atleast the bbc did one, they actually got his picture right aswell, unlike when they released the story about worrincy, which when i tweeted him he didnt seem to happy about lol!

But the rest are all first team players. Pryce is a squad player.

Pryce is a member of the first team squad, just like the others I mentioned, and played in the team this year.

Can't believe we've re-signed him. I'd prefer we gave one of the many academy youngsters a chance ahead of Pryce. I expect another year of underwhelming performances and heated debate.

He was lucky to being playing outside experienced centres in Carmont and Gleeson otherwise I fear he would have been exposed defensively many times - and he certainly wouldn't have scored as many tries.

In three years he hasn't broken tackles, scored long distance efforts, run the ball back aggressively or made breaks to put other players through. If not that; then what are wingers supposed to do? He's not very quick for a winger and he doesn't use his physicality. His contribution to the team is to score tries that any of the academy prospects would have scored.

He's had three years, been plagued with injuries and has hardly been a game breaker when he has played. Considering how other players have not been retained; it is puzzling that Pryce has - and given IL's comments about Pryce being "the most talented rugby players I've ever seen" it's easy to see why people think that this signing is more about the chairman and less about the coach - especially considering the coach's work ethic and how disinterested Pryce looks when he plays. The idea of keeping so injury prone a player as "cover" is also highly dubious.

He's here for another year now - so I will support him as I do all the Wigan team; however I will still be filled with dread whenever he has to make a one-on-one tackle and filled with resignation when he is faced with a one-on-one in attack.

Pryce conceded fewer tries than any other Wigan winger last season, the one thing he isn't is a poor defender.

Just because we have re signed Pryce doesnt mean an academy player wont get a chance before him. As has been said many times now by our coaches " if you are performing then you will get your chance". The same would apply with or without Pryce

Just out of interest, when and where did he say that?

I'd be interested to know, but I find it hard to believe he would describe Pryce as "the most talented rugby players he'd ever seen".

It was reportedly said at a fans forum; I would ask the person who he said it to, to post on here but he's banned from RLFans

Well, no disrespect to your source, but if it's who I think it is, he was never much of a friend to IL. In fact, he seemed to set his stall out to dislike and mistrust him from the word go.

I've attended every Fans Forum since IL took over, I don't remember hearing any such controversial comment. I've heard him defend Pryce, particularly during the early days when Noble was killing the lad's confidence, but he never described him - at least to my knowledge - as "the most talented rugby player he's ever seen".

In which case, I still don't see why this re-signing says anything about Lenagan that it doens't also say about Maguire - apart from the fact that some people are less comfortable criticising the coach than they are the chairman.

Pryce played far fewer games than our other wingers so you would expect him to conceed less on his side in. Also unless you have the stats to back it up, and stats to show that the relevant winger is actually to blame for a try to their side, then it is just an absurd statement.

I wouldnt say that Pryce is a decent defender either and there were may times last season when he was a liability and very lucky not to be punished more than he was, particularly against Leeds away in the cup, Huddersfield and Saints. He just does not have the acceleration, agility or decision making ability and this is always a problem when he is on the wing, where these 3 teams in particular targeted him to great effect. It is no coincidence that he was dropped after the Saints and Huddersfield games, and not being picked again all season after the latter one, after being all at sea defensively.

Leeds in the Cup, you must be joking. Every time Donald got the ball he went inside, he never went anywhere near Pryce.
Do you think Meli would have scored that last try in the Grand Final had Pryce been on the wing.

Leeds, Huddersfield and Saints, just go back and check how many tries were scored against Pryce in those games.
It's funny how he was "lucky " to be playing inside Carmont or Gleeson, because he is poor yet that doesn't apply to our other wingers.

I can't really recall any tries scored where I thought, Pryce should have made that tackle, can you?

I like how he said other people were making "absurd statements", then says he was extremely lucky defensively in three games. That must have been some serious luck.

Exactly maybe it was the opposition inexperienced coaches faults that they failed to target Pryces weakness.

Talk about blinkers



There were 2 clear occasions when Leeds could and should have scored and Pryce would have been at fault and Donald would have had a walk in. 2 poor passes into touch saved Pryce when he was had made poor decisions and was in no mans land. I suppose you didnt see them.

What has Meli in the Grand Final got to do with anything, Goulding had an outstanding game and saved 2 tries with outstanding tackles. Trying to criticise one player, which for some reason you dont like people doing to Pryce, doesnt make Pryce any better. When the play offs came Maguire put his trust in Goulding, which proved to be the correct choice, and I doubt he would have done this if he thought he was worse defensively.

Against Huddersfield Pryce was beaten time and again defensively, was all over the place dealing with kicks and was swiftly dropped and not played again. Same against Saints. Why do you think he was dropped after these 2 games if he was such a rock defensively?

You seem to have a very simplistic notion if that a try is scored on a wingers is wing it is that wingers fault and thats it. Likewise if none are scored then it is all down to that winger and no one else. Huddersfield is a prime example of this. Due to Pryce's poor play in previous tackles we were often on the back foot which resulted in scrambling defence and led to tries. Yes some may not have been on his side but his poor play on previous tackles allowed Huddersfield to get in those positions and created space elsewhere.

I trust Maguires judgement and when we got to the business end of the year and needed our best and most solid team defensively playing he didnt pick Pryce again. Listening to your posts you make out that he was never at fault for any tries and was such a threat in attack but you completely ignore the viewpoint of anyone that dares criticise him however mildly this may be. If Maguire thought that he was as good defensively as you try and make out and half the threat in attack then he would have been a certainty to get picked far more often than he was. The mere fact that he wasnt and wasnt considered again after the Huddersfield match makes me think that after analysing his performances the coaching staff disagree with your viewpoint of him.

