Re: Jake Bibby : Mon Oct 14, 2019 8:55 pm  

He's certainly looked OK in the last few play-off games, but really, I think backs are the least of our concerns; I think we have enough decent options. But we badly need another half and at least one more good forward.

Re: Jake Bibby : Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:17 pm  

I'd say he's got a good understanding of centre play and is technically good. But he's not a bums on seats type of player, he's not a big centre who'll smash the opposition, he's also not particularly quick, so you're not going to get must 'razzle dazzle' eye catching runs from him.

I hold promise for him; I think he could well become a 'wingers centre' for those who know the game will know exactly what I mean.

Re: Jake Bibby : Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:46 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

I'd say he's got a good understanding of centre play and is technically good. But he's not a bums on seats type of player, he's not a big centre who'll smash the opposition, he's also not particularly quick, so you're not going to get must 'razzle dazzle' eye catching runs from him.

I hold promise for him; I think he could well become a 'wingers centre' for those who know the game will know exactly what I mean.

Spot on, best “wingers centre” I’ve seen at Wigan has to be Darrell Goulding, he wasn’t the quickest biggest or flashiest but boy he knew when to put his winger away, that partnership with Charnley was incredible at times

Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 1:39 am  

KingRoss11 wrote:

best “wingers centre” I’ve seen at Wigan has to be Darrell Goulding

You are joking right?

Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:32 am  

Does anyone remember Henry Fa'afili? Played for Wire, was the top SL try scorer in around 2007, then left for union. Point being Henry wasn't the best winger SL has ever seen but he had one Martin Gleeson as his centre. That season Gleeson was fantastic, a true 'wingers centre' who knew how to draw in his opposite centre and also often commit the winger freeing up space for his wingman.
His passing and timing was a dream for a winger.

Gleeson was a master at this, I'd say the best I've seen at Wigan as a wingers centre was Gene Miles. Offiah credits Miles as the best centre he's played with. Created space for Offiah, his timing, passing and offload was the perfect foil for Offiah to be set free.
Honourable mention to George Carmont, a classy operator who also knew the details of centre play.

Ironically I do like Sarge. But I feel he's never been a wingers centre, I've never seem him fully learn the position properly, how to draw in his opposite numbers, create space and play for his winger, I would have loved for Sarge to spend time with the likes of Gleeson or Carmont to develop his centre play.

Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:39 am  

KingRoss11 wrote:

I’d like to see Hardaker and Gildart in the centres and Bibby as backup with French at fullback but doubt it’ll happen

It’s probably the way I’d start as well. The first change I would make is French to fullback and then the rest take care of themselves and fight it out over the 2-5 shirts. I’ve been reasonably impressed with Hardaker this season but we need more pace out the back IMO. Hardaker got three awards at the clubs end of season do last night and he deserves them but I think it says a lot about how the team has gone that his pretty good year has been enough to walk away with those.

Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:43 am  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

Does anyone remember Henry Fa'afili? Played for Wire, was the top SL try scorer in around 2007, then left for union. Point being Henry wasn't the best winger SL has ever seen but he had one Martin Gleeson as his centre. That season Gleeson was fantastic, a true 'wingers centre' who knew how to draw in his opposite centre and also often commit the winger freeing up space for his wingman.
His passing and timing was a dream for a winger.

Gleeson was a master at this, I'd say the best I've seen at Wigan as a wingers centre was Gene Miles. Offiah credits Miles as the best centre he's played with. Created space for Offiah, his timing, passing and offload was the perfect foil for Offiah to be set free.
Honourable mention to George Carmont, a classy operator who also knew the details of centre play.

Ironically I do like Sarge. But I feel he's never been a wingers centre, I've never seem him fully learn the position properly, how to draw in his opposite numbers, create space and play for his winger, I would have loved for Sarge to spend time with the likes of Gleeson or Carmont to develop his centre play.

I still have a game on VHS somewhere of Offiah being interviewed after a game, it was when Connolly was playing inside him, he said Connolly was every bit as good. It's easy to forget how good a young Connolly was, most memories come from him with knackered knees and lacking a few yards of pace.

Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:46 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

It’s probably the way I’d start as well. The first change I would make is French to fullback and then the rest take care of themselves and fight it out over the 2-5 shirts. I’ve been reasonably impressed with Hardaker this season but we need more pace out the back IMO. Hardaker got three awards at the clubs end of season do last night and he deserves them but I think it says a lot about how the team has gone that his pretty good year has been enough to walk away with those.

For me it really does depend on how we play, with the missing ingredient being Jackson Hastings. Jackson isn't structured at Salford, he may start off the left and defend on the left but he's one of the few halves who's allowed to move around the park and create on both flanks and either side of the ruck. Zak could very well benefit from this style of play.

However if we're going to with a left and right pivot I'd go with French at 1, as a second pivot linking out the back door.

I say try them both at 1, see what works best.

Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:49 am  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

For me it really does depend on how we play, with the missing ingredient being Jackson Hastings. Jackson isn't structured at Salford, he may start off the left and defend on the left but he's one of the few halves who's allowed to move around the park and create on both flanks and either side of the ruck. Zak could very well benefit from this style of play.

However if we're going to with a left and right pivot I'd go with French at 1, as a second pivot linking out the back door.

I say try them both at 1, see what works best.

Hardaker could have a field day working off the back of Hastings, as Evalds has done at Salford but I just worry he’s not got the pace to make the most of those chances anymore. There’s 25 try’s waiting for a fullback who’s got the pace and fitness to take them playing with Hastings. Maybe a big pre season for Hardaker will do the trick. It’s great problems to have mind. To have two players like Hardaker and French in the squad can only be a good thing.

Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:50 am  

ChrisA wrote:

I still have a game on VHS somewhere of Offiah being interviewed after a game, it was when Connolly was playing inside him, he said Connolly was every bit as good. It's easy to forget how good a young Connolly was, most memories come from him with knackered knees and lacking a few yards of pace.

Loved Connolly. From a young 17 year old FB at saints destroyed in the 1989 CC by Wigan in a 0-27 to one of the best centres (and FBs) we've had at Wigan in the past 30 years.

I rate the likes of Gilly, but my god he's some way off some of the centres we've seen at the club from the links of, Gleeson, Carmont, Miles, Connolly, Bell etc. I guess he's still only young and will develop and improve.