Ben Harrison and Simon Grix each got treated well by the club, and it was handled subtly and quietly, allowing them to leave the playing roster ( to free up cap space) but keeping their previous salaries whilst working in coaching/player welfare/community relations etc. Given that these latter roles normally command salaries much below playing contract terms, this was a great gesture by the management.

Well said, kelvin ...spot on !

I don't see why the club should be viewed as negative on Atkins part? Unless the club are forcing him out. If you take the view that the club don't want to offer him a contract past 2019 (not sure too many argue too much about that?) then it gives Atkins the opportunity to sort his future out sooner. I think he probably has another two years at least left in him at SL level, just not possibly at the top of SL. If he can sign a 2 & 1/2 year deal with someone now, I would imagine that would be a big relief for himself and his family?

I said a loan didn't make sense as if he gets injured the club have dead salary and Atkins doesn't have a contract.

Allowing him to leave now permanently allows him to secure his future. He's good enough for a 2 1/2 year deal outside the big clubs.

I'd be sad to see him go on a personal level. I hope he gets the outcome he wants.

If he is loaned to the end of the season, the destination club pay the salary irrespective of injury if I understand correctly.

I make no comment on Grix. I thought there were question marks at the time as to why he was loaned to Wakefield by Smith for the tail end of 2016 rather than given a chance to get back in the Wire side ahead of his testimonial the following February. Certainly at the time of going to Wakefield Harrison was only 28 and had a target of getting back into the Wire first team. Apologies if this was not correct.

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... t-present/

https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... t-present/

I’m torn on Atkins. He can still make a tackle and he can still get over the line. But he’ll back a 1% chance of himself crossing over a 99% chance of his winger. He must drive Charnley mad.

It would be a brave, or foolish, man, that would wager Charnley has scored more trys from a King pass than an Atkins pass this season.

Leave Goodwin at centre and put Atkins on the wing for Cas game. He can then be as selfish as he likes. No need to pass to anyone as long as he gets over the line.

That would be quite amusing as goodwin doesnt pass to the wing too much either

Can anyone explain WHY we would need to loan Atkins out? We don't need to free up the cap space at present and he's decent back-up for squad rotation / injuries. Price wants a deep squad with above-average quality standing by for call-up, so I don't see how a loan move would benefit Warrington at all. Also, Atkins knows the score with how Price works - there's no favourites and you wait your turn, so I doubt he's spitting his dummy out and demanding first-team rugby elsewhere...

I completely agree with this, And with Burrell coming in if he is going to play centre then Atkins would be the ideal guy to learn from. At 6'3" and 17st burrell will more likely be an Atkins style player then a ball handling kind of centre. Unless we're looking at playing him in the forwards?
Atkins is a good player who does indeed add squad rotation when needed, and Price has already said he's going nowhere.

Let him sign a 2 year deal for someone else for next season, keep him in rotation and give him a good send off.

Would of thought the answer was quite simple?

We don't NEED to loan Atkins out, but it depends how Price is thinking. If he expects Burrell to be able to come in and do a job at centre then maybe he feels with Mamo & Burrell covering wing & ccentre we can use Atkins Salary Cap value better elsewhere in the squad. Maybe he feels we are lacking in the prop department, or maybe it would allow us to bring in a 2020 signing over early and allow them to acclimatise (not suggesting Widdop).

It seems as though he's going nowhere though if his WG interview is anything to go by.