Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 1:03 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

Salary cap is a big factor in this. We have an excellent hooker developing in Walker, is he a good as Clark is right now, its debateable but probably not, although he is a much more rounded hooker. There could be £80k difference between what we are paying Clark and what we would pay Dwyer, which would allow us to strengthen other areas in need. Add in to that Clark will be 31 start of next year, Walker (I think) will be 24.

all fair points Alffi, I just have an in built rule...never lose a player to wigan or saints.
I think Clark has another big couple of seasons in him..and saints must be thinking the same. I know his age is creeping up, and he is spending more time on the treatment table BUT he's still a top player.

If it all transpires in the way it looks at the moment, then I just hope we use the spare money for another top class player or two (a top centre and another quality forward would be nice!)

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 1:14 pm  

One of the real problems with all our debates on the retention of players & why we don't try and sign other decent players is the fact that we never get to know the finances (and rightly so). Looking at how things work we were never really likely to keep Walker & Clark for another couple of years. Last year Clark looked a tired hooker as if injuries had taken their toll ... but wouldn't anyone. He has been superb this year.

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 1:19 pm  

It all makes a lot of sense and I think Warrington have made the right call.

I'd say Walker is our best hooker right now. Is he as good as prime Clark? No, but he's vastly improved during his time here and will probably improve further.

Alffi_7 mentioned an 80k difference between Clark and Dwyer but I'd suspect it could be a lot more than that. Dwyer gives us cheap squad depth and he'll surely know he won't be the first choice, so no disgruntlement.

Even if Clark gets back to his best, Walker surely would have been unhappy being a backup hooker for much longer. The timing seems perfect

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 1:40 pm  

Oxford Exile wrote:

all fair points Alffi, I just have an in built rule...never lose a player to wigan or saints.
I think Clark has another big couple of seasons in him..and saints must be thinking the same. I know his age is creeping up, and he is spending more time on the treatment table BUT he's still a top player.

If it all transpires in the way it looks at the moment, then I just hope we use the spare money for another top class player or two (a top centre and another quality forward would be nice!)

I can understand that, from our side of it - in this situation, we just need to make sure the quality of our squad isn't negatively affected as a result. We lost Coops to Wigan, but I don't think it was really a loss to us, regardless of how good a player he was as we strengthened the squad off the back of it.

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 2:36 pm  

Traditionally the top clubs don’t keep expensive players once they’re at the back end of their careers, bar the hometown heroes. Recently, Coote was still in top form for Saints but wanted a long deal, so they shipped him on to give a developing player a chance. Thats why I’ve got faith in us moving Clark on. If we didn’t, we’d lose the best upcoming hooker in Super League (I admit there aren’t many) and we’d no doubt be moaning on here about it in the second year of Clark’s 3 year deal. Dwyer will give a good impact backup, even if he’s not the most refined.

There’s something very un-Warrington about letting ageing heroes go early, and I like it. It feels like we starting to grow up and act like the big club we should be. I even have a lot of faith in the talent coming through the academy.

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 3:44 pm  

CW8 wrote:

Because he's 30 years old now,? He rightly left to try to nail down a starting spot to further his career, because we have had the luxury of having an excellent Darryl Clark as first choice for 9 years. Dwyer is a good hooker, walker will be first choice, but dwyer will provide a spark off the bench, he's also got a nice habit of snatching important trys from dummy half against stubborn defences.

I suppose it depends on what Dwyer wants - an interchange hooker with us, or a first choice hooker at another club (albeit maybe not the top 3 or 4 clubs).

I suppose money comes into it - that's fully understandable.
And money from the point of view of him, and us (to use any savings to recruit someone to strengthen/balance the team).

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 4:58 pm  

Crikey!

I hope this isn’t true.
Wasn’t very good when he was here last time. That’s why he got moved on.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 5:05 pm  

fez1 wrote:

I suppose it depends on what Dwyer wants - an interchange hooker with us, or a first choice hooker at another club (albeit maybe not the top 3 or 4 clubs).

I suppose money comes into it - that's fully understandable.
And money from the point of view of him, and us (to use any savings to recruit someone to strengthen/balance the team).

Maybe he's been assured that we are operating as a meritocracy and he thinks he can push Walker? BTW 'One Trick Mick' had a decent autumnal career with us at interchange.

We've been well served by Clarke so it's hardly like losing Sculthorpe and if we can retune and add a bit more quality elsewhere that's not a bad strategy.

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 5:55 pm  

Uncle Rico wrote:

Maybe he's been assured that we are operating as a meritocracy and he thinks he can push Walker? BTW 'One Trick Mick' had a decent autumnal career with us at interchange.

We've been well served by Clarke so it's hardly like losing Sculthorpe and if we can retune and add a bit more quality elsewhere that's not a bad strategy.

To this day, I'm still fuming about the mighty Rochdale stealing the best of our young talent in Danny, from our club.

Re: Brad Dwyer : Mon May 15, 2023 6:08 pm  

He is a decent option as a 2nd hooker... As people have said, you have to think about balancing the books.

Clark off the wage bill.. improved contract for Walker... 2nd tier wages for an experienced hooker who knows the club well.

The total parts of the hooker transfers/contracts, probably frees up considerable cap space that can be spent in other areas.

Feels like clever business from the club.