I am not sure Ratchford is a 6, I thought we had signed him as the replacement for Hodgeson to be honest. The Russell signing I found on the one hand exciting but on the other a bit confusing as I am not sure where he will end up playing.

GOB has to, in my view, be given a chance at 6 and we will learn once and for all if he is the one or not. For me the jury is out, flickers of great promise followed by flickers of not a lot. The lack of an extended run may explain this and a good run in the side may help to resolve this conundrum. For me, I hope he steps up to the plate

I really struggle to understand why, and on what evidence, some people have decided O'Brien isn't good enough for this level, given the number of times he has played and the circumstances in which he has played.

Personally, I'm undecided - but I'm also undecided about Myler's ability to be(come) something special at this level, and am still unsure of Rathford's best position.

The difference is both Myler & Ratch have had time, and opportunities in a squad brimming with experience and talent to show what they can do. O'Brien's Warrington career to date has been the odd game when we have an injury, pre-season friendlies and being shipped out on loan. Now he is thrust into a team suddenly shorn of experienced, hugely talented players and expected to prove his mettle overnight.

Gareth, the balls in your court, prove these doubters wrong.

Absolutely spot on!

It was O'Brien's quick thinking and hands that led to Warrington's second try.
He followed up the ball that bounced off the post, caught it, and shipped it wide quickly.

Thats what real half backs do, see situations, and think of solutions faster than other players.

RL halfbacks play in a different way to Union ones.
In Union, they play like a quarterback in American Football, in a pocket of space, provided by their forwards.

In League the halfback takes the ball up to the line, and uses, his speed of thought, kicking game or bag of tricks to make the play.
The better the halfback, the closer to the line he can go, which in turn gives him more chance of using his skills, tricks or kicking game to affect the play, thus denying the opposition reaction time.

It is my view that Warrington need to decide on a structured way of playing that utilises the skills that they have.
Currently they seem to be playing like Briers will be back next week, and making do.

I think that Smith doesn't know what his best combinations are, and this will affect the team until he does.

think following the shocking nature of Thursdays performance there's been s lot of knee jerking and extremely dismissive comments about certain players including gob.

Now personallyI thought we were a million miles better after he came on, granted we were still weak up front and the game was gone but we looked better organized compared to monas doing his 08 impersonation.

Short term I think gob should be 6 as ratch and myler didnt seem to work thst well last year. However having Russell now causes An odd man out situation.

However at the same time, I was quite disappointed with how poor ratch was at fb on Thursday, last year he had genuinely played hodgo out of the side and looked pretty comfortable there, this year,Jesus he stank the place out

Play GOB at 6 and Russell at 1.

I've said it before...

Ratchford is good at many positions and master of none.

I find him best in the last 20 of each half when defences tire. He breaches the line and makes good yardage and is very elusive in running style.
In many games before this period I see him being lazy, idling behind play.

I would have him as a utility bench back and Grix (when fit) as utility bench forward accompanied with two props Wood (when fit) and Asotasi (who probably needs a softened defence at this stage to adjust to our game) on the bench every week.

Simple

1. Russell
2. Riley
3. Bridge
4. Ratchford (Drop Atkins)
5. J.Monaghan
6. GOB
7. Myler

Ratchford is in the position Bridge was a few years ago, we know he's a talent but not sure what his best position is yet. Bridge was a utility player for a bit then after he had that coming of age game at Odsal where he filled in for Briers at 6 and tore Bradford up he was seen as a stand-off for a while. We played him the best part of 2 seasons there alongside Briers and he showed a few good flashes of form but never really suggested he was going to be the answer at 6. Then I remember one off season the new line was that Bridge was going to be fullback and he played there in pre-season and the start of the season (and looked decent) but then got injured and was out for the year. It was only really when we signed Myler and Mathers and there was no place for him in the halves or fullback that the question was solved, he had to play centre and he excelled there.

I fear that Ratchford is going to also roam around for a while but I somehow don't think he will end up 6 long term. I think he will end up a fullback or centre. Maybe the answer this season will be as Yed says, give GOB a run alongside Myler, lets see what Russell is about, and put Ratchford at centre as I think he's better than Bridge and Atkins now.

Fair post. I wouldn't drop Bridge for Ratchford though. Ratchford only shows flashes of great skill.
Bridge is ball handling is faster and he's stronger.

Jordan Burke seems to have plenty of full back potential too. He was more effective in the Salford game than Ratchford who went off injured so we don't really know if Ratchford is still not fully recovered from his OT injury.

You have the same problem as us last year, no organiser in the team. Neither Myler, Ratchford or O'Brien can boss the team around the park.
Its Myler who should step up to the mark and grow some, i would give O'Brien the No 6 shirt for his kicking game, when he played for us it took him 3 or 4 games to settle.
For Ratchford maybe he could be used at centre replacing Atkins, Ratchford is better out wide, if you think Riley is as bad as Atkins then put Atkins on the wing.

Atkins can't or won't pass so let his pace strength and ability to catch a high ball feature on the wing and keep GOB in the team for a run and he will either sink or swim

To be honest the team ,in its various forms, has been bossed about on the pitch by Briers for the last 15 years (?) so in the dressing room we have a lack of people who could actually step forward as a natural leader.

I suppose the 2 most likely candidates are M. Monas & Higham but their available shelf life will now be limited so may be O'Brien needs to be used more to benefit from the experience of playing alongside these players.Lee Briers is also available to mentor all our available halfbacks into becoming on field master puppeteers.

I'd break the bank for Danny Brough now.

But I would have signed him 3 years ago and let Briers move on then too.

That'll upset a few on here.