Doesn’t even need to be SL imho. A fringe player or an ambitious young championship player would do fine for me. So long as the attitude is right and they are robust, that would be fine. Bit like a Rodwell, but a U.K. version, won’t be as good but still decent. Saw a few tough lads last year who’d do ok without ever being first choice.
The likes of Walmsley for Saints, Harrison for Wire, Batchelor for Saints and even Keegan Hirst for us shows there may be some in there who could thrive in full time training.
Maybe there’s someone there. I’m surprised that we haven’t picked a project from the championship up.
The likes of Walmsley for Saints, Harrison for Wire, Batchelor for Saints and even Keegan Hirst for us shows there may be some in there who could thrive in full time training.
Maybe there’s someone there. I’m surprised that we haven’t picked a project from the championship up.
Off the top of my head I can't think of one forward that played against us last season that would be worth a punt. Doro at Bradford looked decent but he's at Hull KR now.
Off the top of my head I can't think of one forward that played against us last season that would be worth a punt. Doro at Bradford looked decent but he's at Hull KR now.
I thought Doro was poor. He ran hard but made zero post contact metres and got folded in the tackle. He won’t be SL ready for a couple years but I don’t rate him despite the media hype.
Surprisingly, there was a forward who played us a few times for different teams out on loan. Had a good pair of hands too. Think it was Sammy Kibula.
I take your point, but I can’t remember Wigan rotating through many props. Byrne, Thompson, Havard, Dupree, Hill, and Cooper for a handful of games before he got injured. They have Eseh, Makin, and Chan too but I can’t remember any of them playing for Wigan last year.
As Trojan often says, we should only sign players who would improve our squad. We’ve got Atoni, McMeeken, Rodwell, Uele, Vagana, Bain, Shaw. Now Chris Hill would certainly improve our squad for a year - his play the ball speed and wrestle is still up there with the best - but that would probably prevent Bain and Shaw getting game time. Singleton? I honestly don’t think he’s as good a player as our first five options. Runs and tackles hard but makes some poor decisions both sides of the ball.
What is propping? Hate (love) to bring it up again, but as I see it in the modern game there’s no difference between a prop and a loose forward. I understand that 30 years ago a loose was a dynamic, hardworking, ball handling forward. And 10 years ago a loose became a prop but with good hands who organised other forwards. But now (with a few exceptions like Oledzski and Walmsley) 8,10 and 13 have the same skillset. No SL team should have a prop who can’t set up a play or tip the ball out the back accurately. If Cozza, Bain, or Pitts plays prop, and Rodwell or McMeeken plays 13, you wouldn’t notice apart from at kickoffs. Here for the debate!
I guess out Champ pickup project is Jayden Myers. I didn’t see any standout props last year. I saw some really good hardworking Championship props (Roman Dixon for Dewsbury - signed for Fax, Lambert Belmas at Toulouse, Titus Gwaze at Sheffield) but they all have their limits
I take your point, but I can’t remember Wigan rotating through many props. Byrne, Thompson, Havard, Dupree, Hill, and Cooper for a handful of games before he got injured. They have Eseh, Makin, and Chan too but I can’t remember any of them playing for Wigan last year.
As Trojan often says, we should only sign players who would improve our squad. We’ve got Atoni, McMeeken, Rodwell, Uele, Vagana, Bain, Shaw. Now Chris Hill would certainly improve our squad for a year - his play the ball speed and wrestle is still up there with the best - but that would probably prevent Bain and Shaw getting game time. Singleton? I honestly don’t think he’s as good a player as our first five options. Runs and tackles hard but makes some poor decisions both sides of the ball.
What is propping? Hate (love) to bring it up again, but as I see it in the modern game there’s no difference between a prop and a loose forward. I understand that 30 years ago a loose was a dynamic, hardworking, ball handling forward. And 10 years ago a loose became a prop but with good hands who organised other forwards. But now (with a few exceptions like Oledzski and Walmsley) 8,10 and 13 have the same skillset. No SL team should have a prop who can’t set up a play or tip the ball out the back accurately. If Cozza, Bain, or Pitts plays prop, and Rodwell or McMeeken plays 13, you wouldn’t notice apart from at kickoffs. Here for the debate!
You forgot Mago, Ellis and Walters too. In a salary capped sport to have 11 players who can play prop in your squad was seen as very unusual.
Byrne, Dupree and Mago were dropped for significant periods and Cooper injured for most of the season.
I think teams carry props that are more middles these days but there are still out and out props out there and most teams carry at least 1 or 2.
Uele and Atoni are Props, not middles. Fafita was a prop,
Singleton and Hill are props not middles.
I’d say a middle is capable of bigger minutes but lacks the impact of a prop. They are also usually more mobile.
Ball playing and more importantly decision making is also key certainly the latter which tends to be the difference between a prop and a middle along with a minimum of 60 mins consistently week in week out.
Beyond 2025 I hope that Rodwell takes the 13 shirt as I think that is his best position, but for that to happen we would need to recruit props/middles in the next off season.
Last edited by jonh on Sun Jan 12, 2025 10:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I thought Doro was poor. He ran hard but made zero post contact metres and got folded in the tackle. He won’t be SL ready for a couple years but I don’t rate him despite the media hype.
Surprisingly, there was a forward who played us a few times for different teams out on loan. Had a good pair of hands too. Think it was Sammy Kibula.
I didn't think Kibula was anything special, even in the Championship. Struggled to get games in a poor Cas side.
Spot on with Mago, that was an oversight. Might be wrong but don’t think Walters lined up at prop (he was open about not wanting to do that like he did at Leeds).
All good points, but why couldn’t Uele or Atoni be middles, apart from the fact they rarely stand at first receiver?
I didn't think Kibula was anything special, even in the Championship. Struggled to get games in a poor Cas side.
He’s woeful!
Big body and capable of some eye catching plays but lazy and heart the size of a pea, his lack of athleticism particularly his movement laterally makes him very easy to read in attack and a massive target in defence.
He was the big lad that dominated games in the Academy because he was physically superior but once he stepped up he looked totally lost and anonymous.
Oh do give it a rest for once. You know exactly what I meant so stop the agent provocateur stuff, I wouldn’t mind if you were any good at it. He comes as back up FACT and he will have to accept that to start with FACT. If he goes onto prove himself worthy and becomes first choice that’s fantastic, I’d love that. What he can’t do is swagger in and think he’s number one based on past achievements and then sulk when he isn’t first on the list. You earn your change or are you claiming otherwise?"
Well that didn't take long. True colours always shine through i guess.
But I think you'll find it isn't a fact its your opinion about something that hasn't even happened.
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