An escape rout from the rumours thread!
I think the majority of us agree that we have been fairly toothless at centre this season, question is why and how will it improve next season?
First let me put my cards on the table re Ratchford. I couldn’t disagree more strongly with the view that he has never really fitted in.
In fact he has done a good job wherever he has been asked to play and in his earlier days was a real running threat although the one handed carry was a concern. It seems strange that all those people who say they just want players to give their all rarely credit him for this aspect of his play.
I do think this season has looked a season too long for him at times, but given at the start of the season the left side was scoring regularly perhaps the blame doesn’t entirely rest with him.
In the other centre berth we have Matautia, I made no secret of my view at the time that he was a poor signing and take no comfort from being right. He was obviously brought in as Powell’s lieutenant in the dressing room and that hardly seems to have resulted in harmony. However bat crazy Mamo was he definitely posed far more of an attacking threat than his successor.
With regard to Wrench we have seen glimpses of what he may be able to do, I reall hope he kicks on

I agree that some of the criticism of Ratchford is OTT and doesn't show enough respect for what a good player he has been for us.

Plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the centre position: we have just brought in as assistant coach the best English centre of his generation. And our head coach is a former England Union centre (ok maybe let's forget that bit).

Both Tai and Bruines come with a bit of a gamble but Wrench is (for me) a real talent and needs game time in his position.

Ok, in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling thats a somewhat difficult read.
Are you a failed TEFLER per chance?

Regarding your content I concur that Ratchford has been a positive for the club but due to our lack of goal kicker succession planning his tenure is 2/3 years too long. Gleason should play himself next season

Ratchford has never let the team down, apart from the one handed carry at times. IMO though he is better creating space for himself than being a part of the three quarter line.

There should be an apostrophe in thats, perchance should be one word rather than two, and the correct spelling is Gleeson. I believe TEFL UK is based in Winmarleigh Street, if you fancy popping down?

hopefully gleeson is a big help for wrench, if centre is to be his position long term

Sorry about that, I’ll try using pictures in future.

I’ve got nothing against Ratchford. Good pro, seems to be a likeable man and has served the club well over the years. But the speed and elusiveness has faded away, and with it the threat. He can still catch and pass, but that should be a prerequisite.

It’s a Warrington thing. We often hold on to those who have served us well for too long. We did it with Westwood, accommodated him in a different position because he’d lost the ability to play his proper role.

A bench spot, maybe. Cover across the backline and a bit of 9/13 at a stretch. But he just doesn’t have it in him to be a strike weapon in 2023.

Developed into an excellent goal kicker though, to his credit.

In addition Ratchford was the last full back that I felt confident about when a bomb went up.

60/40 for me

This season centre has been our weakest position..... Next season it could be our strongest... There will certainly be competition and plenty of running power.

That’s MY confident after 51(!) years. For many of those I was petrified when the ball was passed, let alone a bomb!

Yes, but the problem is, you're supposed to kick it from behind the 40 and get it past the 20. I don't care how good his shorter kicks are...

If we're looking at a direct replacement for Mata'utia but with more pace, I think I've found ithttps://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/112626-fastest-moving-crustacean-on-land#:~:text

The Ghost CrabRunning sideways rather than forwards, they have been timed at speeds of up to 4 m per second.'"

Aaron Lindop is a big, quick centre to keep am eye on. He is only in his first year U18 and was injured for the first half of the season but has still made quite a mark this year.Top try scorer with 16 atm including a sequence of 3,3,3,1 in his last four games. He played 5 games for the Reserves, 7 for the U18's and one for Lancs. Academy.