hands, better kicking game and stronger defensively. Myler is very quick, backs up the play very well, right place right time and capable of scoring plenty tries.

Basically Ratchford is a similar kind of halfback to Lee Briers and Myler is like a Danny McGuire!

The future, first off, WELL DONE Stef for getting this far from our poor club, but now the problem, what if he gets to be waterboy for all matches, and Noble/Coley style, Smith says to him, "if only another club rather than Salford things might have been different." But again Smith is a Noble man so I doubt he would use such tactics.

Fair enough but if we both now the final squad will consist of mostly the players from the big 4 and warrington which puts the wrong message across to other players that without playing for the big four club or warrington who's coach is the england coach who has bags of cash you wont get a look in.

i suspect Rachford will be a waterboy and will get his ear chewed by mr smith about his future.

Unfortunately if Tony Smith wanted to do this then there isn't a great deal anyone could do to stop this happening. Tony Smith abviously rates Ratchford and thinks he's got potential by selecting him for the England squad. Personally I think IF Smith wanted Ratchford I would think it unlikely that he would want him until this time next year at the earliest due to Warrington's other contract commitments. But for all we know Smith may rate Ratchford but have no plans to sign him. For instance Smith may prefer a more experienced halfback to partner Myler in the future?

The predicament for Salford with Ratchford's England selection is IF he was 'sounded out' then he could become unsettled for next year and not have his heart in it anymore just like Myler. I just don't think it's right that Tony Smith should be allowed to work for another Superleague club when he's the National team boss. The dual role is just wide open to speculation of using his England position for self-interest at club level.

Ratchford's contract with Salford runs for another two years so I think it's up to Salford to offer an improved contract extension. Hopefully Ratchford would sign it but if he rejected it then unfortunatly I think the club would have no option but to transfer list the player and cash in rather than allowing him to leave on virtually a free in 2 years like Jordan Turner.

Isn't that a bit like blackmail? Stefan has only just signed the extension to comit him to 3 years at the club - how many players at any clubs have contracts much longer than that?

I totally agree with the points about the Britain Manager should not also be managing an SL club - the conflict of interest is there for all to see, but then it's run by the RFL - what do you expect, we have the greatest sport in the world run by the most cack handed administration

I was under the impression Stefan's contract was for another 2 years. Are you absolutely sure he is contracted for another 3 years?

I understand what your getting at but assuming a player won't commit his future to a club and wants to play elsewhere then is that club not entitled to get as much for the player as they can? (Especially a player that they have developed through their own academy)

And surely any club would be acting irresponsibly by letting a talented young International player leave for just a small compensation fee rather than a larger transfer fee?