Just read we’ve sold out the coach travel. Really good to hear. Hopefully should be a good contest

I’m really enjoying the early appreciation and numbers turning up to games this year and I think generally the on field product has raised a level in 23.

Long may it continue.

I very much doubt we will be as lucky as Saints were on Sunday with regards to Cas bombing chances and clean breaks....

We need to be totally switched on or we’ll get burned like at HKR. All about attitude and desire games like these. We have enough points in us to win most games as long as we want to do the graft and don’t try and score off every set.

Team selection will be very interesting.

Isa needs to play his intensity in defence really stood out against wakey.

It's away games like these that will determine where we go this year. All away games naturally look uncertain for us as there was a big gap between our home performances/results and the away ones in the 2nd half of last year. Obviously we failed the first test in 2023.

If we bring defensive intensity and cut out the errors we'll have a good chance of winning but even if we don't get the result we can't afford another performance like Hull KR. That will essentially be a sign for me that we're looking at somewhere between 3-6 this year rather than top 2.

The only considerations for line up changes are Byrne and KPP. Isa probably brought more to the table against Wakefield so in theory deserves to play - Peet may gamble that Kai will respond to being dropped. Not sure there's a big case for Byrne to come back in atm - I believe he had/has a minor injury anyway.

Can’t disagree with this.
If no injuries then the same 17 for me.

Matt Peet has confirmed one change to his 21-man squad for the fixture, as Junior Nsemba comes into the squad in place of Joe Shorrocks who has joined Leigh Leopards on a two-week loan deal. Nsemba comes into the squad after being recalled from his loan spell at Betfred Championship outfit Whitehaven



They’ve dropped that Broadbent who was fairly decent against Saints. Westerman in back though

Out of interest how is Nsemba defensively? I don’t remember how he faired in the Pre Season games

Mamo dropped as well, extra passing practice for him all week

Bar the passing I thought Mamo was their best player.

Yep, gave Ritson nightmares (early days for him though) but his end product was shocking for someone of his experience

I think Mamo is injured from what I read. He had a back spasm during the game and hasn’t recovered sufficiently.

I looked at the Cas squad earlier and they always worry me. They just seem to always be full of big, experienced forwards and backs who can cause you issues on their day. That squad won’t win them anything but it’s one which will just click on occasion and it always feel like their forwards experience is a challenge for some of ours that lack a bit of that.

No need to change a winning team.

Was KPP the reason we lost at Hull KR? (despite scoring a try)

Any single player is NEVER the total reason why a team loses
However
KPP needs to bring more intensity/line speed/attitude & IMO Toughness to his style of play to be a starter in THIS Wigan team
Isa knitted that right side defence together far better last week, and his overall attributes work better CURRENTLY

Before the season started my concern was KPP & Right side defense

I knew King would be the scapegoat for this, but KPP (And to a slightly lesser extent French & Cust) was as big if not a bigger problem
His inside chase 2nd half and getting caught at marker (Along with retreating for the 4th tackle from the PTB to a position BEHIND Jai Field) at FB left all kinds of problems which were too much for our right side that was already a bit Flakey.

For now I trust Isa to work with his inside/outside defenders better doing the hard stuff and laying the platform/field position to allow our more flamboyant/ball players to play.

There are attributes KPP brings that he does very well and can contribute for Wigan, however some of his fragilities create issues that we can ill afford at key periods in games

This is bang on. He really doesn't use his attributes enough, he starts games well but seems to completely fade away. I try and not judge young lads too much, but you can see he still has a hell of a lot of learning to do. Positionally in the defensive line, he looks so slow and vulnerable. I was surprised that people thought we wouldn't miss Bateman that much because we've got KPP. I just don't see it at the moment but hopefully he'll improve as the season goes on. Maybe off the bench is where he is best placed with Isa starting. We did look miles more comfortable against Wakey despite being a weaker opposition.

Big game for us this week mentally I feel, another away loss so early on in the season won't sit right.

I said the same about KPP during the Hull KR game, his work rate was low and he was not working with King in defence.

You could tell he had a few honest words in his direction at half time as he seemed to liven up for about 5 minutes before going back to hiding.

If he thinks he can coast through this season before jumping on a plane then I think Peet is right to send him the message and leave him out of the 17 for a few weeks.

He is a wonderfully talented player no doubt but he doesn’t bring nearly enough to the table in certain aspects of his game…which Isa does.

Some fans seem to think he is the best thing since sliced bread because he can offload, that’s all well and good but it’s bugger all use if he is not doing the basics of his job.

It’s a big year mentally for KPP and if the KR game was anything to go by it’s not one he is ready to front up in.

Hopefully a few weeks on the sideline will be the kick up the rear he needs.

I’ve never got carried along with the KPP hype tbh. I was staggered he made the mid season England training squad tbh and presumed it was to try an oil the wheels towards a new Wigan deal. I was even more amazed to then see him announce an exit and get picked for a 24 man World Cup squad.

He is a talent, there is no doubt about that but he’s got so far to go in his development across the board. It’s all well and good being an awkward ball carrier and having ball skills but you need more than that to hit the top level. I’m yet to see him really push himself in terms of workrate, he doesn’t run the ball with a great deal of aggression and his tackling needs work as well. I can’t help but wonder if subconsciously he’s held back somewhat, with an eye on what is seen as a real challenge over in Oz. In the case of Will Pryce, it feels much the same. They’ll both certainly need to up it if they want to make names for themselves (I do think they will to be fair).

For me KPP is currently an impact player who can create something once the early exchanges settle down.

He lacks the physicality (or at least has yet to show it) of the high intensity early exchanges in a game.

Coming off the bench against 25 minute old legs is where I see him this season.

He has all the physical gifts to be a top class player but he still lacks the experience in the “trenches” and needs to show a bit more heart if he is going to achieve his potential. If he sorts that side of himself out he has the potential to be a top player.

Isa could be a very very important player for us in 23 if we do not replace Bateman mid season.

I’d certainly have him in the 17 somewhere. While I do think he’s been overrated to a degree by some, I do see loads of potential and loads of talent. Maybe they pick and choose starts for him and games from the bench in others. You wouldn’t fancy him in the first 20 minutes of a Derby but I’d have no issues with him starting less intense games. Maybe being dropped last week will kick him on a gear in his physicality. It’s such a shame we seem incapable of producing that all round package in the forward. We seem to either get big and nice lads coming through or the ones with that mongrel in them are on the small side.

KPP is Hock (big, rugged, strong, great offloader) with a sprinkling of Karl Pryce thrown in, big but lacks effort and aggression sometimes.

It’s bob on. I see loads of Hock in him but Hock was scary because of his aggression. KPP needs to find a bit more of an edge to kick on. Hock would batter the ball up and attract people to him and his offloads were then dangerous because of spaces opening up around him. Teams don’t need to over commit to KPP because he’s just trundling it up half the time.

Gareth Hock was a rugby player.
KPP is an athlete.
Currently I wouldn’t mention KPP in the same breath as Hock.
I want KPP to succeed but he’s currently a forward with little aggression and minimal work rate. He can’t pass in the traditional sense. He can offload (not seen recently) but he can’t pass two handed.
Somebody may potentially get KKP to a good forward but in his final season with us Peet has work cut out.
I’d love the lad to have a great year but don’t see where it will come form.