2024 Contract expiry : Wed Jan 10, 2024 8:52 am  

Warrington Wolves squad who’s contracts expire in November 2024, who will go? Joe Philbin, Joe Bullock, Tom Whitehead, Gil Dudson, Stefan Ratchford, Matt Dufty, Josh Drinkwater, Leon Hayes (OP), Josh Lynch (OP), Jake Thewlis (OP), Rodrick Tai (OP), Wesley Bruines (OP), Matty Russell, Adam Holroyd, Luke Thomas Big year for some players, others the end is nigh (my opinion) Philbin - will need to do better than the last few years to get an extension, putting rugby before socks, beinng the impact prop with an actual impact. Mind you he will probably get a mind bending 3yr deal like Currie. Bullock - needs to become a regular by May and show he is over injury problems. There is a decent prop in there somewhere. Dudson - no, disastrous recruitment, bronchitis/immigration issues or not. Mental loose cannon (see last game for Catalans). Doesnt work hard enough when he is actually on the pitch. Ratchford - no but great servant. Dufty - yes please, our most exciting player in space. Drinkwater - no, ineffectual, zero impact on games. Apparently got a titty lip after McGuiregate Russell - no, we need to make space for younger players but he didn't let us down. Hayes - yes surely we are going to play him 2025. https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... hpBLGpRViE

Warrington Wolves squad who’s contracts expire in November 2024, who will go? Joe Philbin, Joe Bullock, Tom Whitehead, Gil Dudson, Stefan Ratchford, Matt Dufty, Josh Drinkwater, Leon Hayes (OP), Josh Lynch (OP), Jake Thewlis (OP), Rodrick Tai (OP), Wesley Bruines (OP), Matty Russell, Adam Holroyd, Luke Thomas Big year for some players, others the end is nigh (my opinion) Philbin - will need to do better than the last few years to get an extension, putting rugby before socks, beinng the impact prop with an actual impact. Mind you he will probably get a mind bending 3yr deal like Currie. Bullock - needs to become a regular by May and show he is over injury problems. There is a decent prop in there somewhere. Dudson - no, disastrous recruitment, bronchitis/immigration issues or not. Mental loose cannon (see last game for Catalans). Doesnt work hard enough when he is actually on the pitch. Ratchford - no but great servant. Dufty - yes please, our most exciting player in space. Drinkwater - no, ineffectual, zero impact on games. Apparently got a titty lip after McGuiregate Russell - no, we need to make space for younger players but he didn't let us down. Hayes - yes surely we are going to play him 2025. https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sp ... hpBLGpRViE

Re: 2024 Contract expiry : Wed Jan 10, 2024 9:50 am  

Burgess has made no secret of his desire to see more of Hayes. Whitehead and Thewlis Jr. get big raps too. Holroyd and Thomas won't take up much of the cap if they continue to develop.

If Philbin has a big year and doesn't make Mulhern-style demands I'd imagine he'll be offered a deal.

Apart from maybe Tai, who is a bit of an experiment, I can see us cutting the rest loose, with Dufty to the NRL/Aus reserves and Ratchford retiring.

Re: 2024 Contract expiry : Wed Jan 10, 2024 10:15 am  

I believe Burgess is not only very impressed with Wrench but also Lindop. Looking forward to the captaincy announcement - I think it will tell us a lot. Hoping it's Williams, will despair if it's Ratchford.

Re: 2024 Contract expiry : Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:21 am  

Dufty is a question mark for me, he has not proved consistently that he is good enough as a full back to be in a top 4 squad, yes he provides excitement at times but his distribution, safety under a high ball and defence are shaky for me - the first few months will be important for him, as he is unlikely to get a decent deal back in the NRL. He'll be on a decent wedge for us and takes up a quota spot - he needs to prove his worth.

Philbin seemed to improve as the year went on, if he starts the year well he will be kept.

Drinkwater will go I think.

Dudson will likely leave given his age and form, though Burgess seems to be happy with his start to pre season.

Russell, depends what the youth players are looking like coming through, he's been decent for us but he is a back up winger and I would prefer that spot to be taken by a 'prospect'.

Ratchford, depends how his body is doing, on the right contract I wouldn't be against keeping him as he provides good utility cover, but he wouldn't be near my 17.

Of the rest I hope the younger players show they are worth anew deal, Tai could be interesting as there seemed some NRL interest in him after we signed him - good that the option is in our favour.

Looking further ahead Toby King, Connor Wrench, Matty Nicholson, James Harrison, Paul Vaughan, Jordy Crowther, Zane Musgrove, Brad Dwyer are up in Nov 2025, hopefully Wrench & Nicholson especially get a new deal, wouldn't surprise me if they looked at Harrison too - seems well liked (though that may have changed now Powell has gone?) King will likely depend on contract value.