I think the Ratch to argument stems from the fact that 1, we don't have any clever, creative, ball-playing (Currie's always stood out at for this reason, but is obviously better used elsewhere).

And 2, Ratch's skill have been a little wasted the past couple of seasons because of our turgid attacking play. His main contributions have unfortuately been kick returns. Russell is a better option at FB for that purpose.

BUT, recruit well to sort out the glaring hole in the halves, keep Ratch at FB, and all of a sudden he becomes an immense attacking threat, getting ball in hand in the right areas of the pitch.

Get the organisation and distribution from 6/7 right, and with Ratch, Currie and Westerman all as options as 2nd/3rd receiver, we become a very unpredictable and dangerous attacking team.

no, just, no.

Tried that experiment at Catalans away at the start of the season. The rest is history.

Has to catch the ball first

Points taken. For clarity, I do not think that Russell should be playing FB.

My point was that you might as well have the likes of him or Kev Penny playing FB if the main contribution of the FB in our current setup is limited to kick returning.

Russell was one of the top meter makers in the league in 2014 mainly because of his kick returns.

Ratch should be our FB, and give him the platform to excel in attack with better halves, people will stop banging the "Ratch to /loose forward/hooker/prop/wirette or whatever" drum.

I dont like Ratchford at full back AT ALL..... and i dont think he effects the game enough to play in the halves.

I've always thought his best position is in the centres... based purely on the fact that he is a decent player, who isnt a Full Back or a half back.

Agree with this,I've said for a long time stick him at centre.

He creates a lot from full back but could also be creative from centre and also has the footwork.

I'd like to see a very solid defensive fullback and a good communicator with Ratchford in the centres and a cheeky x-factor bad boy in the halves, preferably partnered by a steady Gidley type character. Probably all too much to ask though.

Be great to see Ratch chime into the line at the last minute ala Brett Hodgson. The man was a genius at creating havoc in defensive lines. He would just loiter out back when the ball was played and then effortlessly come between the centre and the winger or the second row and the centre.

Ratchford is currently our best player. Like Steve 51 said. You put your best player in a position he can get his hands on the ball....and that isn't centre.

Warrington wolves player of the year - Atkins - centre
Warrington wolves current best player - Hiku - centre

well that was the plan when we signed him. he just doesn't have the same running style as Bert. he's not as direct an doesn't seem to accelerate through those gaps as well.

Likewise with putting him at centre, he doesn't run like a centrez he doesn't run a centres line, I'd be concerned if we put him at right centre, you'd have him and Hughes both buggering things up doing the inside step

No he isn't

Agreed with this, he would be wasted at centre. I'd prefer him to play 6 and us sign a quality fullback. I'm not against ratchford at 1 but feel he would be better in the halves. We should have signed Hanbury over brown IMO.

Ratchford is like Tomkins, natural rugby player with no position...only tomkins in his pomp was a fair bit better. Id personally have ratchford on the bench. Obviously at the minute we need any decent rugby player but with the right signings the new coach might be doing us a favour by selling him on as he creates more problems than he answers. Currie is our best player by a country mile and i dont want him at 6....nonsense argument.