Good point in here. Maybe there is merit in looking for a specific prop coach for the club. While size plays a part, there is more to it. I know James Graham was doing this at St George until recently, so they do exist, maybe we as a club need to invest and use this across all areas, Reserves, Womens, Academy, Scholarship…

We already had under contract cooper, Philbin (both internationals) mulhern, doro and Butler, he released sita and hill and replaced with lower salary bullock and Harrison. I can see why he wanted to give everyone a chance to prove themselves to him, besides there wasn't much he could do about the players already under contract and really they're the ones he has had a big problem with. Cooper was our best prop but he could have been on big money having returned from the NRL?

Powell realised fairly quickly that he was wrong to say we don't need props, doro and butler were moved on quite early, Mulhern won't be renewed, again I agree with this, he is a player I quite like but he's not very mobile and there is definitely better out there. Cooper is the question mark atm, he's still a very good player and if he is alright for Wigan why not for Powell? Bullock is turning out alright after a spell on the naughty step, he went alright from the start for me but recent displays look like a different player. Him being wrong about not needing props is one of the main drivers for our poor season IMO, frustratingly. We have been saying we need props for a long time.

One of the biggest alarm bells at the minute for Powell is Kyle Amor, he wanted to come in and play rugby this season and he isn't. Powell brought him in and praised his professionalism but he isn't getting a look in. Powell just seems far too easy to fall out with. If he doesn't mellow and falls out with some of the incoming signings then he won't last long next season, we can't back him with more mid season changes surely. He has to be given the chance to get a tune out of them now though, a big reset is required and it can start now really, most of the players in the squad are here next season and are Powell signings time to start working on making a team out of them.

8. Dudson
9. Clark
10. Vaughan
11. Currie
12. Nicholson
13. Holmes

14. Walker
15. Maguire
16. Mikaele
17. Kasiano
18. Bullock
19. Harrison
20. Philbin

Dudson and Vaughan are a definate for 8 & 10. 13 seems to suit Holmes really well so i'd rotate him and Maguire, but i think Holmes will be at 12 next year again and maguire will be 13.
Danny Walker changed the pace of the game for the better and is a natural leader. I'd keep him on the bench to rotate with Clark.
Big bopper bench of Mikaele, Kasiano and bullock if Maguire does start and Holmes takes the 12, with Harrison, Nicolson and Philbin etc as back up and fatigue rotation.
I think Powell will go with the below squad (if we can keep Wardle).

1. Dufty
2. Wrench/thewlis
3. Mata'utia
4. Wardle
5. Ashton
6. Ratchford
7. Williams
8. Dudson
9. Clark
10. Vaughan
11. Currie
12. Holmes
13. Maguire

14. Walker
15. Mikaele
16. Kasiano
17. Bullock

I can't see Dufty playing in the halves as Powell said see's him as an out and out fullback. He's said Dudson is a perfect starting Prop and Vaughan is a straight up starting 10 every day of the week. I don't want Ratchford in the halves but unless we bring someone in i can't see him putting anyone else there off the top of my head.

Good to see all the names put together. I haven't dared to do it before. I am looking forward to it already.

Whatever the permutations, it's a short term fix. The forward signings we've made are hardly in the first flush of youth and if we don't achieve success next year we are back into a rebuild.

I believe Amor is carrying a bit of an injury, added to the fact that Mulhern, Bullock, Harrison, Mikaele and even Clark recently have looked better options. Amor will have more game time, we might see Mikaele rested - he looks to be carrying an injury also at present.

If we can work on Thewlis' game, I'd be happy for him to take the full back roll and move Dufty to 6 instead of Ratchford. We'd have to rely on Matautia to kick though.

I'd be tempted with Bullock instead of Dudson to start, with Vaughan.

On paper it looks a descent team and that forward pack is very strong with depth and competition for places. Once we've established some go forward, it'll provide an ideal platform and space for Powell's free flowing attacking patterns to flourish (hopefully).

I think one player we've recruited who's gone under the radar is Mcguire. We've missed this type of industrious aggressive player since Westwood left and I believe he'll lead by example and inspire the forwards to push harder. I also think he'll be the guy to gee up the players behind the sticks after conceding a try too.

It's been dissapointing this season, but I think we have a lot to be excited about with our monster pack, 2 quality pivots in Williams and Dufty, and the pace we possess in the backs (fingers crossed Wardle stays).

Out of interest, which forwards would you have brought in or targeted?

Mikaele, Harrison & Philbin are all mid 20’s though. Yes we will certainly need to be in the market again in 2/3 years when Dudson, Vaughan & Kasiano depart, but it’s manageable.

A short term fix eh!... your never doubted optimism is shining through. Let's hope you are right.
I'd love a short term fix then move forward after that.

I wouldn’t try to get to complicated or technical regards next years Props.
Keeping it simple I’d start with the two biggest bald heads, and then bring on the two biggest bellies at half time.

It's to be hoped our incoming props are not too argumentative or we could be needing a bigger naughty step.

If Wardle had indeed signed to Wigan, there’s the option of Currie to left centre to accommodate all the props in the starting 17, with Vaughan and Harrison able to play back row, but I expect we can rotate props and of course, highly likely that not all will be fit and/or free from some length of suspension at any one time.

We’re moving from a team with 3 out and out props currently in 2022, to one of a full compliment and a healthy margin too in 2023.

Halle-feckin-lujah.
Packs win games
Props win pots

I haven't got the stats, but mcguire looked good for the dragons this morning. Really puts himself about and tackled like a man possessed on his own tryline(that alone would be nice to see!!).

Don't be surprised to find Riley Dean starting in the halves in 2023. DP has Dufty as the fullback linking as he did on Thursday. Williams, Dean and Dufty behind the much bigger pack could be very special.