These are interesting times to be a Wire for sure. I guess we needed radical change rather than a few tweeks.

I think that if we were having a clear-out based purely on form, then Cooper evidently would not be one of those for the chop, as he is still performing to a high level. However, I'm hoping the club is working to a slightly longer-term strategy. DRH's proposed team above shows that we already appear well off in the backs, with our best young talent very much focused in that area. The pack, obviously, needs an extensive rebuild, and the question is, with Cooper being 34 in September, should he be part of that process? As ever, departures are one thing, but it's who you get in to replace them. Time will tell.

Does it worry anyone else that we need to make a lot of signings given our recent track record in recruitment?

We definitely need a rebuild but it's a lot in one go. Still if the trend gets bucked and we recruit well then we could be very good next season but I think it will almost certainly be a slow start in 2023 with a lot of players needing to gel and get used to each other.

Overseas players can be hit and miss, and big name players in the NRL don`t always deliver and find it hard to settle with their families in England.

Other clubs have done well with signing lesser known players with something to prove and with much lower salaries.

Maybe we need to employ a scout based in Australia with a view to our recruitment in the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia

I think given the disparity in salary caps between superleague and NRL we will be doing a fair bit of shopping on these shores. There aren't too many OOC over here that would be great IMO. Trueman iis a standout but not sure where that would leave Riley dean. I'd take Rhys Martyn in a heartbeat.

Jason Clark's family don't seem to want to go home!

Good goalkicker too, which is something we'd have to think about if Stef either leaves or doesn't play as much next year. I know Riley Dean has been kicking, but I haven't seen enough of him as a kicker to know if he could be relied on to do the job full-time.

Strong rumour on the dark side of the hill, that Truman has signed for Hull FC.

He will end up leaving Cas for zilch, and they allegedly turned down big bucks from us, for him last season

I was alluding to Tyrone Roberts.

I am sure that Jason Clark and his family can`t believe what a soft touch Wire have been for their extended stay over here.

No wonder that they love us.

At least Asotasi had the good manners to leave when his contract expired

Harsh to compare any honest professional to Asotasi IMO. Clarks contract shouldn't really have been renewed, he's not looked the most effective but his effort can't really be questioned.

I think one of the biggest failures of recruitment last season was that his cap space wasn't used on a big prop! Nothing personal but the squad would have had a better balance.

You're linked with Matt Dufty again by Matthew Shaw on Twitter. He'd potentially be sensational in Super League but not sure where it would leave Thewlis.

Take a look of the photos of Jason Clark playing in the NRL on Wikipedia.

He must have lost 2 stones of muscle since those days.

Quote: Saddened! "You're linked with Matt Dufty again by Matthew Shaw on Twitter. He'd potentially be sensational in Super League but not sure where it would leave Thewlis.'" Thanks for the prompt. Personally I would prefer to play Thewlis allowing him to play fullback for Warrington for a long time and build a team from the bottom up, rather than the top down. The article is attached:- https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-23888081

Quote: Saddened! "You're linked with Matt Dufty again by Matthew Shaw on Twitter. He'd potentially be sensational in Super League but not sure where it would leave Thewlis.'" Thanks for the prompt. Personally I would prefer to play Thewlis allowing him to play fullback for Warrington for a long time and build a team from the bottom up, rather than the top down. The article is attached:- https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-23888081

The Dufty link is one that would send shudders through me if I were a Wire fan. You have Thewlis doing so well and the powers that be would be doing very Warrington like things if they bring Dufty in and put Thewlis back to being a back up wing/fullback. They asked Dufty about Superleague links last season and he was very honest that it was basically a move he’d only make as a last resort.

Spend the money elsewhere and get the rest of the team stronger to then help guys like Thewlis (and Wrench, Dean etc when they play).

Completely agree. From what I’ve seen Duftys confidence looks shot to pieces as well….would be a complete waste of money. Would like to think we’ve learned our lessons and this is a signing we’d no longer make…..but I’m not confident.