Juan Cornetto wrote:

I would make Merrin the on field captain as Watkins is not the man for the job and until he regains fitness and form is not certain to retain his place.

Agreed

Well Watkins was made captain really because there was no obvious leader in the team. I agree with the above we now have one in Merrin that would be a good move imo.

Biff Tannen wrote:

Well Watkins was made captain really because there was no obvious leader in the team. I agree with the above we now have one in Merrin that would be a good move imo.

No he wasn’t. Ward was a better fit at that time. Watkins was given it because of the depression issues and the club trying to show support for him. Don’t agree with it, but still understand the club thoughts.

I’m not sure whether it was partly to help tie Kal up to the club at the time when he’s one of the best centres in the world and we have NRL clubs sniffing.

Gotcha wrote:

No he wasn’t. Ward was a better fit at that time. Watkins was given it because of the depression issues and the club trying to show support for him. Don’t agree with it, but still understand the club thoughts.

Maybe in your head Ward was yes but he wasn't a stand out and he always had the fitness issue holding him back, still has.

Biff Tannen wrote:

Maybe in your head Ward was yes but he wasn't a stand out and he always had the fitness issue holding him back, still has.

In the head of plenty others at the time if you look back at the posts. Either way Watkins wasn’t based on normal criteria, and was wrong for the role. Like I said though, I understand the clubs thoughts.

Ward would've been a good choice, and still could be in the future, but he simply doesn't play enough games

Gotcha wrote:

In the head of plenty others at the time if you look back at the posts. Either way Watkins wasn’t based on normal criteria, and was wrong for the role. Like I said though, I understand the clubs thoughts.

But you said Watkins got the gig because of his mental health issues. If anything Stevie Ward who had similar issues and started a support group on the back of that would have had an equal claim if indeed the club was giving the captaincy away on a charity basis.

Biff Tannen wrote:

But you said Watkins got the gig because of his mental health issues. If anything Stevie Ward who had similar issues and started a support group on the back of that would have had an equal claim if indeed the club was giving the captaincy away on a charity basis.

I think you will find those issues were very much different.