I know we’re close to bagging a hb, I just wasn’t told who.
Looks like it’s Drinkwater by the rumours.
Anyways, it’s not a 6 we need but a 7.

If we do manage to sign Drinkwater (if true) i assume we'll see Ratchford at centre, until Wrench is up and running, or we let Thewlis have a go?

Thewlis will be playing on the wing, until Dufty leaves us.

I just thought, didn't someone say we'd quietly re-signed Minikin on another 1 year deal. Could be (and i hope not) him taking left centre if we have actually re-signed him.

Gosh, I'd forgotten about him

We signed him on a 2 years deal in Sep 2021, so he's here for next season.

Madame Boyd on twitter indicating Drinkwater has signed. https://twitter.com/BoydMadame/status/1 ... et%3DTweet

Madame Boyd on twitter indicating Drinkwater has signed. https://twitter.com/BoydMadame/status/1 ... et%3DTweet

Fair enough, i'll be happy with him in the halves

re. Drinkwater at his best Worth having a look at these highlights v Wigan 2021 season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdPHnzyqoK4 and added later https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0L6SRiIpdw Very good short kicking game. (Bit of fun at the end as well.)

re. Drinkwater at his best Worth having a look at these highlights v Wigan 2021 season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdPHnzyqoK4 and added later https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0L6SRiIpdw Very good short kicking game. (Bit of fun at the end as well.)

Saints and Wigan have produced more homegrown players than we have for years although things may be starting to change. Our failure to develop halves in particular is a sad story and potentially good players have been let go which suggests to me we got it wrong. If our pack is going to be as big and strong as predicted next season Riley Dean must be given a chance he would probably get at Saints or Wigan. Ratch is not a halve and Drinkwater is a one track pony.
I smell an Aussie!

Assuming we sign Drinkwater I guess he would be first choice kicker? Unless Matu'tia took it on full time?

Drinkwater hasn't done much kicking, last time he regularly kicked was 2018 when he averaged 67%, not great. Mata'utia last kicked regularly in 2020 he was at 73% ish.

Ratchford has regularly kicked 80%+ and has been up at 85% for the last couple of years, probably helped by the fact we can't shift the ball wide, so all our tries have been by the posts...

Which potentially good players have been let go?

If Drinkwater is fit, why would Catalans release him? He's got another year on his contract there. He also spoke about how he was loving life in France and couldn't imagine leaving and missed a few months with a mystery foot injury that puzzled doctors around the world. If you're signing him, who are Catalans getting? They were very happy with Drinkwater, so must be someone big.

Josh Drinkwater is an Aussie.

They seemed to prefer Tyrone May there at the end of last year and are lining up 2 new centres. I guess they would need to release Drinkwater for cap purposes.

Taukeiaho, Plus Tomkins, plus Pearce plus 2 new centres (think they where chasing Luetele?) won’t come cheap