I felt for Steve Malloy. He was heartbroke. He was our only ball player forward at the time too.
We lost quite a few to Leeds around that time, who had been steadily building since we smashed them a few years before. Andy Gregory masterclass.

Hat-trick for Roberts that day (iirc)
Heartbroken that I didn't go that game, my mate and his dad (driver) couldn't be bothered. Bugger!
That video was pure porn.

I'll tell you what is nonsense Moe comparing Ratchford to O'Brien in the stand in stakes

I'd say it was fair. Ratchford is/was as many planets away from Hodgson as O'Brien was to Briers. Carry on the Ratchford love-in and see where that gets us in a big game not when sauntering past Hull.

We are going to have to agree to disagree (no problem btw). The 'proof of my pudding' though is look where O'Brien has been plying his trade following his release from Wire Salford Toronto and I don't think Gaz was ever in Bennett's or anyone's England plans either

Ratchford was a senior player who had a good season in 2013 so it wasn't a case of weighing up whether to go with the partially fit senior pro for the big game v the young lad who was an unknown quantity in a big game. We had a strong squad that season and a senior player was going to miss out, selection was tough so being part fit was always likely to put you down in the pecking order.

The other context for this was that Tony Smith had been burned in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final when he picked Keith Senior for the final despite the fact he wasn't fit to play, Senior was a passenger and had to be subbed and they lost. Senior felt massive guilt about that afterwards because he felt he'd let Leeds down.

No problem with that point of view at all as i consider myself in the minority. I, however, consider him a massive problem - in that had we either an out an out attacking full back or one with brains we'd have won more finals than lost. He's figuratively 'joined the line' and been found wanting on far more than one occasion.Jack of a few trades master of bugger all

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If it is a minority i am part of that too Ratticus. Ratchford was one of the reasons i started this thread. For one of our go to players and likely top earners, i don't look to him to do something when the chips are down. Recent tight games have cemented this in my mind. I worry he's going to brain fart, then be on the camera rubbing his hair and holding his hand up.

Unfortunately I have lost faith in our core of go to players. Cark being the exception to this but the rest our halves fullback and captain are the players we as fans and also the other players look to in games when things are tough. One player misfiring then it cm be covered by the other but none of ours seem. Able to pick up the flack. I mentioned earlier in post we need players whose determination to win pushes them on in games to go the extra mile to make that extra effort in defence to take advantage of any weakness or error the opposition makes. Not saying to drop them but for us to win in a gf with these players everything needs to go our way. As I don't see them coming through a tough battle with a close scoreline based on recent performances. When we started to string wins together I was more optimistic.

Agree with the above regarding the no show of our big game players and i'd be surprised if we were to lift the GF.

Next season though, with the addition of Austin and Clark, we have two class game breakers who could make a huge difference. Also, if we have signed 'a certain prop forward not to be mentioned', then by heck we'll be right up there. The only thing then is possibly an organizational scrum half as I don't think Austin fits that mould and we could do with someone to direct us around the field.

At least a few more supporters are starting to see Ratchford for what he is. Poor decision maker, prone to errors and when returning the ball aimlessly jogs up and gets dominated in the tackle. Some supporters don't seem to understand the difference between a fullback getting a quick PTB to start a set, and one being put on his back giving the opposition all the time in the world to set their line, it sets the platform for the whole set. Go watch some games on Billy Slater, he rarely ever got put on his back, and fought constantly for quick ptb.

In the big games he is found wanting, and in a pivotal position like fullback it kills us.

Bu.. but he got picked for England! Shame for England that are only 2 decent fullbacks of the last 5 ten years, Tomkins (injuries) and Hardaker (drugs) have fallen off.

Good Grief
He's by far the most talented player in this club.
Don't get me wrong, there are some great specialist players at Wire.

What denotes talent in your eyes RD? If he can catch pass and step but can't make first choice 6,7, 3 or 4 and is at 1 but can't contribute like other FB's can do, what's the point? I'll say it again, i don't expect brilliance from him when we are 2 points behind on 78 mins.

If he was an aussie import, would you afford him such patience?

FWIW i actually think he'd be good at centre, i don't like him in defence as fb and I don't like his ball returns, akin to what quickening said before.

Take Ratchford out of this side, and we're a LOT worse for it.
The one player we have, that possesses a bit of unpredictability, and some aren't happy with him.
Ratchford's main problem, is that he doesn't have ONE position, where fans can say that he's great at. He's a very good player, wherever he plays.
I wouldn't mind seeing him in duckie's suggested role, loose forward. He'll be very good there (I get VERY pee'd off seeing props played @ 13), but that further proves that he doesn't OWN a nailed on position.

Replace him with Barba or Hardaker and we're better for it. (Both of which i think we were in the market for)

We'll be worse off because we haven't got anyone to play in that position currently, but there's plenty of better options out and the club have tried in vain to get these.

Hypothetical question, if we did sign Barba, where would you want Ratch? If he goes in at 13 against a side with a big pack, can he do the muscle work in defence? I doubt it