Surely we can't start a new season without a number 7? That would be unheard of! So who gets it? Drinkwater? Or is that dead in the water?

dead in the (drink)water?

Was told by a well connected source that he has already signed.

Announcement this weekend.

Looks to be odds on our No. 7 for next year now.

I fetch the car and your coat.

Having watched Drinkwater over the years and Williams too ... I reckon we will have the best short kick half backs about. Let's hope it happens.

I am a bit hesitant about Drinkwater. Good player but I am sure he has played predominantly on the left side of the field.

So after the mid season England game where Wane played William's on the left, Powell followed and switched William's to the left for us.

So just worried that we are making the same mistakes. I hope that Drinkwater is equally adept at playing on the right edge.
Time will tell.

He only moved to the left to accomadate Maloney who is a dominant half, the same with Mitchell Pierce this year.
Drinkwater is a controlling half but basically hasn't had to control the team because of Maloney and Pierce. He'll more than likely play more of a contolling role for us, letting Williams have more freedom to pick and choose his moments. I think it will be a great combo

Go get your boots from the garage, OE, it's yours if you want it.

Lol....me! That would be less like Andy Greg and more like Greggs the bakers!

I find it bewildering that the team are just back in pre season training and we still haven't signed a halfback having known we've needed one for about 6 months when it was common knowledge Widdop was going. It's just poor planning.

Drinkwater and his agent seem to be playing hard to get and will maximise their demands within the constraints of our available Salary Cap.

I would imagine its more to do with Catalan agreeing to supplement Drinkwater's salary for 2023 given he is under contract with them. I'd imagine he will be on less with us for 2023, so he should expect Catalan to make up the difference.

The problem is that at this late stage we are desperate for a playmaking halfback, and we will probably end up paying Catalan a transfer fee as another poster on here has suggested.

The fee that we could pay would then be given to Drinkwater by Catalan and that would sort out the salary differential.

Need to move on then and look at alternatives.