Neither Sullivan or Monaghan played stand-off at anytime in Australia (or England to my recollection).

Sullivan was a failed scrum-half moved to hooker who still thought (wrongly) he could make it at scrum-half. Warrington gave him the opportunity, he showed he wasn't a scrum-half.

Monaghan was a decent scrum-half who was moved to hooker to accommodate Orford (I think). His nose was put out of joint and he thus signed for Warrington. Ironically after signing our contract for the following year injury to others saw him hit top form at scrum-half for Manly whilst his best form with Warrington was at hooker even though his initial performances at scrum-half were promising.

The only thing dubious was how he'd seemingly got away with it for years and conveniently drop his meticulous guard to get caught by a bouncer 24hrs before the Australian press could print a scoop in their words.

Oops....not 5/8. Yes that is stand off.
It must by 7/8th.
Doh. Apologies

....I can always remember that pass vs Cas by Monas when at 7 that put Cull out of a job.
I can't be sure that pass wasn't an intentional own goal.
We'll never know for sure unless Monas decides to write a proper warts n all biography....not Briars type book.

He was caught by a sniffer dog on the tube network in London months after retiring due to a neck injury, which was the reason he never returned to Warrington.

You never heard the rumours about the Australian press trying to contact him through his agent. They didn't know he was in the UK at the time. Regarding a story they was going to break with his view or without it if he didn't respond about recreation drug abuse back in Australia?

Not the 1st time a scandal has involved Australians & dogs.

No, I presume they were the little voices in your head talking to you again.

Those voices don't make up rumours though. They listen and convay not insult.

Anyways back on topic.
The voices say "yes it is".
Although it might not satisfy one of us.

What do the voices say now duckie?

im going to say no, its not good enough.. but its a big improvement on last season.. so progress.

We were getting better results than last year but is the pack that much different.
Is Sita that much better than Simmms?
Has BMM made that much of an impact?
Is Patton an upgrade on Dwyer?
Other than that it is almost the same pack taking the field as it was last year.
I think the pack needs a lift with somebody that can defend well for more than 10 minute stints and we will do ok.
I think we miss Atkins more than we realise. Nobody in our pack leaves players on the floor after a hit up better than him so he is like having an extra forward on the pitch. Bateman, Gildart, Percival are all a handfull coming out of their own half and often get a quick PTB that gets a roll on. We are missing that at the moment.

Good post but I would add that Cooper and Hughes are performing better and to some degree so is Westwood