Well, I'm sure you've all been extremely pleased with my absence and have enjoyed a break for my doom-mongery and 'glass half empty' persona, but that has now come to an end.

After a year of whatever furlough means, I'm back in the office. And because I'm not a huge fan of the whole "let's all be best mates at work and socialise" I've decided to return sporadically. In order to offer my rugby wisdom and insight.

This is the news I've been Waiting for. As Good as Blake is and the talent and skillset he undoubtedly possesses, he just isn't that good. He isn't an organiser, he's lazy, his defence is questionable, his kicking game is average and predictable, his running game (Which is is strongest feature) has become predictable, which ties in with my point about his laziness.

His first half of the season in which he arrived had us all thinking he was going to be our saviour. however, we just haven't seen anything like that form since his injury at Catalan.

He's on an absolute wedge an all but were not really seeing any consistent performances to warrant it. So, all in all, good news all round for the Wire. We're cutting loose some deadwood (I know he's at the end of his contract but by not offering him a new deal we're cutting ties and letting him go) and signed a better replacement in Williams.

Blake will 100% rip us to shreds when we play Leeds, but if the Leeds fans are happy with that being his one big game a season, then I'm happy for us to facilitate that.

If Blake put half as much effort into his Warrington Career, as he did with his image on Instagram, then he'd be unplayable. However, he doesn't; so he's not.

I agree with a lot of what you say there but don't think it's an issue with his effort or attitude, I think he's a limited player and after those first few months, other teams worked out how to negate his strengths and he wasn't as effective after that.

It is a good move for him though. With Austin, Myler and Dwyer, Richard Agar is starting to assemble a Wire team capable of winning a Grand Final.

Does this leave us with only Matautia as a contracted quota player for next year ?

Does Widdop not count as 'overseas trained'?

Not the worst import of the past 3-5 years and arguably one of the better ones if we compare him to a Roberts or a Sandow.

He didn't play the homesick card, he settled into life with his family and invested his time with the club.

When he goes I'll applaud him on the way out, I'll applaud him upon his return and I wont look back thinking he was the worlds biggest mistake.

Why not Williams and Dean for 2023?

Last year we had BMM, Clark, Austin, Sita, Latu, Mamo, Gelling, plus Widdop, so it would have been 8 from a quota allowance of 7, unless one of the previous 7 had a dispensation for some reason?

I agree with that. I'm not his biggest fan but he's stuck it out and until that injury at Catalan (Micky Mac classic) he had me on the edge of my seat.

I'm yet to see enough of Dean that makes me think he can make the step up to Super League.

Squad for next year up to now. I've probably forgot some players. Where do people think we need to strengthen? Still feel we need an out an out winger.


Stefan Ratchford
Toby King
Peter Ma'autia
Josh Charnley
George Williams
Gareth Widdop
Chris Hill (?)
Daryl Clark
Mike Cooper
Ben Currie
Jack Hughes
Joe Philbin
Oliver Holmes
Joe Bullock
James Harrison
Jason Clark
Matt Davis
Danny Walker
Matty Ashton
Rob Mulhern
Rob Butler
Ellis Robson
Josh Thewlis
Riley Dean
Eribe Doro
Ellis Longstaff

Wish Austin well. Not the best import from down under, but not the worst. Cannot fault him for effort.

The question mark over Chris Hill is massive for me. If he does go then we need a top notch replacement but really good props are thin on the ground. Some people say not to use quota spots on props (not sure why) but if we can get a 60 minute per game machine from the NRL we should be busting a gut to do it

A top notch prop.
Even if Hill stays, him and Cooper are getting no younger.
Back on thread, the last 2 seasons have just been ok, with the odd flash. Started off like a train, though