It's still raw, but it's time for me to start assessing Warrington's 2021 campaign, and it starts with the squad rankings.
The way this works is pretty simple: I rank every player who has appeared for the Wire in 2021 - all 28 of them - from worst to best. This is based partly on their average match rating, calculated by adding together all of their match ratings out of ten and dividing it by the total number of games they've played, and partly on how I think they've performed this season, and how significant their contribution has been. Let's get started...
28) RILEY DEAN
2019: 27th
2020: N/A
Average Rating: 6
Highest Rating: 6 (Leigh h)
Lowest Rating: 6 (Leigh h)
0 starts, 1 sub
Kicking off the countdown is young half-back Riley Dean, who made just the one appearance this season, taking the last spot on the bench in the win over Leigh when several players were away playing for England. He has spent the rest of the year on loan at York and with Blake Austin departing, I expect him to be the backup to George Williams and Gareth Widdop next season.
27) GREG INGLIS
Average Rating: 4.67
Highest Rating: 6 (Hull KR h)
Lowest Rating: 3 (Huddersfield h)
3 starts, 2 tries
Ah, this one didn't work out. It was always going to be a risk bringing in a player who hadn't played for two years, and despite scoring a couple of barge-over tries, he never looked fit enough in any of his three appearances. He played at full-back twice, a baffling decision from Steve Price to start someone short of fitness in the most physically demanding role on the pitch.
26) ELLIS ROBSON
2020: 8th
Average Rating: 5.5
Highest Rating: 6 (Leigh h)
Lowest Rating: 5 (Swinton a)
1 start, 1 sub
Given how well Robson did in the second half of last season, emerging from nowhere, it is surprising that the academy product has barely featured this time around. Just two appearances in the second row before being loaned out to Salford. Interested to see what his future holds next year.
25) ERIBE DORO
Average Rating: 6
Highest Rating: 7 (Leigh h)
Lowest Rating: 5 (Salford h)
1 start, 1 sub, 1 try
Young forward Eribe Doro has only appeared twice this season, from the bench in the Leigh game, and starting against Salford near the end of the year. The Englishman runs hard and went over for his first Wire try against Leigh, but also gave away a number of penalties.
24) ROB BUTLER
Average Rating: 6
Highest Rating: 8 (Leigh h)
Lowest Rating: 5 (Swinton a, Leeds h)
0 starts, 5 subs
New signing Butler has hardly appeared, though has gone pretty well on the odd occasion he's made the bench. My one concern is his size and whether he is big enough for a prop role, though he has gained some experience on loan at Leigh this season.
23) JACK HUGHES
2019: 12th
2020: 20th
Average Rating: 5.36
Highest Rating: 8 (St Helens a)
Lowest Rating: 0 (Hull KR h)
22 starts, 1 try
Jack Hughes' first season as sole captain of the club has not gone well for him. Despite staying free of injury for the first time in a few years (missing only three games, rested for two and suspended for one), he has not performed well, getting just a solitary try and no assists, making mistakes with the ball, often being anonymous and consistently slowing attacks down. Can't be in the second row next year, needs to be either at loose forward or interchange prop.
22) JOSH CHARNLEY
2019: 6th
2020: 16th
Average Rating: 5.91
Highest Rating: 8 (Wigan MW)
Lowest Rating: 2 (Castleford cup)
22 starts, 13 tries
For the first time, Charnley's place in the Wire team has come under serious question this year. Frankly, his defending has been atrocious for significant parts of the year, particularly in big games, including the Challenge Cup Semi-Final. 13 tries is a reasonable return, but considering Wire have been a free-scoring team this year, it's not exactly spectacular either. He hasn't done enough to earn a starting jersey next season in my mind.
21) JASON CLARK
2019: 15th
2020: 11th
Average Rating: 5.53
Highest Rating: 8 (Catalans a)
Lowest Rating: 1 (St Helens h)
5 starts, 12 subs
Jason Clark isn't a bad rugby league player by any stretch. He has good technique and rarely finds himself put on his backside. My main issue with Clark is that his contribution is minimal. He doesn't score tries, he doesn't set them up, he's not a metre-maker, he doesn't do big minutes. He's just average.
20) SITALEKI AKAUOLA
2019: 16th
2020: 24th
Average Rating: 5.19
Highest Rating: 8 (Wakefield h)
Lowest Rating: 0 (St Helens h)
3 starts, 13 subs
Another underwhelming season from Sitaleki Akauola, who just hasn't got it in him to do long enough stints to properly contribute. There's no doubt that he has the firepower to dominate, but it's in such short bursts that it never really has a true effect on the game.
