Sort of

I'll be honest, I thought Thackeray would have been one of the first players to sign up for Super League.

Thackeray has carried for us for a while now. Even when we had Webster, Thacks was still the main playmaker. With full time training he would of went well for us. He deserved at least 1 year

The rest im not fussed about. Netherton and Gerrard are too slow for even this league.

He did deserve at least one year,even if only as a back up,second choice half back.No doubt the wise men behind the scenes will have a replacement lined up.Paul Cooke or Graham Holroyd probably.

Netherton was championed by Cullen and now he's been told he isnt wanted for 2012.


Please explain that one Cull and the reasoning behind letting smithy go!



Thats what im most furious about.

Kirk Netherton is one of the poorest players I've seen play for Widnes.

Yes, he would go well as a sumo wrestler IMO.

Very poor decision to make, especially at a hard time in the season. Will this affect the way they play? After losses to batley leigh and Hunslet that's all we need, an announcement like this to throw a spanner in the works. Like VM said, the reasoning behind the Netherton one is confusing, replacing him for Smithy then letting him go?

Got to feel sorry for Thacks. He's just turned 25, not exactly passed it. With full time training i really think he would make a very valuable squad player at least. Definately not our worst player this year and there would be at least 5/6 players i'd show the door to before Thacks.

All this after the "Join VIQI to save Thackeray"

Shit news.

I feel for him because he has been an interesting player to watch. Started off slow then burst to life in 'that' semi Vs Fax and went on to play some great off the cuff stuff for us until this year.

We cant carry a halfback though because every once in a while he chips in with a bit of brilliance. All too often he is stifled at this level by the better sides who pick his plays off easily, Leigh in particular.

Not sure a halfback who has no kicking game, nor was ever the most creative with a show and go and inside ball as his main plays was ever going to be ideal to step up to SL, full time or not.

He seems a nice guy so good luck to him.

Its just looking soul destroying on the field isn't it at the moment. Wasn't Allen captain? then I'anson now its finnigan. To be fair i think the best ive seen Thacks play was that semi final against fax. Hasn't been amazing since but hasn't been shocking. betts comes in, benches him or plays him at FB and puts Gerrard at stand off. His decisions baffle the hell out of me.

We can't carry a half back like that... But it's ok for him to carry us for 2 seasons? Ok then.

Big decision for the club to get rid of Thacks. Just hope we have someone else already lined up!

I wouldn't say he's carried us but i'd go as far as to say he has been our best player the last couple of years imo with the help of good performances from a handful of others. He'll have no problem in finding a club but its just going to be sad seeing him leave, would have been one of the few id have taken SL exclusing the academy lads.

He has dug us out of a number of holes with his 'off the cuff' play but nobody seems able to build a decent partnership with him.That may be down to the other players and him constantly having different halfback partners or it may be his style of play.

The reality for me though is that we cant carry him. No kicking game, little creativity outside of his own plays and a reliance on the show and go. That is his main play and it has been stifled this year. He is far less effective against the top sides at this level. Leigh in particular as ive written previous always shut him out easily.

He's been a good servant and provided some exciting tries but I would have worried if he was in a SL halfback pairing. I expected him to go up with us because of what he had done and being a bit of a favourite. It hasnt been the case.

The proof will be in the pudding as they say. Where will he play next year ? If he gets a SL gig it will be interesting to see.

Just don't get it. Thacks is a genuine game breaker, I only hope somebody with an established pedigree comes into that position, say Benji Marshall... Maybe then I'd understand

Maybe lockyer has changed his mind about retirement?