In its simplest form, if you compare the team for 2025 c/w the team that started 2024, we have replaced Nicholson with Yates and Drinkwater with Hayes / Leyland. From what Sam Burgess has said, Russell has been brought in to give us 'options' in the second row.

The halfback situation is a bit 'wait and see' as it depends upon whether / how quickly Hayes can come back from a serious injury, but having Leyland there gives us a Plan B.

In the pack Fitzgibbon's fitness is clearly a concern. He only played in 17 out of 33 games last season (and failed to complete 2 of those), so we're going to need Holroyd et al.

Before the 2024 season started, we lost Kasiano. He's never been replaced, and we've missed not having a big interchange prop. Musgrove doesn't seem to punch his weight and whilst Yates, Philbin, Crowther and Holroyd all give 100%, our pack lacks a bit of size.

I'm not worried about our 3/4s. Lindop, Wrench and Taylor-Wray are there for backup and to put pressure on the incumbents.

In summary, I see us as being neither weaker, nor stronger, than at the start of 2024.

He’d be a significant upgrade on our current right centre.

Genuine strike centre, be a good addition. Just for the rest of the year or are they looking at a multi year deal?

Apparently Burgess is looking to sign Tui kamikamica, i wouldn't mind him here at all. Another big bulldozer prop like Vaughan, he'd be a much Welcomed forward for us. Him, Vaughan, Byrne, Harrison, Philbin etc makes us look MUCH better.
He might take a paycut to stay at Melbourne though as that looks like his only choice to stay in Oz.

I am always sceptical these days with overseas recruitment ,too many come with either lack of commitment or disciplinary baggage. Remember Roy Has it easy & i'm sure Ese Ese would soon change his name to Easy does it once he got his feet under the HJ table.
Chris Hill was still doing a good job last night.

(The page navigation is on this forum is absolutely dreadful btw, if anyone has worked it out I'd love to know.)


McDonald sounds like a classic Warrington signing. A very skilful player with a, erm, very fickle personality - he'd play the perfect blend of good performances and completely anonymous/error-ridden ones, and as soon as we lost a few games the rumour mill about his extra-curriculars would be in overdrive. And all the people who are bigging him up now would be tutting and blaming the Warrington 'culture'.