This from Powell’s press conference today"I can see him being our half-back next year and I want him to really grab hold of that role."

Does this confirm no Dufty? What are peoples thoughts?

It means Thewlis to fullback if there is no Dufty.

It means that Dufty will be playing fullback for Wire in 2023.

Very interesting. Seems as though the general board consensus that Stef would most likely drift off into a bench utility role was a bit off the mark. As for Dufty, it would now appear that if he comes to us, it will be as full-back. Not sure where Thewlis fits into any of this, although his new contract suggests that he is obviously a big part of our plans going forward.

My views are as follows:-

Ratchford will help ease Dean, into a regular standoff position in the 1st team hopefully.

Thewlis will play right wing for the duration of Dufty`s contract and then the fullback position will be his, when Dufty leaves.

Obviously, Thewlis will play fullback when Dufty is unavailable.

I don’t think Dufty will happen. There’s usually more smoke from down under. Unless he’s just biding his time waiting for a better offer.

I am not on board with him coming to Wire, but I will be very surprised if he isn`t playing for us in 2023,

There’s an article on a RL site down under about salaries.
Seems the NRL have published what each player earns, and Dufty is on the equivalent of £200k. To lure him over here we’d have to make it more worthwhile than £200k so maybe his demands are a bit more than what we’re prepared to pay, especially if he turns out to be another dud. He doesn’t seem desperate to come over and prove himself to get a better future gig down there, and I’d be surprised if Powell wants someone who isn’t 100% committed.

I like his speed and footwork, but like you I won’t be fussed if he doesn’t come to be our 1 or 6. Thewlis is coming on great, despite being in a poor team, and I’m hoping Powell can develop Dean.

He seems to have run out of options in the NRL.

Never seen him play, only the proverbial highlights reel where he looks very exciting.

Interesting that he sees him as the long term half back, but picked him at centre last week, and a centre in the halves. Not sure on the logic there.

I like Stef, but I think we need to put a bit of faith and urgency into Thewlis’s development. He’s top class.

Re the lack of smoke on the Dufty, he’s been dropped out of the first team for a while now so may just be out of sight… I don’t want this one to come off, I think we have better prospects here already, and listening to former team mates (see the Matty Johns show bit with Zac Lomax) he doesn’t appear to be well liked.

Will be surprised if we see King play for Wire again.

Powell seems to have made his mind up, and this exchange deal with Wardle fits his plans.

Don`t think Huddersfield will pay King his huge salary, so that could be a deal breaker.

I would agree that Powell probably wants King out. With regard to his salary, there are two issues. The actually money side could, if the club are willing, be resolved by Warrington making a financial contribution. That would still leave the issue of cap space. It doesn’t matter who pays the player’s wages, their value goes against the club for whom they play so it may be about whether Huddersfield want to use that chunk of cap on King.

Yes, the Salary Cap could be an issue.

Not sure, if Huddersfield would want to lumber themselves with King`s contract on their Cap for its duration?

There are ways to use the Marquee Player rule to get round this, if they do not have two Marquee players in their plans for 2023 onwards,

Obviously they can fit King`s salary minus Wardle`s, in their current Salary Cap for 2022.

Like you I suspect that Warrington are still contributing currently towards King`s wages.and would need to do that going forward.