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Has he ‘kicked on’ or is he the same player getting used to playing a different game plan?

My big worry is how we still suffer from the O'loughlin bounce. When he comes on we look more solid and when he goes off we become more disorganised. It is not right to expect Smithies to be that on field leader so another senior player needs to step up.

Yet we still won without him last night.

I’m not saying he is not important to us but I do sense his time has come judging from this season.

One more season sharing the 13 shirt with Smithies would be ideal, then Smithies will be ready to take the 13 shirt from him on a full time basis. Things aren’t always ideal though and I fear the Burgess outlay may be a sign that Lockers has already decided to call it a day.

I’ve always tbought Smithies would make a better second rower hitting the lines, he’s very much the same mould of Bateman, it’d be worth giving someone like Kibula a chance at 13 imo, would add power and has the best hands of a forward I’ve seen at Wigan for a few years

Sadly though Kibula can't do it for eighty minutes, I'll be surprised if he's here in two years.

I don’t know many 19 stone props who can play 80 minutes, Burgess Clubb can’t but they’ll be picked

But you want Kibula to be picked at #13.

I’m not saying throw him in but your point of he can’t play 80 minutes is pretty pointless when none of our props can

To be fair, Lockers can't do it for 80 mins either. What makes you think he won't be here in 2 years Brian? I thought he was making good progress over at Swinton?