Out of interest, is it a given that Cooper is going back to Wire when his current deal ends? No risk of him, yknow, getting another one or possibly looking at a different NRL club?

I ask because he was fairly anonymous over here, but seems to be going steady for now in the NRL, why would he come back? What for exactly?

There's a reason why he hasn't been signed by an NRL club and Wire have signed him instead and it's not because he loves the Wolfs, it's because he's steady at best and can't get a look-in in the NRL.

Also, he'll be 30 by the time next season starts.

Ashton Simms isn't gifted like his brother Tariq but he more than makes up with it in his desire and effort, polar opposite to Roy Asotasi.

Of the four semi final teams I thought Cas were the best by some considerable distance.
Leeds must be careful or they won't get the victory most seem they are certain of.
As for Wire and Widnes, the thread title says it all about the Wolfs and Widnes looked a very poor mid table team. As has been said Wire will still have to re-build but their playmakers of Ratchford, Myler and O'Brien aren't good enough. They need to find a half back coach from within the club and promote him to first team duties, if they look deep enough I'm sure they'll find one that knows the half back trade.

Perhaps Briers' enforced departure finally hit them more than they would like to admit.

bugger I seem to have put the mockers on that move
[urlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/28755474[/url

its just an Agreement to rejoin the Wire when he comes back but a few of us that watch the NRL were thinking he'll do a James Graham ...ring home ask his mum if he's needed back home if not he'll stay out there....

and fair play to him he was the most low profile of all the superleague players going out there and hes done a great job, and reading the Aussie Forums they are hoping he extends his stay.

He has a business here in Warrington but nothing he needs to rush back to.

How do you know he couldn't get a look in at any NRL club...?

Yes if I had the pick of the cowboys forwards he wouldn't be in the first three picks. I'd pick Matt Scott over any prop forward in the NRL, then Id pick James Tamu then Tariq Simms before Ashton.

We know what we are getting, but he's what we need, great energy, great physical presence, and a great team player. But hes not coming to Wire to be our best forward either. He'll be behind Hill and Westwood. And hopefully he'll help the development of England, Evans, Laithwaite Glen Riley and Currie. I'm looking forward to him coming if you have him down as a Turkey then thats fair enough.

I saw Simms in the Ireland v Fiji game at last year's WC and was really impressed. A hard running, hard tackling forward who never stops grafting. Think he'd do a good job at any SL club and will probably become a Wire fan favourite if he plays like that over here.

I also saw him in Tesco at Horwich the weekend after and, not only is he a big bugger, but he's a nice bloke too!

To be fair, I'd look good vs Ireland (, Wales and Scotland sadly) so it's not really a good judge of quality!

With his ultra aggressive approach things will go one of two ways for Simms-

1- He'll settle quickly and will dominate games due to that approach. He'll be a fans favourite but may be at the RFL disciplinary more often then not.

2- He'll become a target and other superleague props will take it as a challenge to hammer him. I still remember the bashings Mark Carroll used to take each week when at London and Josh Perry was a similar target whilst at Saints. They were both aggressive players who's approach backfired on them.

Fair do's, but I should've added that's the only time I've seen him play in the flesh. Have also been impressed when watching him in the NRL too.