ive been saying it all season.. he inst a FB and he isnt a half.... we get the best out of him when he plays .

im thoroughly expecting us to line up with him and atkins as next season .

And eventually Toby King.

Ryan & Ratch in the Centres next season with Toby as replacement when needed.

If he does play centre next year, that obviously leaves us needing a new half back.

He is a half all day long. He played well v Saints but was still 2nd fiddle to Atkins game.
Before the last month Ratch was getting ripped in all positions by many of you.
Many saying he should be moved on.

Make your minds up. So many short memories on here. A week in RL really is a long time.

Ratch ought to be 6 and Gidley FB.
We need to go out and find a quality 3/4 to replace Bridge.

Agreed if we are not going to buy another centre. Russel at FB & Gidley with Sandow.

Atkins and Ratchford for me, against Sts Atkins looked confident with strength, pace and great defence, Ratchford was given more space and was elusive has good hands and defence.

....and hasn't that been said before about Ratch when he played FB?

Can nobody on here see the woods beyond the trees?
Everyone is trying to give him a category.
He's a centre, he's a FB, he's a spare part, he's a hb, he's a loose.

The guy is just a quality player with a ability to cover many positions well. That is the very reason he ought to be in a premier position to utilise his craft best.

He'll get plenty of ball in the centres, plus we have the extra kicking options similar to Moon at Leeds.

Il admit I was in the 'Ratch for Full Back' brigade for a while. But this year, his defence as the last man has been terrible. It is no co-incidence that our best performances this year have been with Russell/Johnson at full back and Stef in the centres. With a decent half back picking the gaps for him, he could be just what we need at centre next season!! His best performance of the year for me last night.

Gidley has played in the halves most of this season and Patton is developing. And Russell is our best FB.

That's the very reason he isn't in a "premier" position as he can fill in. I had him down as FB when he kept Hodgson at bay at the end of his time with us, but, have to agree with LOngbarn's assessment

He can also be very lethargic with his running from our line. The difference when Russell plays is huge, Russell just needs to do have an hour training every day for a few weeks under the high bomb with Hill Westwood and Dodds sprinting at him and he'll be right. We can easily be on the 30m line by tackle1 when Russell plays.

"that" pass back inside for the try was sublime! I think he will ultimately develop into a classic loose forward, if they ever come back into fashion. Maybe the reduction in replacements will aid this.

I'm afraid he frightens me in defence when at full back. He's too casual moving to the ball and his carry with the ball dangling loosely from one arm is a vary nasty habit. He is superb player but I think we should forget full back.