Didn't realise Waterhouse had disgraced himself and been hounded out of the country

Done deal for Ratchford.

I hope that aint true, i'll repeat what ive said in the past about Ratchford. Ive never seen a game where he's played thats left me thinking "Wow we need to sign him".

Lets just say we have signed him, Briers has agreed another year so is Ratchford going to be happy sat on the touchline for a year as a backup player ?

Also lets presume that Ratchford will be the replacement for Lee Briers, where will our kicking game come from as neither Myler or Ratchford are really noted for having a prolific kicking game.

He'd be one heck of an expensive squad player if he's signing from next season.

I suggest you watch the highlights of Catalans vs Salford this year. Salford should've built the team around the likes of Ratchford over the last 3 years but he has been messed around under Mcrae. Can't blame him for going. He will be a big success at Wire or any other club with the right coaching. Expect to see him in an England shirt by the end of next season.

100% agreement with every word of this
I'm still scratching my head as to why we need him NOW
We've already got better, and he's hardly 'ripping up trees' currently for us to sign him now, as one for the future.
Let others have him. When Briers retires, I'm sure we can do better than Ratchford, and we've allready got better options at centre...keep clear imo

Rob, if we do get him, the vibe is he's coming as Hodgson's replacement, not Briers. (as that third pivot at fullback).

It will mean I presume that he'll cover the halves next year, playing the odd game at FB whilst learning the position. I don't see a replacement for Hodgson kicking around in SL, so I think it's something worth doing myself. He's an elusive runner and has a good pair of hands.

We could still then get a replacement for Briers from either SL or the NRL.

His best position IMO would be centre. Throw a couple of stone on him and some of his movement would be Newlove-esque.

Jeez lets give the lad a chance. IF he does end up at the HJ that is.

I don't see what's wrong with developing O'Brien with Myler (if we want to take a risk). If not, we get someone in from NRL.

I've yet to see (regularly) how Ratchford could improve our side/squad, and he'll account for a decent amount of wage, too

I see what you mean, sign a stand off for big money thats occasionally played at centre and groom him as a fullback.

You may point to Sam Tomkins reverting from the halves to fullback as an example, thats a different story as he's a freak of a player talent wise that was already on Wigan's books so it wasn't going to cost them anything money wise to try him out at fullback, its going to cost any club a fair bit for Ratchford's services.

Ratchford doesn't look like a natural last line of defence to me, can he read the game like a Wellens, Radlinski or Hampson ? Ive seen no evidence of that from the times ive seen him on sky, Tomkins even when he was in the half backs was always looking for work and tackles, i'm not so sure that ive seen Ratchford go out of his way too often to get involved in defence and the graft that he'll need to do at fullback.

I just prey we don't sign him any capacity, i can't see how he'll be an improvement on what we already have in Hodgson at fullback or Briers at stand off. Any signings we make of a significant note (Like possibly Ratchford who would be a significant signing money wise) must be better than what we already have to improve us, i don't see him as that.

Ratchford Might be staying at Salford after all !! Just been on the Super League Show !!

Well I think we safely say it's either stay at Salford or go to Warrington.

Yes, One or the Other !!

Grix has converted from a utility player to a SL fullback, some people think he's perhaps the most improved player in SL at present. There's plenty in RL that have made the transition.

We have to replace Hodgson Rob in a years time, if Smith thinks there's no fullbacks kicking around of that standard who can fulfil that role - not just play fullback but act as a third pivot and create say 30 tries a season, but he sees a player playing in another position at the minute that he feels he can convert to play the 'Hodgson role', I don't see a problem. Plyers don't regress at our club, they get better.

Forget the salary, it's not about that. It's about how we (as a club) find a way not to miss Hodgson, then try to do the same with Briers, then Morley, then Monas etc ... That'll be the trick.