Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 3:11 pm  

Our 'prop problem' highlighted as clear as day in the Saints game today. Power, post contact metres and big minutes from Walmsley and Paasi - throw in Lees and Amor and our front row looks vastly inferior in comparison.

We've gone with a smaller, more durable pack for a number of years and had some success with it but what do you do when you come up against a pack that is big and also durable?

On a side note, a full strength Leeds would have won the game today - Saints very sloppy.

Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 3:18 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Our 'prop problem' highlighted as clear as day in the Saints game today. Power, post contact metres and big minutes from Walmsley and Paasi - throw in Lees and Amor and our front row looks vastly inferior in comparison.

We've gone with a smaller, more durable pack for a number of years and had some success with it but what do you do when you come up against a pack that is big and also durable?

On a side note, a full strength Leeds would have won the game today - Saints very sloppy.

Yeah, a lot of people were convinced that set restarts would completely change the game and make "big men" worthless. Still hasn't happened.

Walmsley is the most dominant player in the league and bigger than any of our players. I dread to think what him, Watts or even Oledski would do to our props in their current form

Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 3:28 pm  

If any team decides to do what Leeds had to do today and pack their team with forwards, I’d be very worried about what we have to throw back at them.

Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:09 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Yeah, a lot of people were convinced that set restarts would completely change the game and make "big men" worthless. Still hasn't happened.

Walmsley is the most dominant player in the league and bigger than any of our players. I dread to think what him, Watts or even Oledski would do to our props in their current form

TBF Walmsley is as big as he is fit. Much like Luke Thompson who seems to have taken to the NRL like a duck to water his fitness, agility and strength is something else. Ironically rather than be hampered by the set restart rule, he thrives on it.

Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:12 pm  

I honestly don’t see how this problem hasn’t been addressed in the off season. No one could argue with Field at the time but in hindsight signing him over a forward (or 2) was a mistake. It sounds like I’m repeating a broken record and in truth I probably am, but if we had forwards half as dominant as Walmsley, Watts, even Cooper we’d be a far, far better side and probably wouldn’t have to wait until 30/40mins to start getting a foothold in games

Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:24 pm  

Speaking of big men, I thought Dudson had a good 1st half Vs wakey. Did about 25 mins and made plenty of post contact metres (something we struggled with last week).

We're at the point that almost any experienced, big guy would probably be our best prop. Sad really.

Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:42 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Speaking of big men, I thought Dudson had a good 1st half Vs wakey. Did about 25 mins and made plenty of post contact metres (something we struggled with last week).

We're at the point that almost any experienced, big guy would probably be our best prop. Sad really.

He did yeah but he certainly isn’t the answer. He’s a poor mans Terry O’Connor.

If we’re going to sign a prop he has to be the right prop. We can’t just sign one for the sake of it to get size in or we’ll end up with props like Pettybourne or FPN again.

Re: The Prop Problem : Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:48 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

He did yeah but he certainly isn’t the answer. He’s a poor mans Terry O’Connor.

If we’re going to sign a prop he has to be the right prop. We can’t just sign one for the sake of it to get size in or we’ll end up with props like Pettybourne or FPN again.

Oh I don't think he's the answer, it was more just a comparison that a player many (right or wrongly) don't rate on here is playing against a side we played last week and it looks night and day with how easy he's making yards.

More of a statement about how bad our props are, compared to Dudson being good etc.

Re: The Prop Problem : Sun Apr 11, 2021 9:26 am  

In the 25-30 years or so I've been loitering on Wigan forums I can't remember a time when people weren't crying out for us to sign a "big man" up front, even when we've been winning trophies and getting to finals. The answer to our woes has always been a big lump. You would think the likes of Clubb and Bullock are more the size of French than almost exactly the same size as Walmsley the way some people carry on.

Re: The Prop Problem : Sun Apr 11, 2021 12:05 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

He did yeah but he certainly isn’t the answer. He’s a poor mans Terry O’Connor.

If we’re going to sign a prop he has to be the right prop. We can’t just sign one for the sake of it to get size in or we’ll end up with props like Pettybourne or FPN again.

were crying out for one