Must be serious issues with Clark if he can't get in the squad.

Reading some comments from his agent, it looks like he's right down in the pecking order and Lam's selections to date haven't done anything to dispell that.

[urlhttps://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/mitch-clark-wigan-warriors-future-19945881[/url



Maybe they are trying to force his hand to see if he does move on? It's obvious Lam doesn't want him & if this approach moves him on and frees up more space for a 'proper prop', I'm happy. I just don't want to see a situation where he's still at the club, but Lam is won't pick him no matter what the situation/form of the lads in front.

Clark is surely a better option for Thursday than Tony Clubb.

Adrian Lam names Wigan’s 21-man squad to face Leeds Rhinos.
One changes from last week as Bevan French replaces the suspended Liam Byrne.
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors, Thurs 15th April, Emerald Headingley Stadium, K.O. 745pm.
Adrian Lam has named the Wigan Warriors 21-man squad to face Leeds Rhinos on Thursday evening at Emerald Headingley Stadium (K.O. 7. He won’t be far away.”


Dom Manfredi and Liam Marshall in recovery.
Oliver Gildart again misses out as he recovers from a groin strain.

Liam Marshall continues his long-term recovery for a ACL knee injury sustained against Castleford in September 2020.

Wigan Warriors 21-man squad to face Leeds Rhinos

1. Bevan French
3. Zak Hardaker
7. Thomas Leuluai
8. Brad Singleton
9. Sam Powell
10. Joe Bullock
11. Willie Isa
12. Liam Farrell
13. John Bateman
14. Oliver Partington
15. Morgan Smithies
17. Tony Clubb
20. Harry Smith
21. Ethan Havard
22. Jake Bibby
23. Mitch Clark
25. Joe Shorrocks
28. Sam Halsall
29. James McDonnell
30. Umyla Hanley
31. Jackson Hastings

My guess is that they tried to move him on in the off season and couldn't come to an agreement that all parties were happy with. He'll probably just sit the year out in the stands unless we get an injury crises in the forwards or manage to loan him out.

Pretty much. The article says that a loan move fell through & that's backed up by the rumours on here in the summer about him leaving.

I have no issues with the club trying to move him on. He showed up well in our one preseason game and did ok Vs Saints last year. Other than that he's been a flop.

As I said tho, if we don't/can't move him on then I'd like to see him be used. Not only is there more value in a player that's actually playing, but it's healthy competition for the whole squad.

I'd rather see the players who are going to be here next season get the benefit of the gametime where possible to be honest. Clubb and possibly Clark are just blocking the development of Kilner IMO for minimal short term benefit.

Oh definitely, but I think Clark is on a 3 year deal so will be here (unless he moves on) next year.

For me it should go Kilner > Clark > Clubb, but obviously Lam doesn't see it that way. He seems to favour Kilner even less than Clarke tbh.

Clark the most devastating bench warmer in SL

Bloody hell, never realised he's here next year as well. We should be trying to get use out of him then

On signing Mitch Clark, Wigan Executive Director Kris Radlinski, said: “We are delighted to have signed Mitch for next season. I believe he is one of Super League’s most destructive forwards and in a very good Castleford side, he has built the reputation as one the league’s fiercest middles."

Well that's what the club's website says, but it has been known to be wrong.

I do wonder if its just an age thing that? Our front row is very young and inexperienced already. I have no doubts Kilner will get some game time soon. This is where having no reserve rugby creates an issue.

Quote possibly, but on Friday he had an opportunity to run with Kilner in a relatively experienced pack - Bateman, Singleton & Powell, but didn't.

Like you said, not having a reserve grade creates issues so Lam needs to make the most of opportunities. Playing Clubb taught us absolutely nothing.

Really hoping we get to see Kilner at some point in the next few weeks. He’s got time yet but we need to have a look at him at some point and see what he’s got. It’s not an area of real strength for us in quality terms, so it would seem to make sense to have a look at all your options. If he isn’t going to play then we need to have a look at him via a loan spell instead. I noticed Brad O’Neill has gone to Widnes on loan today, so a couple if similar deals may be made.

I'm not sure he does have much time to be honest. He looked good in that Saints game but 1 SL appearance at 21 years old isn't a good place to be with no u21s or reserve rugby. Can you think of anyone who left it that late and still made it? I can think of Peacock at Bradford and that's about it. That was probably an era with reserve rugby though. I can't think of anyone at Wigan, they all got released if they hadn't broken through by that age. I'm not saying that's how it should be, but I don't think he will be here next year if he doesn't break through this season.

It’s not an endless period of time but we are only three games in. If we’ve not seen him come 10-15 games then you would start to wonder if he will get a chance but I’m keeping my fingers crossed he does. I know what you’re saying about his age and at some point this season he’ll need to make that jump you’d imagine. He’s 21 years old at the minute so that would usually be an age where you’re getting chances. It was a real shame the loan spell at Toronto got panned with Covid as it’s playing first team rugby somewhere that could really knock the door down. All I can say is I presume Lammy sees something in the likes of Havard, Byrne and Partington that he isn’t seeing in Kilner and that’s fair enough.

Yeah, in years previous we never seemed to have more than one prop coming through so he'd have had a crack

If French does come in then it has to be on the wing. If he’s not fully up to speed then fullback is too crucial of a position to risk him at.

Regardless of that, Hardaker has been playing out of his skin there so far this season and I’d say arguably up there with his 2017 form at Cas, so deserves to be there

Doesn’t take much to twist Lams arm when it comes to Big Tony Clubb. Rewarded with a start for his reasonable showing at York.

Still no French, which against a young Leeds side is fair enough. Get him right for playing against stronger teams(and by that I mean ones with less injuries) in the coming weeks.

Major lack of go forward already

Good enough half.

Wish Ethan Havard would drive those legs a bit.

Doing what we need to do without getting out of third gear again.

Some nice shapes in attack where a true centre would take more advantage.

Bullock much better off the bench. Smithies looking good on that left channel.

Hanley best game so far by a mile. No mistakes but also providing good go forward.

Another professional job so far despite maybe not the most thrilling.

Expect us to pull away in the last 20.

Yup. All on track, as far as I can see.