cant see past the fact that I can’t stand him as a player so a no for me 🤣

Paulie xx

To get through a season Widnes probably need 30+ players.

We cannot afford to carry this many because there is nowhere for the fringe players to play. When you need to call on them they are not ready because they have not played and also some fringe players are not good enough.

Previously we could have used Academy players in event of an emergency but we no longer have an Academy.

It also makes sense for Warrington because the Reserves System is not fit for purpose. There are not enough matches and even more so not enough meaningful matches. They play every other week with Academy players supplementing a limited number of reserves players. Once Super League Players reach 19 most are not ready for Super League but unless they go to the Championship they have single figure meaningful games each year which does not prepare them for Super League and they are not ready when asked to step up. 

Hopefully the 2 clubs can work together to Widnes benefit and to the benefit of the young players who DR with us. 

Fingers crossed.

In my opinion, our wheeling and dealing has not significantly strengthened our squad and we still need a few new recruits and there seems to be no credible rumours of signings.

As long as Warrington are not pulling the strings regarding who plays and when  , as squad selection must be the head coaches job, I can't see how we can achieve a squad with any strength in depth.

I hope I am wrong and half a dozen decent players are announced , but I am not going to hold my breath waiting.

I supported Widnes before the glory years of the 70s/80s and since, but just cannot build any great enthusiasm for the current squad. Most are predicting another poor season, finishing outside the play-off positions, although in the current set-up, it will make no difference to any lingering SL ambitions.

I hope I am wrong, as I have been in recent years in predicting each year a top 6 finish, and we race away to finish top of the Championship and somehow fill the ground with spectators and electronic advertising boards, to get a grade B.

Will I support Widnes in 2024? Probably. 

Will we finish in a lower position than 2023. Probably

I wonder who our new manager will be for 2025? Any suggestions?

Our long-standing rivals at Warrington must be delighted that we are going cap in hand to them to borrow players to bolster our squad!!!

DR is Ok to cover for injuries in the short-term or long-term loans, season long preferably, but a month minimum, with no call back. I guess it doesn't work that way.