I can't see us getting a new centre, people seem to hate Atkins but I think he's ace and a solid player whatever people say. Evans is a solid centre but not amazing skill wise but he does the job and I agree defensively he comes up with some really good reads, and shuts attacks down. An extra winger would be good but with Lineham seeming to have got himself together and Russel playing out of his skin, I can't see it especially with Penny as back up.

Again this "Evans is a defensive monster" fallacy. Perhaps check his stats. He would not get in the Wigan, Saints, Leeds, Hull FC sides.

Let's show a little ambition here - I'd like a centre who is sound defensively and has the ability to create space for his winger and also beat a man - basically a centre.

Lol how can people defend a centre with formidable defence when he has missed tackles than most of the team. And in a season that we scored the moat points his contribution was 6trys 4 assists.thars terrible for a centre the in a top 4 team.

It's all because Stevo saw him make a few "shoot out the line, wrap up the attacker" tackles early in the season and that was it - he was cast for life as a defensive behemoth.

Going into next season with Evans as first choice centre is a disgrace, apart from a couple of good tackles he does nothing to inspire the team or the fans.

I like Atkins but i think he would become a more effective centre if he passed the ball more often. As it is opposition defences are 99% sure that when Atkins gets the ball he will not pass to his winger so all they need to do is wrap him up.

which to be fair, quite a lot have trouble doing that, he's never been a martin gleeson centre, more a keith senior trample over em, granted not as good as senior.

Absolutely, which is why he's worth his space. A quality right centre is needed, I'd personally give King (and Patton) a season to come of age. Let's use any saved cash to invest in the youth programme.

A centre who can defend and who is capable of creating opportunities for both himself and his winger. Allan Bateman would be worth a fortune today

We can afford to invest in the Youth programme AND buy players.

When he passes the ball it never goes exactly where it should. Sometimes it might find his man butoften it's down by the shins, right up above the head, so far back the player has to check his run or so far off the mark it flies out of play and we turn the ball over.

I think our centres get a lot of stick unfairly.
We had a reasonably settled team between 2009-2013 with consistent HB / SR / Centre / wing combinations. Since then it has been trial and error in a lot of those positions. I could name all the combinations Atkins has lined up with since the end of 2013 but would be here all day.
Compare Senior and he probably played alongside Danny maguire as his Halfback for most of his Leeds games. Then he probably only saw 2 or 3 wingers and the same for second rowers in 10 years. Atkins has seen thos sorts of number in 3 years since Waterhouse, Myler moved to right edge when Briers left and Riley went.
Not many centres have 10 years at the peak of their game. Look at yeaman at Hull. In the mid 2000's he was in the GB team. Then his form drops as Hull monkey around with Halfbacks then there is a bit more consiatancy and an upturn in form with their new Halfbacks on that edge.
In defence and attack you sort of have to have a sort of telepathic understanding on the edges otherwise it goes horribly wrong.

Nonsense!

Yes continuity plays a part for sure however the differance between Evans and Atkins is huge!!!!

Over 5 seasons Evans has made 79 apps and scored 34 trys having a very good season in 2014 scoring 19 of the 34 trys so over 4 years he has scored 15 trys in super league!! That's nothing to do with who he is playing with its just shockingly poor return for a centre in a side with aspirations of silverware!!

Atkins has played over the same period of time 148 games and scored 95 trys.
He too has had new wing partners and second rowers etc yet still manages to perform. Majority of criticism towards Atkins is his reluctance to pass the ball or when he does its not a great pass!! Evans is just not a good centre and we can try and find obscure reasons for it Keith senior would have scored and been at the top of his game even if he had the changes to playing staff we've had, to imply he was only so good because he had the same second row half back n winger for periods of time us hillarious!!!!

we have everything in place to be the leagues dominant side..... but were not.

so maybe not everything....

Exactly

First class, self owned, facilities - check
Recent Success - check
Strong cash position - check
Reasonably large, affluent fan base - check
Wealthy backer - check
International sponsor - check

Exciting RL - to do
Winning mentality (Leeds/Saints/Wigan) - do do
International awareness - to do
Balanced side with slight seasonal rotation - to do
Strong political influence at the RFL - to do
Compelling match day experience - to do
Club character and ethos - to do