A few signs in there. Ratchford being the one that jumps out. Think that puts the pin in the talk of a centre being recruited in the short term.

But also, it looks like the Harrison to back row project is over, by him being awarded the 8. Mikaele and Bullock appear to be back up rather that part of the first choice plan. The 7 being vacant all but confirms that someone is on the way. And Longstaff is in the naughty step way down the list.

Ratchford at 4 would suggest no new centre signing, doesn’t surprise me given the lack of options open to us, but I don’t think we’re going to win anything with ‘strike’ centres of Ratchford and Mata’utia.

Harrison at 8 is a strange one, Powell talks him up A LOT, but I don’t see him as a starting prop next year, but a handy player to have on the bench, capable of playing prop, back row or loose.

Most pleasing thing is squad numbers 22 to 33, home grown as they should be.

Just wondering how long before the number 7 is going to be announced, saw a post on Guardian website that Drinkwater deal was done 10 days ago, well it’s near on 3 weeks or so now.

Yeah i assume it's all the legal mumbo jumbo that needs to be sorted out before the signing is official. I'm happy with our squad for next year and can't wait for the season to start

What a very unbalanced squad. Expect more of the same next season. Powell banking on sheer size + individual brilliance in the opposition 20 to get us home. Really poor centres and Harrison needs to improve a LOT.

Im also seeing (for the second season) hooker being a weak point for us.

Very pessimistic about next season but I am terrible with predictions so could be a good omen.

Clark didn’t get a pre-season last year and as lively as Walker is he can’t do much from play the balls in our own 20. If Clark can get back to form and we can spend a lot more time near the opposition line, it could be completely different next year. I guess we’ll have an idea from the first few games.

Matthew Shaw reporting that PNG flyer Jimmy Ngutlik is persuing a deal in the UK. We need to sign him, he is class.

He would be a quota player, and it looks like we will be signing Drinkwater, which will be our last quota space used -up.

Unless the rumour regarding Kasiano reneging on his contract has legs?

The hold up with Drinkwater is over some kind of severance pay from Catalan.
He is still under contract and doesn’t have to leave Catalan, his is/was on £110k there and will be earning £30k less per season at Wire.
Allegedly telling Catalan to split the difference to £15k and he will sign for Wire.
The French club won’t agree, so Drinkwater won’t complete. Allegedly.

This is easily solved, depending on what we are prepared to do to get Drinkwater. I assume his salary is a cap issue, not a case of us refusing to match his Cats salary? In that case we pay a £30k transfer fee for Drinkwater and Cats pay his severance demands, without losing a penny. Simples. And not beyond cap rules.

BTW when does pre-season start? We can't really afford to be without our normal halfback pairing for pre-season, unless its conditioning only and not skills early on.

I assume it starts in the next week or so, unless powell feels starting early last year was a mistake? Also as far as i'm aware Vaughn & McGuire are still in Aus, as is Dufty, and Kasiano is still in France so i'm assuming there's no immediate start for it.
Also on the hooker being a weak point i don't believe that's the case in 2023. Daz Clark will find his top form again behind our pack, he's had a full off season which will do his body the world of good, and he'll get a full pre-season. Also ritating him with Walker will do him the world of good. I think we look good at hooker. And with Drinkwater and Williams in the half we look strong there. Wing we look strong, centres are ok but not the best. Behind a bigger more dominant pack Currie will hit good form again and Nicholson looks good. We look good across the park. Strong aggressive forward pack, and skill and pure speed around the pack. I understand the pessimistic feelings with this year but i have a great feeling for next year. We have pack Leaders in the likes of Vaughn and McGuire, if we let Drinkwater run the show more and let Williams roam free that will cause Havoc. Walker and Dufty talk alot on the pitch and help direct play. I genuinely think we'll be a much more cohesive squad next year, and play as an actual Team. I can't wait, and i didn't have this feeling for 2022 so i'm going with my gut feeling, and that feeling is good

But ... the best fit England Centre is currently Callum Watkins. I reckon our lads are OK.
There are not many UK Centres about.
To sign a decent centre we'd need to offload one off the overseas quota.

just my over reactive imagination, if it was Drinkwater, wgy is it not announced, perhaps its someone still playing in the world cup.
can we sign the George Williams that plays for England