This.

IIRC The recruitment since the DoR and new go forward reads as follows

IN
Yates
Bateman (loan)
Oli Leyland
Dan Russell
Alfie Johnson

OUT
Matty Nicholson
John Bateman (loan)
Gil Dudson
Josh Drinkwater
Matty Russell
Joe Bullock
Wesley Bruines

I guess we could also put some of the academy graduates in the IN column. And some of those are very good. In fact I'd go as far as saying that Lindop and Taylor-Wray are infinitely better than any signings we've made or mooted over recently. Apart from Cleary of course, who was never really on the cards.

That's a good call. Our feed from the young 'uns is a very important plus.

You're just making up a strawman so you can knock it down.

I think it's perfectly fine to say you don't think Livett is good enough: he wouldn't have appeared in my top 500 list of signings either.

All I was saying is that many clubs have a few 6/10 players and you sometimes need those to balance the salary cap and/or ensure you don't burn out your first 17. And that given a choice between a 6/10 player who lives in Toowoomba and one who lives in Warrington or developed in the club, the latter has more advantages.

But sure, feel free to say that by that logic you could get a game next year and I'm sure you'll rack up the likes.

Sure I read that Dufty’s increase was already built into his contract.

Not sure that’s fair, Dufty’s contract is up at the end of 2026, at which point CTW will be 20 I think. Seems sensible planning to me…?

Sensible planning yes. However, I'm talking more about how much Dufty is now on. Which means we can't improve the squad that much. He's now on silly money.

Actually I remember now it was Abe that posted something about Dufty’s contract a good while back and that an increase would kick in.

If you think Dufty is 'pretty average' - as well as, presumably, Currie, Vaughan, Yates and King - I can probably leave it there.

Hopefully things will improve with the end of King's contract. I don't mind a huge chunk going to Dufty as he is box office (and we would be up in arms if he left to our rivals), but King is absolutely not box office.

So Dufty can’t be improved on? For every good game he has, he’ll have a brain fart and drop a ball or be nowhere positionally. He’s in a different universe to someone like Bevan French, say.

Vaughan who has been questioned by Burgess? He makes guards but he’s 34, he’s always suspended. I’d much rather we had signed Luke Thompson.

Currie? One good season in about ten. If you’re happy with that then guess you don’t have very high standards.

I forgot about Yates so I’ll give you that one. I like him.

What has Tony King done since he resigned? He’s been average at best. Again, Wardle twice the player he is.

Dufty adds an X Factor for us and it was correct to extend his contract for now, but Cai Taylor-Wray will be introduced to that role gradually when opportunities occur so that he will displace Dufty towards the end of Dufty`s contract.

CTW and Aaron Lindop need to be used to cover absences to our current regular first teamers and Lindop should replace Tai at the end of this season when Tai`s contract expires and I expect Lindop to get a lot of game time in 2025.

The Alfie Johnson recruitment intrigues me. Whilst he won`t count on our Salary Cap in 2025, I don`t expect him to get a 1st team opportunity before CTW or Lindop.

Lindop can cover the Centre/Wing positions, and CTW can play Fullback/Wing and both need as many games in the first team that we can accommodate, for suspensions, Injuries and loss-of-form etc.

Thewlis seems to think Johnson is in for a spot on the wing in a recent interview.

I read it as he was competition, which given he is a winger is hardly surprising. But given Thewlis’s extension and Matty Ashton’s contract barring injury he is unlikely to get a sniff.