Well if next season is anything like this (and this season continues as is), bear in mind he was appointed on 6 April 2021, we would be 6 games into an 8 game winning run in all competitions. Using the boards own logic to appoint before the May deadline to tie down players at the club, he would get an extension days before the wheels fall off.

I just don’t see it. Unless there is a remarkable turnaround both in form and in quality. I can’t fathom giving an extension. So it will be another lame duck season like Price’s and Smith’s last ones. It’s almost as if the board/CEO are scared of having a difficult conversation and actually pulling the trigger.

If, as you seem to suggest, players down tools when they know the coach isn't going to be around the following season, then how did Saints win the SL last season, when everyone knew Woolf was leaving from very early on in the season?

To be fair, that’s not necessarily a direct comparison. Saints recruited from within. Is there any possibility that Ryan Sheridan or Richard Marshall will succeed Powell? Honestly?

But, I’dl take that as a fair response. If the players only waited until the coach resigned before downing tools/performance dropping. We’ve had around 13 weeks of decent standard across 18 months.

The cold facts are, after winning 8 competitive games in a row, I think it’s now 4 in the next 12. With a hand selected squad, no apples or tshirt salesmen to be spoken of. No excuses. If this is to turn around, if needs to happen fast. Missing the playoffs isn’t acceptable.

This our problem. If Wellens doesn't make the GF you can bet he will be out on his ear.

This is because the entire Saints club has extremely high sporting ambitions and standards. It's engrained in every player that wears the jersey. We are miles off that.

A good point was made on Sky - if you ask the Warrington players individually if they believe they can win the GF how many "yes" will you get? Ask the same of the St Helens players...

If it was my choice deciding on an extension I would set a minimum of a top 4 finish the 2023 season and a deep run into the play offs.

A win ratio of 70%

Team playing fluent attacking rugby.

Players demonstrably improving and progression from academy.

So you would give him a contract extension on reaching those goals as a minimum THIS season?

Personally, unless we reached the GF this season, I wouldn't even be considering an extension - if he completed your goals, I'd give him next season, but absolutely no further until at least midway through next season.

I was both pleased and annoyed with last nights performance. Pleased, because we looked like a rugby team with desire and a good work ethic against most peoples competition favourites. Annoyed, because of the run of awful performances in the last couple of months (or more), why did they choose to turn up last night. Bullock was excellent, but Dudson is a liability. I just don't get why he's pressing an opponents head into the turf with his knee, and should cop a ban for that.

Hope I see another Warrington try this season that's as good as the one scored by Dufty last night, that was a superbly crafted score.

I think we need to look at the bigger picture here. We’re actively recruiting right now, it’s likely that whoever we bring in their contract will outrun the coaching staffs. The same for the end of season turnover.

If I was a top class player being hunted by a number of clubs, am I going to join one where the coaching staff aren’t confirmed. Where there’s a rolling “6 weeks to prove yourself” mentality. Realistically, the only people joining on those scenarios are those with an affiliation to the club itself, or if we are the highest bidder. So it’s stacked against us to get good value for money and secure the best players out there, we’ll end up with journeymen and pre-retirement tourists, particularly without the safety net of a long term contract during which you can blood the youth and battle harden them, at the short term expense of results (missed that boat last year!)

We either need to make a call and lock in the coaching staff, publicly back them. Or go the other way, start linking up with the next coach and recruit and retain who they see being a part of the club long term.

That game highlighted the importance of front foot play in defence. The last few weeks the team have stood back in defence & allowed opponents to mount attacks at will whereas last night we strangled many at birth. Walmsley was kept very quiet last night & if we'd had a few more tricks up our attacking sleeve it could have been a different result. We hear about sliding defences & i'm sure a sliding attack would work very well for us. A couple of time when trying to get off our own try line, the Saints fullback was right up with play & perhaps a Briers type kick could have released Ashton to score at the other end.

I thought we did OK for the most part on walmsley last night, but someone else on here reckons he and paasi tore us apart

No I mean assess this criteria in May 2024. If we bomb out of the playoffs or miss them this year he can go in November. Hw would have had long enough. What is he going to do in year 3 that he has not had chance to do in the previous 2?

I don't realistically think we can win a GF this season or make the final. We are not mentally tough enough by a long measure.

I have a horrible feeling that yesterday may be a false dawn. I hope not.

Walmsley made a massive difference when he came on in the closing part of the 2nd half. Even Powell concedes that.

Ps how good is Clark going to be for them off a quick ptb.

Don't get me wrong, I'd be delighted if you do (I've mentioned before that the girlfriend is a Wire, we were there last week). I just feel currently that come the business end of the season the likes of Catalan & Saints will win any home fixtures they get in the play offs so unless Warrington turn their season round quickly and finish in the top two they will be somewhat disadvantaged. I recognise you have beaten Catalan twice but watching recent performances that feels like a long time ago.

Saints wouldn’t want us in any knockout game we are their bogey side when it comes to crunch matches.