whilst that is true, we all know and im sure bridge would be the first to admit he is not a halfback, why we continue to use him as backup in that position baffles me.

but anyway, yes he would have done better than bridge, but i highly doubt ratchford would sign if he would be sitting on the sidelines until briers gets injured.

The truth is, if you're in the top 21 players at a club, you'll see action.

There are always plenty of injuries through the season and if he wants 1st choice rugby he has to step up and earn it.

If Tony rates him, so do I. All of his signings have been good for us, so I'm sure he has everything under control. A fair amount of Tony's signings have been questioned as well. I'm unsure where he'll play, but utility value is a plus and it means he can put various players under pressure for their place. Add to all that, he's pretty young so there's still room to improve and change.

I remember a few years back, people on here said we should have got him over Myler, Wire and Salford fans alike. Maybe things have changed, but TS is no mug and he wouldn't invest in a heap of mediocrity if it wouldn't improve us.

With Matty Blythe yet to sign a new contract, I can see him going to Widnes & Stefan Ratchford as a good replacement.

Look at saturday as a prime reason why we're signing him. Think he replaces Hodgson in time though,

We have one of the top right centres from the NRL playing for us (who would prefer to play centre) and we insist on playing Bridge there ...... me thinks we need a winger or is square pegs in round holes

Where did Paul Wood say this - follow all his tweets nothing mentioned yesterday unless you have hacked his DM???

I guarantee that plenty will be eating their words about Ratchford in a year or two.

He is a quality player, with stacks of ability and a huge amount of potential that will definitely be fullfilled under Smith.

He'll be a special player for years to come.

Agreed.

He's quality and he's one of the best youngsters in the game, not to mentioned he can play in three different posistions. I'm looking forward to seeing how he develops, because with players like Briers and Monaghan around him he'll blossom into a fantastic player.

i remember when Myler played for Salford, he was Gods gift, then we signed him and all of a sudden, he wasn't even the best player at Salford!! 'You've bought the wrong one, Ratchford is by far the better player!' 'Ratchford is gonna be a superstar'
If that's the case, thanks for the advice Salford fans, more than happy with how Myler is working out, so Ratchford's gonna be a useful addition.

I think he was at the time but since then has struggled to kick on (unlike Myler).

I wouldn't have minded Ratchford at Wigan, could have done with a utility half with a bit more experience than someone like Mellor. However if the rumours about the wage are correct I worry you may have overpaid (but obviously he could have taken less to play for Wire over Salford)

Therer have been many times this season we could have done with him in the team the most obvious being on saturday. For that reason he's worth it.

If he is even mediocre in the halves he can be of use. I have heard he is good in the halves and the the quarters.

This means that if briers, evans, atkins, bridge etc are injured there does not have to be a drop in quality.

I like Ratchford, more of a flair player than a grafter but we have seen how Tony Smith has improved the defence and work ethic of players of a simliar ilk. Good addition to any squad.

Warrington use their full back as a 3rd pivot coming into the line as do majority of the top sides so he will be playing as a pivot just in a different way.

Rob, the two you mention have been playing wing & scrumhalf for the 20's, nobody is getting pushed out here pal.

He'll be a cracking signing for us. Next year, he offers you versatility whilst he learns the ropes from BH, then he steps in as your 3rd pivot fullback, quality. He's young, ambitous & talented, and he'll fill one of the gaps that people keep telling us we need to fill over the next couple of seasons.

With him, Myler, Gareth O'Brien, we could have plenty of talented ENGLISH players occupying our pivots in the next couple of seasons.