@sinbad This isn't the 70s 80s or 90s we are a mid lower league club who need any help we can get.
It's a dark day for me.My late Dad and other passed away fans will be turning in their graves.A last shred of dignity surrendered.People getting excited because we might get a prop and a half back from Warrington for a few games.Embarrassing.
I can 101% understand and sympathise with you mate, coz it'd be like us snuggling up with the Pinks, which (please no) if it ever transpired, I'd be as dis-chuffed as you, but............
On the other hand (again like us) you're a bang average middle tier club, so could a fringe Wire player poss help you?
Like it or not, DR is here to stay, and I'd imagine we'll be showing our hand pretty soon.
Spelly.
The more I've thought about it today, the more I'm not a fan of the idea.
Are the Wire DR Players going to get us up the IMG rankings to any great degree? I doubt it.
In that case, if we are showing zero ambition or have no real ability to be a SL Contender, I would much rather finish in mid table oblivion without the indignity of Wire players using us as a breeding ground/run out.
Yes I am fully aware it is not 1989 anymore before anyone says it!!
It's a dark day for me.My late Dad and other passed away fans will be turning in their graves.A last shred of dignity surrendered.People getting excited because we might get a prop and a half back from Warrington for a few games.Embarrassing.
I can 101% understand and sympathise with you mate, coz it'd be like us snuggling up with the Pinks, which (please no) if it ever transpired, I'd be as dis-chuffed as you, but............
On the other hand (again like us) you're a bang average middle tier club, so could a fringe Wire player poss help you?
Like it or not, DR is here to stay, and I'd imagine we'll be showing our hand pretty soon.
Spelly.
Spelly I am with you as I felt last season if we had a few quality players from Superleague, it would have helped us for sure. Lacked a few big props and back rowers. Looking at Warringtons squad a few full-time players would help to give us extra grunt. It is here to stay so I feel need to utilise it like other clubs have done. It is not as if we have a owner bank rolling us like Leigh and Featherstone
If I remember correctly, when Warrington dual reg'd with Rochdale several years ago, Rochdale received Reserves players from Warrington. I think the only first teamer I recall was Pat Moran who was a young lad at the time and was released by Warrington the following year. Things may have changed since given there is a different coaching team in place at Warrington. Although, I'm not saying the reserves lads wont strengthen the team. Lee Mitchell and Lewis Hatton were dual reg'd for Rochdale from Warrington reserves with Hatton getting player of the year. However, I don't reckon we'll be getting many from the first team. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
We DRd with Wire a few seasons ago, and from memory, we had one game with four of 'em in the team, with Currie grabbing a four-timer, but................
Ironically, the following week it was a cup-tie, so there were zero in our line-up that afternoon!
We also had Morley and Briers (separately) for just one occasion each, as they were returning from injury.
Spelly.
Dire have a squad of over 30 players but only about 24/5 genuine first team players (even they have to fit under the cap so you pay huge money to the first team you get left with kids on buttons making up the squad), so we won't get any first team players unless they are out of favour (Dudson?, Dywer? (think he will be gone)) or they are coming back to fitness following an injury, which would probably be for a couple of matches. Any players we get will be academy/reserves looking for game time.
I guess this shows our real level. Unable to afford a full squad and relying on Warrington to top up a poor squad.
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.
Long standing rivals since when stop living in the past and support your team.I guess this shows our real level. Unable to afford a full squad and relying on Warrington to top up a poor squad.
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.
@prisoner Since I first started watching Widnes.
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?
@sinbad Totally agree with your statement Sinbad, really sad times for this once great club🥲
In our current position, I do not think we have many options other than a DR arrangement.
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.
This makes sense for both parties as they stand at the moment.
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.