19) BLAKE AUSTIN
2019: 2nd
2020: 13th
Average Rating: 6.16
Highest Rating: 8 (Leigh h, Wigan h, Leeds a)
Lowest Rating: 3 (Castleford n)
17 starts, 2 subs, 6 tries, 1 drop-goal
The 'magic man' hasn't been quite so magical in 2021. He made a very slow start to the year and ended up dropped after four matches, before coming back in and putting together a decent run of form in the middle of the season. The former Canberra man was out of the team as soon as the George Williams/Gareth Widdop partnership was formed, playing various roles (loose forward, bench, second row) but didn't even make the squad for the playoff game against Hull KR. A sorry end to a Wire career that started superbly two years ago.
18) MATTY ASHTON
2020: 4th
Average Rating: 5.5
Highest Rating: 9 (Castleford a)
Lowest Rating: 0 (Hull KR h)
5 starts, 4 subs, 5 tries
A disappointing season for Ashton after his breakout year in 2020, spending much of 2021 on the treatment table or just not picked. He certainly brings plenty in attack, as shown by his hat-trick against Castleford last week, but is also very vulnerable at full-back under the high ball. He hasn't taken the steps forward I would've liked this year.
17) CONNOR WRENCH
Average Rating: 6.67
Highest Rating: 8 (Wigan a)
Lowest Rating: 4 (Castleford n)
5 starts, 1 sub, 2 tries
Academy product Wrench has made six appearances at centre this season and has largely looked comfortable, bar a tough outing on the opening day of the season. Wigan away was a particular highlight, when he was very impressive. A useful backup for Toby King and Peter Mata'utia next season.
16) TOM LINEHAM
2019: 10th
2020: 7th
Average Rating: 5.33
Highest Rating: 8 (Salford a, Leigh h)
Lowest Rating: 0 (St Helens h)
15 starts, 4 tries
Lineham's last season at Warrington has been an interesting one. Not many tries, with the winger focusing more on yardage carries and metre-making this year. When he's played, I think he's done pretty well, but as ever with Lineham, the issue has been the number of games missed - five matches this year through suspension. He heads to Wakefield next year, with six seasons at Wire coming to a close after the Hull KR match.
15) ROBBIE MULHERN
Average Rating: 6.38
Highest Rating: 8 (Salford a, Castleford a)
Lowest Rating: 1 (Hull KR h)
2 starts, 19 subs
The only new signing for 2021 to start and complete the season at Warrington, Mulhern has enjoyed a respectable debut campaign. He has regularly made an impact from the bench, helping to rest Chris Hill and Mike Cooper, and has always worked hard and given it his all. He isn't really big or dominant enough to replicate the work of the two starting props, but he's reasonable nonetheless.
14) JOE PHILBIN
2019: 3rd
2020: 15th
Average Rating: 5.87
Highest Rating: 8 (St Helens a, Wigan a)
Lowest Rating: 1 (Hull KR h)
12 starts, 9 subs
This has been the year that Philbin has finally made the step up from being almost exclusively an interchange to being a starter more often than not. Philbin has primarily played at loose forward, but for me, his best work comes at prop from the bench. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get given the #8 shirt as Hill's direct replacement next year, as I certainly don't expect him to be the #13 again. Hasn't quite had the same impact as in recent years.
13) ELLIS LONGSTAFF
Average Rating: 6.67
Highest Rating: 9 (Leigh h)
Lowest Rating: 4 (Hull KR h)
1 start, 5 subs
It's been a year for break-out second rowers in Super League, with Kai Pearce-Paul at Wigan and Morgan Gannon at Leeds, while Ellis Longstaff has made a real impact in his six appearances for Wire. He tackles hard, takes on men that are bigger than him, and possesses a certain amount of quality with the ball in his hands. One to watch next year with Hughes unlikely to be in the second row, will he be the first backup for Ben Currie and the arriving Oliver Holmes?
12) JOSH THEWLIS
2019: 21st
2020: N/A
Average Rating: 5.95
Highest Rating: 9 (Catalans cup)
Lowest Rating: 1 (Hull KR h)
15 starts, 3 tries
A really positive season for 19-year-old Josh Thewlis, who has appeared 15 times in 25 matches, eleven times on the wing and four times at full-back. He has shown plenty of quality at taking the ball from his own line, he is defensively solid, he puts himself about and he works hard. I really like this kid (I think he's better on the wing than at full-back) and I hope he gets given the #2 or #5 shirt next year, because he's done enough to convince me that he's Lineham's long-term successor. The only thing he's short of is a bit of pace, but Ashton on the other wing would counter that.
