I’d have them on one leg.

Cleary is right in his prime.

There are world class halves across the NRL - Munster, DCE, Moses, (Sam) Walker, Hughes, Luai, Hynes, Burton.

And then there is Cleary. To me, he's up there with Alfie, Johns, Cronk of the NRL era.

Here’s me looking on this thread thinking we were signing or linked to somebody except it’s gone all Jim Bowen.

A big bopper of a prop and centre in the mould of Jamie Lyon. Will do for next season

I get the attraction of a big aggressive prop to punch some holes, but we already have Vaughan, Yates, Musgrove, Harrison, Philbin, Crowther, Wood, Thomas, Green, Okoro and potentially Bullock. Not sure we’d want any more salary cap tied up in props?

I think we have space for a half (Leyland?), back row replacement for Nicholson. Anything else? Potentially a new 9. Seems fairly quiet, the ‘wow’ signing seems to have come to naught. Linked to a 3rd tier back rower who could end up great but won’t be taking much cap space…

Should have plenty of cap space left, Leyland will be on less than Drinkwater, we’ll have Nicholsons salary and a marquee size hole in the cap when Bateman leaves.

Full Back: Dufty, CTW
Wing: Ashton, Thewlis, Wrench, Lindop
Centre: King, Tai, Wrench, Lindop, Ratchford
Half Back: Williams, Hayes, Leyland?
Prop: Vaughan, Yates, Musgrove, Harrison, Philbin, Crowther, Wood, Thomas, Green, Okoro, Bullock
Second Row: Fitzgibbon, Holroyd, New Signing, George Hirst?, Tupea
Loose: Currie, Crowther

Maybe space for another winger? Or would that stunt the development of Lindop?

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lindrop overtake a few in the centre pecking order with a pre-season under his belt. Tai will improve too, think he missed large parts of pre-season too. Between King and those two, centres look good, and Wrench will have a job to get back in, but no doubt he has the ability.

A second row is top of the to-do list for me. Holroyd has done a good job, but should be priming him to take over from Fitzgibbon and let his body grow.

Could see Bullock staying at Salford. Bizarre he got an extension here when for whatever reason he could not cement a regular spot in the 17.

Wesley Bruines for centre too

Had totally forgotten about Bruines. Still injured?

Also, with Tai doing the business I'd almost forgotten about Wrench. That right edge defence with Thewlis has pleasantly surprised me.

https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/ ... -contract/

https://warringtonwolves.com/news/2024/ ... -contract/

Great news.

This kid will be a Superstar of our game.

Been thinking this for a while, couple more years with Dufty and he steps right in.

Great news was hoping we’d get this one tied up.

Indeed it is, club trained talent and a managed pathway to the First Team squad are paramount to sustainable success

I'd be happy with adding Leyland and Hirst (as a project) to this years squad with Bruines, Wrench, Hayes and Thomas coming back from injury for 2025.

I do agree that our centres, while solid in defence. are pretty blunt in attack. Maybe Lindop will move into a starting spot with a full preseason for the first time at the end of the year.

One of our weaknesses for sure. Tai offers little in attack except for running hard, King has not had a great attacking game for as long as I can remember. For contrast imagine Jake Wardle with 13 assists (as an example) in our side.

The trust in the youngsters this season has been a huge plus for me this season and they haven’t let us down

King is on ridiculous money, too. I'd much rather Lindop. King offers nothing in attack for us.

King out of contract end of 2025 I think? Wouldn't mind King staying at that point - he isn't a bad player - just not worth anywhere near the contract he was offered. Lindop will be certainly pushing for a starting shirt by then you would imagine, maybe King on the right (on the right terms) and Lindop on the left.

I'm old fashioned, I like centres with pace, evasiveness, footwork and good hands. He can leave for me.

Keep getting the name Tom Forber mentioned to me, if Walker does go to Canberra should we look at this lad or does the club have a replacement in mind.

I came over all Clinton Baptiste when I first read your post (if you pardon the expression)

Tom Forber is highly rated at Wigan, can’t see that lot letting him leave.. especially to a Grand Final rival.

Know nothing of him, but I guess they also rate O’Neil and Leeming, 3 hookers is probably 1 too many for an aspiring youngster - maybe another Nicholson scenario?

I agree, but a a modern day right centre where defending and yardage is important, he does a good job at the right price.. ….. Reading that back is a depressing tbh, no wonder there’s plenty of disillusionment knocking about.