Interesting, Thackeray has been pretty poor this year tbf and doesnt have the vision or hands for a real good 6. The rest im not fussed at all.



Mellor at 7 and I'anson at 6.





This year will be now be even worse with these announcements.





BTW Mellor is a cracking player.

Hasn't Thackery been playing at Full Back though? Not suprised he hasn't been playing well if thats the case?

A Betts masterstroke!!! He has played there but he hasn't been playing there if that makes sense.

I feel for Thackeray,he must be gutted.I thought he deserved a chance to show what he can do with a decent pack and scrum half alongside him.Let's hope some more tough decisions are made soon.

Sort of





I'll be honest, I thought Thackeray would have been one of the first players to sign up for Super League.

Thackeray has carried for us for a while now. Even when we had Webster, Thacks was still the main playmaker. With full time training he would of went well for us. He deserved at least 1 year



The rest im not fussed about. Netherton and Gerrard are too slow for even this league.

He did deserve at least one year,even if only as a back up,second choice half back.No doubt the wise men behind the scenes will have a replacement lined up.Paul Cooke or Graham Holroyd probably.

Netherton was championed by Cullen and now he's been told he isnt wanted for 2012.





Please explain that one Cull and the reasoning behind letting smithy go!







Thats what im most furious about.

Kirk Netherton is one of the poorest players I've seen play for Widnes.

Yes, he would go well as a sumo wrestler IMO.

Very poor decision to make, especially at a hard time in the season. Will this affect the way they play? After losses to batley leigh and Hunslet that's all we need, an announcement like this to throw a spanner in the works. Like VM said, the reasoning behind the Netherton one is confusing, replacing him for Smithy then letting him go?



Got to feel sorry for Thacks. He's just turned 25, not exactly passed it. With full time training i really think he would make a very valuable squad player at least. Definately not our worst player this year and there would be at least 5/6 players i'd show the door to before Thacks.



All this after the "Join VIQI to save Thackeray"



Shit news.

I feel for him because he has been an interesting player to watch. Started off slow then burst to life in 'that' semi Vs Fax and went on to play some great off the cuff stuff for us until this year.



We cant carry a halfback though because every once in a while he chips in with a bit of brilliance. All too often he is stifled at this level by the better sides who pick his plays off easily, Leigh in particular.



Not sure a halfback who has no kicking game, nor was ever the most creative with a show and go and inside ball as his main plays was ever going to be ideal to step up to SL, full time or not.



He seems a nice guy so good luck to him.