What raw deal did he get? He got to play in a GF and a Challenge Cup Final winners medal.

Regarding the 2 year deal, it might have been the case that with so many others leaving Ratch could have had the upper hand in the length of the contract IF Warrington only wanted to give him a 1 year deal.
For me full back is his best position followed by his versatility to play anywhere from 1-7 and 13 at a push.
Yes he'll do a job for us in the halves but throughout his career he's never really excelled there.

Powell made himself hostage to fortune by announcing Ratchford as halfback when he signed his new contract. In reality he is an excellent utility back up player, can cover so many positions from the bench/for injuries and can kick goals.

And was dropped to back up hooker, or completely, after that. He wasn’t the finished article, but without playing regularly it’s difficult to become that. It’s not dissimilar to Walker, he’s in for 10 minutes, then out for 4 games, then in for one, out for 4.

I’m all for “earning the shirt” but the odds are stacked against when the playing pattern is like that.

It’s systematic of the club over a long period of time, we don’t really trust home grown players in key positions. So the title of this thread is a self fulfilling prophecy.

Patton played in 2 Grand Finals.

One for Tony Smith and one for Steve Price.

Didn't he play 100 games for us? He was given a chance for me. Then he was released and went to the championship which sort of says it all really. I like him, I want him to succeed but he wasn't the answer for us and still isn't.

Im hearing Josh Drinkwater could be on his way....

Interesting. I would be happy with that.

I would too, nothing flashy, controlling half with a good kicking game (at least I seem to remember a good short kicking game, not sure on long kicking game...?)

Probably started 75-80, over a 5/6 year period. From memory, I’d guess at least 50 of them came in 2 seasons, 2017 and 2019. Both of those times he was the back up, not the real plan.

I’m not saying he was the answer, but we have had kids come through with academy pedigree only to stutter and fail when getting into the first team, only to be knocked and held back. Patton, O’Brien, Morgan Smith all the way back to Jamie Durbin.

At some point, if we want to fix the problem, we need to play the long game. Riley Dean is already being written off by some, potentially including the coach. How long before it’s Hayes?

These kids might not be the answer to 20/25 years of failed junior halfbacks, but Josh Drinkwater definitely isn’t. At least in time these kids “might” be.

Exactly 108 games over 7 seasons. He was given many, many opportunities. He's now at Bradford, a mid to lower level Championship side.

I really don't think he was a diamond in the rough given insufficient chances.

Thats interesting, I would have had him in 2019 after he left Catalans.

Think macnamara was leaving him out towards the back end of this year, pretty sure he dropped him for their play off exit

Think my example might be a poor one, I was speaking about Patton as I said that he is comparable to Richardson, neither of which I would want in the team.

My message was that going to has been’s is part of the disease, not the cure of the half back problem.

I’ve said previously that Dean, with Ratchford as the mentor, would be the plan if we could afford to gamble a slower start this year. But, in self preservation we will bring in a half back.

If the pack turns out to be as good as we think it will be, Williams will no doubt run much of the show near the line. However, if we want the youth to be brought through to sort us out for the future - instead of another journeyman half-back - then we’ve got to accept the issues that come with it. Powell has good form for turning potential into reality with young players, but the pressure of delivering a final appearance or trophy straight away means that he’s under pressure to sign the likes of Drinkwater, which won’t help us long-term.

As difficult as it is after the last decade, I’d rather next year be a learning period with the likes of Hayes and Dean, even if it means a 5th-7th placed finish. This probably will enable us to emulate Wigan, Leeds and Saints in the future. Buying ourselves into trophies hasn’t really worked. I don’t count challenge cups as a measure of the playing strength of the club (although I am out course happy to have won them all).

I really like the look of Hayes for the future. We’ve been crying out for a little general to guide us around the park.

and Gareth Widdop.