Exactly the way it should be, given the way we are playing at the moment. Give a player a 3 year deal and more often then not, the season after they don’t quite reach their previous heights when trying for a new contract ie King & Philbin. I know it’s probably not as simply as that, but there seems to be a abit of a pattern especially at Warrington.

Reason being Ratchford covers a lot positions, he’s not quite got the pace of other fullbacks in the league but he reads the game pretty well at 1, he doesn’t get injured often and doesn’t have a lot of bad games. There’s also other factors like goal kicking, leadership, experience etc

Obviously, its all down to personal preference but I think he offers a lot more then some of the other deadwood in the squad. Thewlis is still finding his way at fullback, so I reckon another season under Stef’s wing he will be ready.

Not a starting 13 player for 2023, if all personnel are available, but can cover the Centre, Halfback, Fullback and Hooker positions as required when other players have injuries.

As a substitute he can cover the above positions as necessary, as well as giving the starting Number 9 a breather too

So for me Ratchford could be kept as a squad player, but whether he would stay. depends on offers he gets from other clubs

ratch has mentored a few replacement fb's now, russell, GOB, dagger and now thewlis.

At the time that Dagger left, I was uptight that Wire had not matched Hull KR`s offer and allowed him to leave.

Roll on a couple of years and I feel that Thewlis is a much better fullback, and Ashton can cover that position too.

meanwhile, where's dagger? he's been playing second fiddle to adam quinlan, and now lachlan coote.

i dont know if he made a mistake chasing that money, but its not done his career much good.

sliding doors moment though innit

This is a tricky one and I am glad I am not making this call. I don't think it is a clear cut as some think as Ratchford has always been first choice. I like Thewlis & Ratchford. Both make mistakes (as a full backs do). Obviously Thewlis has excelled recently ... but like everyone else didn't do so well last game. It would be brave to say that's it he's going to get the No.1 shirt if you have to decide today.

It will come down to money and the decision of the men who watch every move they make on the field (much more than us) and in game related training situations.

We have thewlis as full back now and Ashton is an excellent alternative. Even if we do offer ratchford a contract, it will more than likely be only 1 year. He'll easily be able to get a 2 year deal somewhere else like Hill did.

So if you believe it to be currently a tight call, wouldn’t you go with the 20 year old with the scope for improvement or the 33/34 year old who only has the scope to deteriorate? IMO Thewlis is a better option currently never mind next season.

On another thread on here, both Thewlis and Ashton are included in the England Knights squad, but no place for Dagger.

I'm really thinking about what Powell is thinking. I'm not sure he is certain.
A 20 year usually improves but I have seen a few that don't ... it is not a definite. I am excited by his potential but more cautious than some.

Agreed there are no guarantees Thewlis will improve, I have high hopes though. What is guaranteed is that Ratchford will continue to get slower and only return the ball to the 5m rather than the 10m he currently does. He will also continue to be unable to beat a man, continue to be just ok as a pivot and continue to be pretty good under a high ball and reliable defensively and as a goal kicker. It should be a no-brainer.

Yep. But obviously when Ratchford was last available Powell did not see it quite so clearly. He is still of the opinion that Ratchford is better than you think. What we really want is someone as good as or better than Jack Welsby, Sam Tomkins, Jae Field, Bevan French, Jake Connor or Will Pryce ... as Full Back is the place to attack from.
Imagine Bevan French was adamant that he wanted to play FB? Which might happen. Would you like him?

Come on ratchford is a lot better than you make out Ratty and as a loyal and long time servant of the club he deserves better as well IMO.

Its a squad game and the versatility of ratchford means that he will get a lot of gametime and allow us to ease Riley Dean and josh thewlis in to the team without signing an expensive player in their position who will stop them fulfilling their potential. Our 2023 squad is better with ratchford in it, maybe not the starting XIII, but definitely the squad. It all depends on what we offer him and for how long.

I remember when we lost Kevin Brown (designated half-back) prior to the first game of the season.
It showed that you need decent back up. You could very quickly miss Ratch if such a thing happened again.