There is a situation with KB that exists with his ability to take a head injury, he has intimated that he can't take many more! It is imperative that the club have a "plan b", giving air time to less experienced players like Patton and Livett is essential to our new found form continuing.

That is sad news for Brown. Isn't the question though not that Brown will require replacement but who should replace him. Just because Patton is kicking around the fringes of the first team doesnt mean he is the ready made replacement. I thought we were a club that "scoured the Earth" for talent. Not just the changing room.

I would like to think that between KB and the club they'll know when he's done. He announced his international retirement early enough for me to trust all parties know how much longer he'll be here, be it for the remainder of the season, or next.

Briers probably caught us out a little with his retirement, as did Sandow (obvs for very different reasons), which left us both times with a young halfback who wasn't quite ready to fill those boots.

I'd like to think that we've learned from that, and we have a proper succession plan in place - be it making sure Patton is ready, or sounding out other players behind the scenes.

Patton was playing well in 2016. No one played well in 2017. Not many played well at the beginning of 2018. I'm not writing him off yet.

Patton may still have been in the picture but for himself.
He needs to stake a claim by working harder than ever.
He's very unlikely going to get a bench spot. His error allowed Price to see that if we lose a hb, Ratchford will move up.
I'm happy with 4 forwards on the bench while Currie and Ratchford are in the 13.

Can we stop this nonsense that he somehow might come good given time, he's simply not good enough for the higher echelons of SL.....or SL at all. Who in SL would currently want him in their halves? HKR at a push but i'm sure their fans wouldn't be too chuffed if he were to sign for them. Time/coaching isn't going to give him the extra yard of pace he needs in his legs and his head. Livett and Morgan Smith have potential, Patton doesn't IMO.

I'm inclined to agree with you in some respects - presently Patton isn't good enough for a team with top 4 aspirations.

However, he's spent his entire "senior" career playing under TS, and was thrown into the deep end for his first proper full season, into our failing 2017 team, playing for a coach who'd clearly lost the love of the game, at the age of 21.

I believe being coached in this new setup and structure will at least give him the best possible chance of becoming that top 4 SL HB. He might, he might not, but time is definitely something I'm willing to give him.

Anyone who believes someone cannot better or improve themself must live a very boring life.
Of course he can improve if he works hard.

I agree with the sentiment, but do you really believe that every player has the capability to become a top SL player if they work hard? This is what we are talking about here.

Are you prepared for Warrington's fortunes to rest on whether he becomes a top 4 SL HB?

ie) if you were recruiting for 2019-2021 do you stop looking elsewhere and put your hopes on Patton making it?