I wonder if Widdop is house sharing with Gary Wheeler ?

I think with Patton now we should remember he's the number 3 halfback. We signed two blue chip NRL halfbacks to be the starters so the debate isn't really about is Patton good enough to be first choice, it's what he offers us as a 3rd halfback.

And on those terms, I'm pretty happy with having Patton there. Look at other teams' rosters and who they would have as their 3rd halfback. Usually it's a young lad who is unproven, or a utility type player or someone they would shove out of position eg a fullback or hooker or loose forward. It's not that common to have a specialist halfback with 100 games experience who is an understudy ready to come in. I'd guess that Patton is better than most team's 3rd halfback option.

Whilst it might be more exciting to have a young unproven lad because then you think, well we might hit the jackpot if this guy turns out to be special, most of the time they turn out to be duds and then you have a guy who is out of his depth and a liability. For me the most important quality of a back up is just to be capable and limit mistakes. He doesn't need to be a game breaker, just don't stink the joint out, and then its important that some other senior player steps up in Widdop's absence and not have us all waiting for Patton to be Widdop.

I might have got frustrated with Patton when thinking about whether he's going to be the long term heir to Briers, because I don't think he offers much of an x factor, but compared to other young halfbacks, he's not BAD, he doesn't stink the joint out.

The ideal 3rd halfback would be someone like Tyrone Roberts. The reason people gave him stick was because he took up a quota spot and was on a big salary and was expected to be a game breaker and he wasn't. But he didn't make many mistakes, he was capable in a conservative game plan, moved the ball around ok, kicked ok (not great). If you said Roberts was English and on a limited salary and would stay around as back up halfback, I would have taken that. Patton is about the same level of player as Roberts so I'll take that.

The ideal third halfback for any club is someone from it's academy who believes they are better than the first team two and desperate to take their place off them.

In the case of The Wire that would be young Riley Dean. Unfortunately he is set to miss the first 6 games due to injury.

Well said sir especially when we consider the stick Patton took last year. No good having players on top money & in a comfort zone when there is no one to snap at their heels.

Agreed with most of your post except this (if you are being serious). I do not believe Patton is anywhere near the standard of Roberts. I just cannot imagine in this life-time that Patton would get a single NRL half back contract, nevermind multiple contracts.

I hope it’s a bungalow... wouldn’t trust either of these 2 negotiating the stairs on a daily basis!

Wheeler would get an injury, hopping onto Thora Hurd's stairlift

GWiddop Biscuit !!

GWheeler My finger !!

Of I offered you Roberts over Patton as margin/backup halfback...who'd take it?

No feckin chance....don't let my answer influence you.

is there another option?

OK, as a 'what if?' let's assume that the following were all available at the same money;

Patton, Roberts, Matty Smith & Sandow. My order would be;

Roberts (despite the possible unrest after he somewhat let us down last time by returning home early)
Patton (never going to be a top level half back)
Smith (showed nothing in his brief spell with us last season)
Sandow (despite being the most tallented of the bunch he is absolutely toxic)

Give me Patton over that useless mercenary any time..I expected Roberts to spark in a big game I.e challenge cup final and end of season comp final but no..and couldn't wait to get back to oz..with patten we don't expect him to be pulling up trees but the odd good thing he does you can guarantee he.ll do something absurd... But saying that he was fine in the opening games of last season as were the whole team the the rot set in

We should look to the future and give Riley Dean some game time. If fit, he should be infront of Patton for a half back shirt, should either Widdop or Austin be unavailable.

Patton's more suited to interchange hooker for me.