11) MATT DAVIS
2019: 7th
2020: 17th
Average Rating: 6.16
Highest Rating: 8 (Catalans a, Leigh h, Wigan a)
Lowest Rating: 4 (Wakefield a, Salford h)
12 starts, 7 subs, 3 tries
The axe. I really like this player, he's hard-working, industrious, fast, nimble and makes good decisions. I wasn't quite sure why he wasn't involved in the first few games of the season because we're a better team when he's involved. He's another one that's a bit too small to be a prop but as a loose forward (from the start or the bench) he's a very respectable option and rarely puts in a poor performance.
10) DANNY WALKER
2019: 19th
2020: 14th
Average Rating: 6.59
Highest Rating: 9 (Salford a, Leigh h)
Lowest Rating: 5 (Hull FC a, Castleford cup, St Helens h)
7 starts, 10 subs, 6 tries
I think Walker is our most improved player this season. Long-term followers of the blog will recall that I haven't always rated Walker particularly highly, but I think he's taken huge strides this season, starting more regularly and becoming more of a dependable backup and rotation option for Daryl Clark. He is tackling better, running from dummy-half better, scoring more frequently, offering better support play too. He's made me think that if and when Clark eventually moves on, it won't be quite as much of a disaster as it would've been last season.
9) GEORGE WILLIAMS
Average Rating: 6.13
Highest Rating: 8 (St Helens h, Salford h)
Lowest Rating: 1 (Hull KR h)
8 starts, 3 tries, 3 drop-goals
The most exciting signing for Warrington in some time, Wire acquired George Williams following his release from Canberra mid-season. The former Wigan half-back and Man of Steel nominee marked his debut with a late drop-goal to win at Headingley, and also nailed a couple of drop-goals in a win over Salford, as well as grabbing three tries - one of which was against Wigan at Magic Weekend in Newcastle. He's been impressive most times he's played and I look forward to seeing what he can produce next year and beyond as he is a top-class half-back.
8) TOBY KING
2019: 9th
2020: 5th
Average Rating: 6.41
Highest Rating: 9 (Catalans cup, Salford a)
Lowest Rating: 0 (Hull KR h)
22 starts, 13 tries
At the halfway point of the season, King was a shoo-in to be in Wire's top three players. He was simply sensational at centre, getting tries and assists and contributing to our lethal left-edge attack. There was major relief among Wire fans when King, who had been heavily linked with a move to Hull KR or St Helens, and was out of contract at the end of 2021, signed a new long-term deal to keep him at the HJ. Since then though, he has gone pretty quiet - just two tries since the new contract. Has his motivation decreased since signing? Or has he just struggled to recover from being rushed back from the injury he sustained at St Helens in June?
7) STEFAN RATCHFORD
2019: 8th
2020: 2nd
Average Rating: 6.22
Highest Rating: 9 (Castleford h, St Helens a, Huddersfield a)
Lowest Rating: 0 (Hull KR h)
22 tries, 1 sub, 1 try, 68 goals
It's been largely another strong season at Warrington for Stefan Ratchford. The 33-year-old has his faults but is pretty consistent and has once again played a number of roles this season. As well as his primary role of full-back, he has covered in the halves, at centre, at hooker and been on the interchange bench too. Some of his performances this season have been outstanding, most notably Saints away where his defensive work was unbelievable, and Castleford at home, when he and Widdop had a field day. Unfortunately some of his worst have been in Wire's most important matches, none more so than the playoff exit to Hull KR. I still believe his future is at loose forward (though I don't trust Ashton at full-back either). Comparing his one try and eight assists to other full-backs, it's not great. Sam Tomkins 10 T and 20 A, Jake Connor 6 T and 22 A, Lachlan Coote 7 T and 16 A, Niall Evalds 6 T and 15 A.
6) JAKE MAMO
2019: 14th
2020: 10th
Average Rating: 6.57
Highest Rating: 9 (Wigan a)
Lowest Rating: 0 (Hull KR h)
23 starts, 17 tries
A man who has caused lots of discussion this year having been nothing more than a bit-part player for the last two seasons. Mamo told Steve Price in pre-season that he wanted to play at centre, and he has done just that, starting 22 of his 23 matches there (with one on the wing). He finished the season as Wire's top tryscorer with 17 and has proven himself to be a lethal weapon with his pace and ability to score long-range tries, often through interceptions. I've enjoyed watching him this year, but I am not bothered that Wire have let him go, despite his much-improved season. His defensive work leaves so much to be desired and I feel that Peter Mata'utia is a major upgrade.
