For balance to your assessment of Atkins weaknesses (for which i disagree about defence) his plusses are.. physical strength (often takes 2 or 3 defenders to get him down) , quickest play the ball in the team (allowing clark to get on the front foot or win a penalty) and obvious big game experience...

That argument is about as relevant as saying Russell should be resigned for the final because he's got a good scoot. Whats the point in being able to attract 3 or 4 defenders if you can't actually do the bare minimum that your job requires?

Exactly. Imagine judging Gene Miles, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Lyon or Kevin Iro on that criteria of quick play the ball.

How about sheer attacking menace and lethal potency?

Its all relative... are you suggesting that his direct opposition for the shirt (Toby King) has sheer attacking menace and lethal potency.
I appear to be in the minority because im not player bashing but i still think Atkins offers something worthwhile.... all though i do think Price should name the same team for the final.

No I get you. Neither can compare to those names above. I guess on balance I prefer the centre who is more likely to bring Charnley, one of the best wingers in the comp, into play more. I think that is King.

Plus, although this may be unfair, Atkins does seem to suffer from Brainfartitis at key times.

Spot on.

Lefty says Atkins is a strong runner but so was Matty Russell. You need a it more than that for me.

Spot on. I'm not suggesting King is the next Mark Gasnier by any means but he's a better fit than Atkins. He passes to his winger more, makes less errors and is better in defence.

You're spot on about the Brainfarts. Ryan Atkins topped the Warrington errors table in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 & was 2nd in 2014. He's still as high as fifth on the list this season and he's hardly played the last couple of months.

At the start of the season Atkins was far from being our weakest link, he was also one of better performers in the disappointing 2017 season. The main reason that we wouldn't sign him again, if he wasn't already on our books, is his age (34 next year). That's the same as Goodwin but Goodwin is the more complete centre.

Next season Atkins will provide competition for places as well as cover at centre and possibly 2nd row (he was on the team sheet as SR in R27 against Huddersfield although I think that T King played more as a SR and Atkins as 3/4). In that respect he'll be more in the Pomeroy role. T King is still very young (only 22) so I expect him to be better next year.

Fair enough. What about...

If his contract was up in November would we extend him for another year or look elsewhere? I should imagine he is on decent money for a none first team first choice starter.

The way I recall it (may be wrong) is that he started SR and was quickly moved.

I don't think there is a place in the 2nd row for him next season as we will have a surplus of more experienced players for those 2 positions.

You've kind of answered your own question, you'd have to consider what the terms were?