Interesting.

Any hints to who it could be then

. Like what division there coming from

What about Jon Clarke from Wire, just come back from injury, better then him playing in the academy.

Is young Hulme a scrum half by trade?



This loss wouldn't be noted as badly if Smithy was fit to play, we miss him alot in my opinion. Many scrum halves knocking around at the moment? McNally has just been loaned to Oldham from Huddersfield, maybe an option? Sure Hudds would rather him play Championship rugby than Champ 1 (although I've never really rated him, he knows this league.)

Hulme is a SH. It all depends on how serious our title aspirations are this year. We could blood Hulme in now, perhaps forming a half-back pairing which we could even take to SL with us, or go and sign a replacement for Webster who can fire us to the GF.

It will be okay by the end of the week people.

Hope so mate!



A title this year as unlikely as it seems now, would be the perfect signal of intent come franchaise time.

Not a chance this year. You'll be lucky to get a top four placing and then some. It's not important any way is it? I think Leigh & Fev are the stand out teams so far and i think they've enough to keep their positions. Fax & Barrow will make 3 and 4. I've a sneaky feeling Toulouse will pip Widnes for fifth. So, you could be given the SL place whilst sitting in sixth spot (albeit in January 2011). Marvellous.

We'll be okay, of course having all these shake ups isnt great but we have a club that never says die and will always attract quality players. Fev and Leigh are having a great season thus far but we all know the business is done towards the end of the season.



At the end of this month the outlook will be a completey different one to now in terms of goals.



And of course it's important to finish as high as you can, Widnes cannot afford to put this season on the back burner because of a ticked box. The fans wont stand for that and neither does Steve O'connor.



Your own club had a great start to the season last year and then the wheels come off.

Didn't someone mention Rinaldi a week or two ago?

I did say unlikely, but not impossible, we're not that far behind and while yes Fev are the stand out team this year when they pipped us 8-9, they scored 2 tries off our knock ons and didn't go through us once, whilst we scored 2 well worked tries outwide with good vision and handling. Our entire first choice front row has missed most of the season (Picks, Smithy and Haggy) who would make a major impact in my opinion, add the likes of Allen, Gaskell etc. who are now starting to come back, we'll certainly improve.

I can't lie and say that I'm not disappointed with Webster leaving...

I was expecting the little red headed menace that we saw destroying us everytime we played KR in 2006 but we didn't get that.

He was still a decent organiser and a mature head on the pitch and was missed when he wasn't in the side.

However in recent weeks we have seen how important it is to have a SH that is willing to take the game by the scruff of the neck with Kain, Wynn and Paul all causing us problems.

I think this move probably benefits the player who wanted a move closer to home, and the club who were willing to let Webster go and free up a sizable piece of the salary cap. Going now though is not ideal unless we have someone lined up. That could very well be the case.



We could blood Hulme, and I'd agree with giving him some game time but we can't burden him with the pressure of being our sole specialized SH. In answer to Rich, we have seen what happens when we have done the same with Coyle and S. Myler throwing them in at the deep end. They struggle with the expectation. I'd say both players did not enjoy the pressure that comes with playing in that position so young. In time they can flourish but they need to be protected to an extent.



It is important that we bring in someone established.. Widnes have tried to get through a season without a recognised SH before and it was a complete nightmare.

At this moment in time I would gratefully accept someone like Wynn or Black but both of those players would obviously be completely unavailable. I wait the announcement of the replacement with some anxiety if the truth be told.