5) DARYL CLARK
2019: 1st
2020: 3rd
Average Rating: 6.85
Highest Rating: 10 (Catalans cup)
Lowest Rating: 1 (Hull KR h)
17 starts, 2 subs, 6 tries
Another very strong season from Wire's very own livewire. Clark started 2021 in absolutely incredible form and was a serious Man of Steel contender at the halfway stage, but has been more quiet in the second half of the year, missing some games through injury too. The 2014 Man of Steel has been linked with a move to the NRL, with Brisbane, Manly and Gold Coast all rumoured to be interested. However, his downturn in form in the latter part of the year may have put paid to that. He's always a reliable performer and very rarely disappoints, but hasn't quite had the consistency of excellence he has shown in the last few years.
4) CHRIS HILL
2019: 11th
2020: 12th
Average Rating: 7.08
Highest Rating: 9 (Leigh h, Catalans cup, St Helens a, Wigan a, Wigan MW)
Lowest Rating: 0 (Hull KR h)
24 starts, 2 tries
2021 has been Chris Hill's last season at Wire, and his best since 2016. The prop has only missed one game all season and has consistently turned in excellent front-row performances, helping Wire win the forwards battle in so many games during his testimonial year. He has also shown a good pair of hands from time to time, picking up three assists this season. His metre-making has dramatically improved, the former captain of the club has broken the line on numerous occasions through the year. It's a shame that his last appearance was one of his worst ever, as he's been a tremendous servant to the club for the last ten years, and I wish him all the best at Huddersfield after a very good final season with the Wire.
3) MIKE COOPER
2019: 5th
2020: 1st
Average Rating: 7.32
Highest Rating: 9 (Catalans cup, St Helens a, Wigan a, Leeds a, Wigan MW)
Lowest Rating: 4 (Castleford n)
19 starts, 2 tries
Arguably Wire's most consistent performer for a few years now, Mike Cooper has enjoyed another very solid campaign. He is a top-class prop, one of the very best in the competition and week after week carries the forward pack, regularly doing 60+ minutes. So many times this season Wire have won the forwards battle because of the work of Hill and Cooper, and it is telling that in Wire's two most recent defeats, to St Helens and Hull KR, Cooper was absent for both. He'll once again be required to be the team's main prop next season, a task that will get harder as he gets older.
2) BEN CURRIE
2019: 13th
2020: 6th
Average Rating: 7.23
Highest Rating: 9 (St Helens a, Salford h)
Lowest Rating: 2 (Hull KR h)
24 starts, 10 tries
This has been Currie's best season since 2016. He finally looks back to his best after his two long-term injuries in 2017 and 2018, and has been a key component in the Wire attack this season, with ten tries and seven assists. Defensively he has been as sound as ever too, Wire's top tackler for the season. Currie has missed just one match all season, Leigh at home when he was representing England. Compare Currie's record of 10 tries and 7 assists to our other second rower Hughes, who has 1 try and 0 assists. He's scored some big tries too, none more so than the only try scored in the win away at Saints, a game in which he and the entire left edge, of which he is a crucial cog, were terrific.
1) GARETH WIDDOP
2020: 9th
Average Rating: 7.37
Highest Rating: 10 (Salford a)
Lowest Rating: 1 (Hull KR h)
20 starts, 10 tries, 31 goals
Undoubtedly Warrington's player of the year for me is Gareth Widdop. He's been nominated for Man of Steel and deservedly so. With ten tries and ten assists, he contributes to a try or assist every game, and does so much more in terms of putting players through gaps and creating good attacking situations on the left. Some of his tries have been beauties too, his support play and ability to arrive at the right moment to finish off a breakaway has been lethal. What I really like about Widdop is how much he contributes to the dirty side of the game, he works much harder defensively than most half-backs I've seen at Wire. If I have one criticism, it would be that his kicks near the line haven't been particularly potent, and he has been less influential after his injury, though I think the arrival of Williams has seen Widdop adopt a more organisational role in the halves.
Stick with the blog for more post-season content coming up.
@ALooseWire
We're losing 2 of the top 6.
ReplyDeleteHill is a big loss and it'll be interesting to see if the likes of Bullock et al will be adequate replacements. Coops would have been my no.2 with Hill 3 and Currie 4. But Josh Thewlis would have been much higher than 12, as would Longstaff if he'd played a bigger part of the season. A poor year for Charnley. Let's hope a new coach can get him back to top form.