And I would argue that the coaching teams decision/agreement to give Pryce another contract suggests that they think he is worth his place in the "25 man Squad"! So I'll trust their judgement as well if you don't mind?

Why don't you ask rogues a relevant question instead of making out that he does consider him to be a World Beater like for example :-

What would you starting 13 be and would Pryce be in it?

If Winger/Centre X/Y/Z got injured where would you use Pryce?

What do you see Pryce's role in "The Squad" Being?

I suspect you'll get some interesting answers and not just "I think Pryce is Fantastic!".
On the other hand his detractors seem to want to criticise him (And in some ways they're right, he maybe isn't realising his full potential) whatever the cost.

My view, name me another club with a 4th choice Winger/Centre as good as Karl Pryce (And when I say 4th I'm not talking about switching players from another position as that player would have to be replaced as well).
I'm not totally in agreement with Rogues on this, I do think he flatters to decieve at times, but I know if we had 2 x injuries (Lets say Richards & Goulding) obviously Roberts would get 1 spot but we could do far worse than bring in Pryce as the alternative!

[url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/video/index.php?tab=1Here's a link to highlights from every round[/url, care to show us an example or two of his poor defence? For me his defence and finishing are his two strong points, his negatives are his workrate and his conviction when running the ball in.

Good for you but I dont really see your point tbh, that is unless you disagree with my view that they were correct to drop Pryce after his poor performances against Huddersfield and Saints, do you?



These questions have no relevance to the original post I replied to so I have absolutely no need to ask them. Thanks anyway. Are you Rogue's minder or something and why are you so defensive of him? He posted his opinion, an opinion that he tried to dress up as fact and I challenged it. Your criticism of my two posts seems a little one way, especially as I think its quite obvious to everyone Rogue's opinion of Pryce based on his numerous posts of him over the last few years. Are people not allowed to challenge this or something? It seems fine for people to criticise other players but if people criticise Pryce they are immediately shot down and they are quickly undermined and ridiculed as Pryce haters. Why do other players not get this level of protection?

They seem like very relevant questions to me ... if you want to understand what Rogues's exact feelings are with regard to Pryce. Isn't having that knowledge the best place to start this debate?

But can I ask you a serious question - why do you explode when someone challenges your view, even though you yourelf have just challenged someone else's?

And also ... it's a bit rich you complaining about being ridiculed when your response to someone you disagree with is to stick a laughing emoticon on it, and your response to Jukesey (purely because he didn't agree with you), was to accuse him of being Rogues's minder.

Thanks for that, I think that just about sums it up.

People can challenge what they want, your the one for instance that challenged Rogues opinion with a sarcastic comment and a



As I said, I don't totally agree with Rogues opinions on Pryce. I don't on many things i.e O'Carroll.
What I do know is that when a coach drops him (And I wouldnt disagree that the other 2 x wingers in Richards/Goulding were doing well enough to retain their places above Pryce) it suits your argument to use it against Pryce but when the coach decides to give a player whom you obviously don't rate a contract for 12 months you ignore those very same opinions/facts.

You then challenge his facts with facts that are no more relevant i.e They're opinions but fail to see the Hypocracy?

I couldn't give a toss if you ask those questions or not, I just can't believe that people are missing the point that club/coaches obviously think he is a worthwhile "Squad" member and maybe, just maybe, if people try and look at the contract extension as a "Squad" decision rather than if he's better than Goulding/Roberts/Richards etc then they may go some way to understanding why others think it's a decent decision?

Just about beat me to it!



PS

Got to go know, Rogues wants his pillows fluffed, his Slippers warmed & his sanotegen!

No offence Mr Jukes but if I wanted a minder I would chose someone the size of Joel Tomkins, Lee Mossop, Stuart Fielden or Karl Pryce.





I'll stick with what I have said all along I think Pryce is worth a squad place, and is nowhere near as poor a many have painted him. It would appear that Maguire and Wane are of the same opinion, or do you believe the IL conspiracy theory?

Many fans were on the back of Roberts, Riddell etc, (who I also defended) but they came good, so lets give Pryce that same opportunity.

If you go back through my posts you will see that I thought he was only worth a one year deal to see if he could deliver. IMO he did o.k. last year, not brilliant but not poor, and certainly wasn't the defensive liability that some made him out to be.

Agree with the last bit, Pryce is very solid in defence.

However - as has already been pointed out the first bit might have something to do with the fact he played considerably less games than the other main wingers. It's just the same as saying Charnley is the best try scorer at the club because he scored a try in his 20 minutes on the pitch for us last season.

Or someone with charisma, knowledge, expertise, guile and charm, plus a pocket full of Euros.

Get your application form in John. Mind you the Euro is sinking faster than Martin Gleesons pint.

Im confused as to why Pryce is being touted as a lost cause?! He has scored a try a game when hes played all he needs is motivation if we all get behind him he could be a worldbeater he certainly has the potential there. He's solid in defence the stats show that (just watching him does too to be fair)

He wont be on a lot of money I imagine 24-25k tops 30k he's 24yrs old and has a lot of time left if Madge can get him motivated with a consistent place in the team (remember Pats injured for the start of the season so he gets his shot at proving himself right there) he will be superb I mean hes not the fastest but hes closer to fastest than slowest hes 6ft odd and hes strong.

I'm sick of defending him I had to do this in '07 about Lockers saying "give him a chance hes still got time" after a poor run of form LOOK AT HIM NOW! Same with Goulding a couple years ago and Phelps who had a good start but was dropped after his injury. People need to start looking without their blinkers on have any of you really watched him play?


Anyway rant over. Open your eyes everyone.