True, some people seem unusually sensitive about a player that clearly has ‘potential’ and has been compared to two players from the past in terms of his playing style.

Really excited to see how he develops.

I see the usual suspects pick up on one sentence and run with it. He has all the attributes to be a top class player. I did say POTENTIALLY world class. He could be. I thought I was stating the obvious. Must be in a minority of 1. All the club have to do is their usual brilliant job of nurturing him through. If he has the right mental attributes then he has the rest already in his locker. Yes it may be a highlight reel but to have one at such a young age is testament to his natural ability.

Agree with the post about him being a potential centre too. I think he would be more suited there for now whilst he still has his pace and that offload. Second row later in his career.

Slightly OT, but it's interesting to hear him being talked about as a centre.

I know it's a sweeping generalisation, but the NRL seem to be moving away from what you'd call "traditional" centres like Gasnier, Gidley or Lyon for more pure athletes like Crichton or Staggs. They might not have the slick hands, but they've still been carving it up.

I'm not saying KPP will be one of those, but it's an interesting view point and one to discuss.

It was a joke, not aimed at you.

FWIW I agree.

This thread is catching on, Ben Flower's just given him a big thumbs up in tonight's Post

It doesn't just work like "groom him as a centre," because he has size, pace and whatever. There is a lot more to centre than that.

How many young second rowers have been successfully moved to centre?

Have a bit of respect, we're not just talking about any young second rower here. This is a world class, better version of Hock! He can do the impossible!



Nah, seriously he has played some centre at academy level and it's probably an easier route into the team for him than second row right now with Hankinson going out on loan and Bibby probably covering the wing whilst Marshall is injured. It's embarrassing giving out this level of hype over a highlights video and one OK first team game off the bench.

Any hype on this thread has come about because some people have expressed an opinion on KPP which they are entitled to,the club nor the player has said anything so let's not hang the lad out to dry and hope for everyone 's benefit the player fulfills his promise

What level of hype??

People have talked about his potential and compared him to past players, that’s what supporters do.

Your reaction is way OTT.

Are Ben Flowers comments also embarrassing?

I try not to get too excited with young players until I’ve at least watched them play a good 15-20 games in the first team but I see no reason why people shouldn’t make comparisons to styles of play of lads from yesteryear, even if it is only on fleeting moments or highlights reels. The forum is there to discuss the club and to occupy people (certainly at the moment) and looking at these young players and trying to see positives in them or bits of play, running styles etc that remind you of ex players is no bad thing.

We can talk about heaping pressure on them but I doubt somebody like Pearce-Paul as sat flicking through what a few people say on a rugby forum and going “ooof, I’ve a lot to live up to here”, by the same token if people on here were criticising him it’s unlikely to have any impact. It’s when comparisons are made in the media, such as by the lads on Sky or when a youngster is getting criticism live in the stands that will impact on them mostly. I noticed today in the WEP Ben Flower sang the praises of the young players coming through and in particular Pearce Paul, saying he believes he will be a scary prospect once he establishes himself in the first team. That’s the sort of comment likely to impact on the lad. It could give him huge confidence or it could go to his head. Luckily from the bits you see of him in interview, he seems a really solid character with his head screwed on.

I wouldn't let it worry you Dany1979. There are certain posters i take very little attention of. Grimmy tries to impress Egg Chasing and Egg Chasing tries to impress Jukesays. Its a very strange and nauseas habit they have. I flick through their posts but don't really take any of it in.

Why will no one try to impress me?

You claimed he looked "something special" in a brief cameo off the bench. He made 13 tackles, missed 2 and made an average of 8m.

Now of course he might turn out to be a very good player but he may also turn out to be another player moved on with very little game time.

The point is, we have no idea so why refer to him as "something special" or "potentially world class" when he could equally turn out to be utter e?

But in my opinion (and that of others) he did so should we not say so?

Is your opinion more superior in some way?

I’m sure given your superior opinion that you already know that stats don’t tell you everything about a player’s performance?

What is your take on Ben Flowers comments?

Haven't read them nor do I have a superior opinion, I'm not going to judge a player on a 20 minute stint. (It also wouldn't be the first time a player is tipped for big things and makes nothing of themselves)

There's a chance he doesn't even get a game next season.

If that was posted on redvee about a saints player we would be calling them deluded.

Speak for yourself, a number of Saints supporters expressed an opinion on Bentley after a very short period of time last season saying very similar to what I have said about KPP, they were entitled to their opinion and I just find it really odd that people should be called out for it.

Supporters are entitled to an opinion, surely that’s what messaged boards are for??

It’s neither delusional or embarrassing.

James Bentley has played 39 games for Saints. I don't think KPP has played that many minutes for us.

Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion, all those disagreeing are saying is let's wait a bit before we come up with one.

There was a time when he had only played a game and some Saints supporters were talking him up in relation to his potential.

In fact some people were talking him up before he had played a game for them.

That didn’t make them delusional, just excited by what he might go on to become.

For the record they were spot on.

Possibly based on his 50 career appearances elsewhere.

How many does KPP have?

Obviously I hope you are all right and he becomes a superstar in a Wigan shirt, but as Grimmy said in his pretty impressive post, if he doesn't then he won't be the first player we have hailed as a star with very little substance that has turned out to be nothing of the sort.

He had played 28 first team games before he even got there, and I don't remember them calling him world class or an improved version of Hock at that point. Even now that would be premature.

Did you follow London academy regularly in 2019 or are you literally just basing this off a 20 minutes stint in the first team and some highlights of his best moments against other youngsters? If he does what he did in those highlights against grown men in Super League then fair enough, but that's a big jump. Kibula ran wild at that level, he will be plying his trade on loan at Newcastle this year. EggChasing lookatme!

No, for some supporters it was based on minimal game time for Saints, in fact even one of our more high profile supporters tweeted something similar.

That’s part of watching sport, sometimes you get it right and sometimes not but it would be pretty boring if everyone waited for x amount of games before giving any sort of opinion, especially a positive one.

Purely based on that Saints game and the video, I thought he was impressive and looked to have a lot of potential.

If you think that’s delusional then fine but I’m all for supporters posting different opinions and I’ve never found the need to label it as embarrassing.

Bentley is 4 years older that KPP

If your trying to impress Egg Chasing whos trying to impress me then your a long way off me trying to impress you!!! (I think we should clarify here that we have never met and I have no idea who you are as I can see people replying saying were ins omw kind of clique!).

Stating on Topic (and bear with as this is just a joke)

Hes played 20 minutes in the 1st team and they think he's special
Hes made an average 8mtrs per carry and they think he's great
Hes missed 2 tackles which isn't Brill
That don't Impress me much !
Hes got the moves but as he got the touch!

Sorry guys!!!