Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Thu Jun 30, 2022 2:43 pm  

Kevin Turvey wrote:

This from Powell’s press conference today:

DP: "We are losing quite a few players who have been here a number of years.

"Stef was one I didn't want to lose.

"He's a high-quality player who can play in a number of different positions.

"I can see him being our half-back next year and I want him to really grab hold of that role."

Does this confirm no Dufty? What are peoples thoughts?

Very interesting. Seems as though the general board consensus that Stef would most likely drift off into a bench utility role was a bit off the mark. As for Dufty, it would now appear that if he comes to us, it will be as full-back. Not sure where Thewlis fits into any of this, although his new contract suggests that he is obviously a big part of our plans going forward.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Thu Jun 30, 2022 2:59 pm  

The Speculator wrote:

Very interesting. Seems as though the general board consensus that Stef would most likely drift off into a bench utility role was a bit off the mark. As for Dufty, it would now appear that if he comes to us, it will be as full-back. Not sure where Thewlis fits into any of this, although his new contract suggests that he is obviously a big part of our plans going forward.

My views are as follows:-

Ratchford will help ease Dean, into a regular standoff position in the 1st team hopefully.

Thewlis will play right wing for the duration of Dufty`s contract and then the fullback position will be his, when Dufty leaves.

Obviously, Thewlis will play fullback when Dufty is unavailable.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Thu Jun 30, 2022 3:06 pm  

Boss Hog wrote:

My views are as follows:-

Ratchford will help ease Dean, into a regular standoff position in the 1st team hopefully.

Thewlis will play right wing for the duration of Dufty`s contract and then the fullback position will be his, when Dufty leaves.

Obviously, Thewlis will play fullback when Dufty is unavailable.

Sounds very feasible, Boss. The King/Wardle thing throws an element of doubt into next year's plans too, so we'll have to wait and see how that pans out.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Thu Jun 30, 2022 4:03 pm  

I don’t think Dufty will happen. There’s usually more smoke from down under. Unless he’s just biding his time waiting for a better offer.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Sat Jul 02, 2022 7:44 am  

I am not on board with him coming to Wire, but I will be very surprised if he isn`t playing for us in 2023,

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:12 am  

Boss Hog wrote:

I am not on board with him coming to Wire, but I will be very surprised if he isn`t playing for us in 2023,

There’s an article on a RL site down under about salaries.
Seems the NRL have published what each player earns, and Dufty is on the equivalent of £200k. To lure him over here we’d have to make it more worthwhile than £200k so maybe his demands are a bit more than what we’re prepared to pay, especially if he turns out to be another dud. He doesn’t seem desperate to come over and prove himself to get a better future gig down there, and I’d be surprised if Powell wants someone who isn’t 100% committed.

I like his speed and footwork, but like you I won’t be fussed if he doesn’t come to be our 1 or 6. Thewlis is coming on great, despite being in a poor team, and I’m hoping Powell can develop Dean.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:20 am  

easyWire wrote:

There’s an article on a RL site down under about salaries.
Seems the NRL have published what each player earns, and Dufty is on the equivalent of £200k. To lure him over here we’d have to make it more worthwhile than £200k so maybe his demands are a bit more than what we’re prepared to pay, especially if he turns out to be another dud. He doesn’t seem desperate to come over and prove himself to get a better future gig down there, and I’d be surprised if Powell wants someone who isn’t 100% committed.

I like his speed and footwork, but like you I won’t be fussed if he doesn’t come to be our 1 or 6. Thewlis is coming on great, despite being in a poor team, and I’m hoping Powell can develop Dean.

He seems to have run out of options in the NRL.

Never seen him play, only the proverbial highlights reel where he looks very exciting.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Sat Jul 02, 2022 11:08 pm  

Boss Hog wrote:

My views are as follows:-

Ratchford will help ease Dean, into a regular standoff position in the 1st team hopefully.

Thewlis will play right wing for the duration of Dufty`s contract and then the fullback position will be his, when Dufty leaves.

Obviously, Thewlis will play fullback when Dufty is unavailable.

Thewlis won't play right wing, as wrench is earmarked for there. And if Thewlis just took the right wing spot where would that leave Wrench? He wouldn't displace Mata'utia at right centre, unless Powell just wants King gone so wrench would take the left centre spot maybe?
We might have Dufty as our marquee player, i think he's headed to us and it might not be as a marquee player as basically no NRL club are interested so it might not be the hardest sell to get him over here,, even for just 1 year.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:34 am  

Interesting that he sees him as the long term half back, but picked him at centre last week, and a centre in the halves. Not sure on the logic there.

I like Stef, but I think we need to put a bit of faith and urgency into Thewlis’s development. He’s top class.

Re the lack of smoke on the Dufty, he’s been dropped out of the first team for a while now so may just be out of sight… I don’t want this one to come off, I think we have better prospects here already, and listening to former team mates (see the Matty Johns show bit with Zac Lomax) he doesn’t appear to be well liked.

Re: New 2 year deal for Stef : Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:36 am  

Or thane wrote:

Thewlis won't play right wing, as wrench is earmarked for there. And if Thewlis just took the right wing spot where would that leave Wrench? He wouldn't displace Mata'utia at right centre, unless Powell just wants King gone so wrench would take the left centre spot maybe?
We might have Dufty as our marquee player, i think he's headed to us and it might not be as a marquee player as basically no NRL club are interested so it might not be the hardest sell to get him over here,, even for just 1 year.

Will be surprised if we see King play for Wire again.

Powell seems to have made his mind up, and this exchange deal with Wardle fits his plans.

Don`t think Huddersfield will pay King his huge salary, so that could be a deal breaker.