Does Kibula have a contract for next year? I thought the talk was that he didn’t. I’d like to see him stay for sure but if he’s going to make it or not then who knows. I don’t think the fact he couldn’t play 80 mins would count against him playing at 13. We’ve played Lockers, Smithies, Clubb and Partington in that position this year and none have been expected to do 80 mins.
I dont understand why people seem to think Kibula will make it at wigan,dont get me wrong when I've seen him you do think he's the ideal RL player but he just misses that X factor that will take him onwards, the time he was on TV when he was at dewsbury he looked absolutely out of his depth when playing Toronto,but I agree its unfair to judge him on that one appearance,id assume its the same at Swinton,how many have actually seen him play over there and not just relying on paper reports?
I hope that I'm wrong but I just dont think he has that for want of a better phrase "x factor" as I said, but I hope to be proven wrong in time and nothing will make me happier.
Brian has watched Kibula play for U19s and bases his views on that. I've never seen him play live but just on Wigan tv. He probably can't play 80 mins but to write someone off at 19 should not happen when we've the reserves next year. With him winning the Swinton MOM I think 3 games in a row suggests he's improving. Play him in the reserves next year and see how he goes from there.
It was interesting to read Lenagans comments yesterday that they’ve had to be more ruthless on the young lads recently and release ones they think won’t make it and probably knew wouldn’t make it a while back. I sense he’s meaning more along the lines of Forsyth, Ganson, Paisley etc than somebody like Kibula but it sounds like they’re shifting policy to a degree.
Brian has watched Kibula play for U19s and bases his views on that. I've never seen him play live but just on Wigan tv. He probably can't play 80 mins but to write someone off at 19 should not happen when we've the reserves next year. With him winning the Swinton MOM I think 3 games in a row suggests he's improving. Play him in the reserves next year and see how he goes from there.
As ever though it’s just one persons opinion,I’d never base opinion on any player unless I’d clapped eyes on them be it on tv or in the flesh,I too watched most of his academy games and I always thought someone of his size he should have rampaged through most sides but he didn’t do that,now this is not saying it won’t come I genuinely hope it does but I remember the acadmay final against Cas a couple of years back and I was sat by a couple of Cas fans who said pretty much the same.
I don’t think I’ve written him off but it may be that he needs a few years to mature and get that aggression in him,he’s a grand lad and I hope he does come through be it at Wigan or elsewhere because he simply isn’t ready for the first team just yet and it seems Lam thinks the same,given the debuts he’s handed out this season.
Current thoughts - Mago out or get running up them plantations, get fit or get rid. Maybe a back up halfback, someone with a bit of experience on a short term deal. Big tall strong running second rower, like a McMeekin or Sironen type back rower.
I’ve always thought you don’t have to be ‘Aggresive’ to make it, but if you have discipline, technique, application, desire, competitiveness, selflessness, bravery etc it’s better than just plain aggression. See Sean O’Loughlin as an example. I’ve always thought that plain aggression makes you slower, does t think clearly, your technique goes out of the window and you get tired quicker. When you see a boxer enter the ring they are relaxed, they spend the day of the fight relaxing rather than trying to get aggressive otherwise they’d be blowing after 1 round.
For me, I’d put competitiveness over aggression any day.
Talking of aggression and competitiveness, I think that’s what Byrne and particularly Partington and Smithies have that has helped them transition into the first team smoothly.
I’ve always thought you don’t have to be ‘Aggresive’ to make it, but if you have discipline, technique, application, desire, competitiveness, selflessness, bravery etc it’s better than just plain aggression. See Sean O’Loughlin as an example. I’ve always thought that plain aggression makes you slower, does t think clearly, your technique goes out of the window and you get tired quicker. When you see a boxer enter the ring they are relaxed, they spend the day of the fight relaxing rather than trying to get aggressive otherwise they’d be blowing after 1 round.
For me, I’d put competitiveness over aggression any day.
He had a pea heart.
I've always said that Karl Pryce was to professional Rugby League what Audley Harrison was to professional Boxing.
