Sad for Kev, but we must move on quickly. I am sure SP will evaluate and then make sensible decisions. Lets go with Dec or Ratch in the halves for starters and not make any rash decisions on players who are available, they probably aren't good enough if still on the shelf at this stage.

Soz lad haha

Unless Widdop comes over early.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ please.

There is obviously a plan to do something with the relief money. I agree in keeping it dry until we've had a chance to see how we are shaping up by say, a third of the season gone. If we aren't that creative maybe we'll bring someone in, but I'm not sure there's anything better available just now. Plus we don't want to waste the relief money for the sake of it - we may need it somewhere else at the business end of the season.

Declaring my position up front of not being a big Patton fan or a believer that he previously hidden supreme talents I do think that he has the perfect opportunity to develop as a player this season and can offer us what we need.

I don't want to see Patton attempting Hollywood plays just give the ball to Austin (or Ratchford to a lesser extent) to do that. All I want from Patton is for him to marshal the middle channel and steer the team around and let our strike players to do the damage out wide. If he's under pressure take the tackle and we can go again, don't look to force it and make errors. He needs to do his share of kicking which is probably the best element of his game anyway so we should be ok there, certainly no worse of than with Brown doing the kicking.

He does need to improve his defense but to be fair as a half-back in Super League he's not alone there.

Whilst only two matches in I think to date he's been perfectly adequate and has complemented Austin's and Ratchford's skill sets fine. And that's all I want from him because let's be fair he's only keeping the shirt warm until Widdop arrives (and let's be honest we're not going to be able to bring in a top half-back on a one year contract). It's for him to buckle down and prove himself worthy of a "first reserve" spot with Warrington or a first team slot elsewhere in Super League.

As for Brierley he's the last thing we need in this team with Austin and Ratchford at six and one, plus there's a reason that Toronto along with all his other clubs have let him go - he's not good enough at the top level.

Good post.

Time will tell, let's see if one adequate half will get us that GF win we desperately want and hope that we have no further injuries at HB.