PLEEEEEASE, let me enjoy one close season in a cocoon of self delusion that all is well….

Well he's got to try and get ahead of Cleary in the pecking order - might explain his huff.

I'd rather have developed Hayes once fit again.

We need three half backs. Be too risky to have only Williams & Hayes backed up with say Ratchford/Powell.

to be fair to 2004 gleeson, he'd probably been on the during his suspension, and his head was spinning with how quick saints had him out the door.

2005 gleeson and his form is what everyone should remember

What I'd give for 2005 Gleeson on the right-hand side in this squad. And that's not a dig at anyone who's played there this season, just an acknowledgement of the difference a world-class centre can make.

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... rinkwater/ This made me think a bit. Pretty good example whereby stats only tell a bit of the tale. Bit of a waste of time.

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... rinkwater/ This made me think a bit. Pretty good example whereby stats only tell a bit of the tale. Bit of a waste of time.

Gleeeson on his own was only part of it, the whole right hand side was lethal and contributed

Pretty sure Hayes is up and running already. Not sure whether WalterWizard still reads this forum but he would be the one to check with.

Snap out of it! Get yourself back to the misery of January 1996 by reading the worst semi final thread.

Mum, MUM! Our MPM is being mean to me!

I think he is too small. And if Williams gets injured we would have two small.

Hayes may come through, but he will give us more to do from a defensive standpoint. Leyland looks similar in terms of abilities but hiding Leyland and Hayes in the defensive line when Williams is absent and the opposition forwards are 10m from our line ? And with a missing Williams it would look even worse because he is such a high quality defensive player, he seems to be everywhere when the opposition are attacking our edges.

I am happy to be proved wrong but I don't think this was the right move.

To be fair I think Williams is a bit of a freak as a half back in terms of his defensive ability but your point about him being out leaving us defensively vulnerable is well made. Our remaining half backs are 5ft 5 and 5ft 6. We know Hayes can defend but I also fear they could both get run over or leave our second rowers overworked.

We probably need at some point to do a definitive 'ins and outs' to see whether we think we've improved the squad from 2024 to 2025. However the risk in doing so is that there are plenty of unknowns, e.g. potential massive off season improvement from Lindop, Holroyd, Wood, Taylor-Wray etc., the bedding in of new signings and return from injury of Wrench, Bruines, Thomas etc. Too many factors to make a proper judgement for me at this stage and potentially at any stage of the off season.

Have we signed anyone that Wigan would have signed? I suspect not.

We'll find out if we've improved this time next year ,hopefully not sooner.

I just found this highlight reel and thought I would share. He's good a good kicking game it seems both positional and at goal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRT_unAWr0c

I just found this highlight reel and thought I would share. He's good a good kicking game it seems both positional and at goal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRT_unAWr0c