Couldn’t have put it better myself.

I think there’s a slip into a low-pressure comfort zone when a top player joins Warrington. Not necessarily an intentional slip, but the natural result of a long contract on big money, a close and happy relationship with the top brass, and a long in the tooth leadership group who don’t have a reason to drive anything in a different way. Why would you? You’re getting paid well and your natural talent is just enough to keep your team near the top of the table without pushing yourself.

I hope that doesn’t sound too harsh, like I’m accusing some players of taking the pee intentionally, but how else do you explain the poor return on investment? We’ve literally been the only big-spending club in RL for the last decade, with only one trophy to show (and that day was without some
of our ‘star’ players!). We’ve blamed the last coach, now we’re blaming the current one despite his record of improving teams and players.

I think the answer lies closer to following the example of other top clubs, and emulating their youth development, player / management relationship, and standards.

This is bang on the money. The 1 trophy in the last 10 seasons really speaks for itself.

We need to face facts that top players and top prospects are going to choose to sign for Wigan, Saints or Leeds before Warrington (the real prospect of winning things) unless financially incentivised otherwise. This in turn means we attract a certain type of player.

I am afraid it appears the likes of Hill, Cooper, Clark, Currie, King et al are more motivated by picking up decent salaries than they are to actually to win a league title at any cost.

I don't know how we break this cycle. Certainly without change, it would not change on it's own.

Youth development only gets you so far though, in my opinion.

We have invested fortunes in this area already, John Bastian, Phil Jones, Pete Riding all being bought in from successful systems. Pete Farrell and a whole network of scouts searching the country for talent.

All of this has seen players brought in to the arena of first team squads, to see some minutes thrown their way then moved on or, worse still, kept hold of without playing opportunities long enough for their career to fail.

This isn’t a poke at Powell, but at him, Price and Smith. Look back at Saltonstall who was kept out by signings like Wheeler. Jack Johnson, Will Dagger and now Josh Thewlis all being the heir apparent for the fullback spot, yet we go out and sign Mamo (I purposely won’t add Dufty, as he is a top-level player, not someone that is just a squad filler). Players like Pat Moran and Ellis Robson behind Lama Tasi and Sita. Even now, Ratchford is clogging the way for Dean and Hayes.

There are players at the level to get into the first team squad, and the argument will be that these players aren’t ready. But nobody is ever ready until you put them in and trust them.

Some will fall flat on their face, some will rise to the challenge. But if we don’t put them in, and keep them in, the whole process is null and void, regardless of who you have as head of youth, 16’s coach, 19’s coach etc.

We need to change the culture of the club, buying in, and grow from within.

Oh ,for winning & losing pay.

As with football, only a handful of RL clubs have a chance of winning anything . The Wire seems to be a perennial fringe club whose players can beat anybody on their day but lack prolonged cup or title winning motivation & effort. Perhaps this attitude is through the club like a stick of Blackpool rock.

Saints ,Wigan & Leeds strive to be top dogs ,we don't.

Completely agree.

1. Dean did not deserve dropping after 1 game against Wigan.
2. Patton did not deserve to make as many appearances as he did.

So give everyone a fair sporting chance, then decide and stick to it.

Not really, Hill isn't the force he was, despite still being a good player. If Walmsley hadn't got injured i don't think Hill would have made the England squad to be honest. And Cooper is a good player but still at the back end of his career so is just a steady eddie prop now.
The pack we have for next year is brilliant, and will be a dominant force next year.
Vaughan, Dudson, Kasiano, Mikaele, McGuire, Bullock and James Harrison will do a very good job for us so I don't regret letting Hill and Coops go now. I did at the time but not anymore.
I didn't add Philbin in that list as i think unless someone is injured or being rested he's not gonna make the team.

He won't. A shadow of the 2019 version anyway and that was before injury.

When a new coach recruits a pack like that he’s set a challenge to the likes of Philbin to step up and fight for their place. This is what would happen at Wigan, Saints and Leeds. It’s happening at Huddersfield next year for sure. Pryce and Lolohea have Connor to beat for a place in the team.

Price has one foot out the door, he'll be trying to not get injured for Newcastle in 2024

Think Connor may be out till August based on something I read (but can’t remember where!)

The local press on Humberside have reported that Hull expect him to be unavailable for 10 months.

Wasn’t aware he was out for that long. That’s a bit of a gamble then for Hudds. He’s on a 3 year contract but only playing for two. And he’ll be 28/29 when he returns. If a medial ligament injury has affected his pace and footwork, they’ll be relying on his rugby brain to make a difference.

Strange signing if he really is out for that long. He's a good player though.

Regarding Hill and Cooper, if we were going in to next season with hill and Cooper as our starting props the club would be getting panned for having no recruitment policy having nt signed any replacements. Fact of the matter for both of them is that they're in the twilight of their career. They both still very good players but they're not the future.

His pace? If he comes back even slower than he is now I'd back makiele to beat him in a footrace