Fine line between blooding and flogging them. He will leave here having chicken plenty of debuts out to young forwards in fairness and that’s positive but I just hope he hasn’t set guys like Partington, Smithies, Havard and Byrne back too far by the weekly batterings they have to take, whilst guys like Clubb and Bullock get away with ten minute stunts.

Does he have two brothers then? I know one plays for London Broncos.

I agree, it's clucking madness. if we put all our eggs in that basket then we are clucked.

I think Smithies and Partington are already burned out they do nothing going forward all they are are tackling machines and cant burst a paper in attack.

It’s why my phone would predict I would put the word chicken at that point that confuses me

Really?

Its been forced on him on the majority of occasions.

It's been forced on him because of how shocking our recruitment has been in the last few years.

Out of the players we've brought in since 2018, probably 3 of them have had any impact (Hardaker, Bibby, Hastings).

Since 2019 (and excluding G.Burgess) we've also had 5 or 6 props leave and only 2 signed.


2018
In - Hamlin

2019
In - Bullock, Hardaker, Sammut
Out - Bateman, Sutton, Tomkins

2020
In - Bibby, G.Burgess, Clark, Hastings
Out - Sarginson, Williams, Hamlin

2021
In - Bateman, Field
Out - G.Burgess, J.Burgess, Escare, Wells, Rushton, Flower, O'Loughlin, Hankinson (kind of)

Has French been here since before 2018? What about Singleton?

Excludes mid-season panic signings

He was good last night, very hard to put down, looks a prospect.

Leaving out the massive elephant in the room - our outstanding academy, none of which apparently make the 'In' list but are suddenly important enough to feature on the 'Out' list.

Had another outstanding game today when Bateman returns let him play LF and keep Kai at second row, can offload for fun.

French would have an absolute field day running off his shoulder…Zak should do too. We just need to bring him into the game better aside from in broken play, ala the Powell try v’s Wire. I think Hastings back in the halves would go a long way to making this happen.

Did very well today. I'd like to see him run hard though as well, hit the line, keep his play varied. Today he seemed more intent on drawing players in to offload, I'd like to see some aggressive carries with an offload, Gareth Hock style.

Only 10 into the 2nd half and KPP looked absolutely gassed.

He did but he kept going and did not come up with errors. The kid looks the real deal, good size and excellent offload but seems smart enough to know when to look for it and when to put his head down and run.

I’m very impressed but hope he doesn’t get overplayed due to injuries/form to others. When Bateman is back I’d like to see him occupy a bench spot.

no French in there either

Had another great game and very well spoken in his man of the match interview

Always think he speaks very well and maturely! Could have a long succesfull career at Wigan if he carries on as he is doing and conducts himself as he is now

He’s been one of the very few positives of the recent run. He offers a great point of difference to our other back rowers and he could have a great career. He’s in a more fortunate position than the young props in that we should be able to get him out of the fire when needed, as Bateman, Isa, Smithies etc come back.

He’s looked a real athlete from his debut, confident and able to attract defenders and still get a safe pass away.

I just hope we can hold on to him, not sure what his contract with Wigan is but already you can imagine he will attract a lot of interest from other clubs when the time comes.

IIRC he signed for 4 years, so he’ll have a couple of seasons after this one. If he continues as he is though you’d imagine both he and the club will have reasons for wanting to extend that/negotiate it. I noted that he mentions his brother being at Saracens in his post match interview, so Union is always a worry but his skills seem really suited to league. I’m not massively in to Union but I can’t think of a position he really seems to fit in to.

Outstanding young prospect and turning out on his performances so far, to be a great signing by the club.
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He has took his chance and on present form should keep his place when the squad gets back to full strength.

Either at centre or loose forward as like Ashurst, Bell, Handley and O'Loughlin before him, he can play in the backs or forwards, can tackle, is a ball player and willing to take bigger players on and break the line.

I think he'd make a great centre in the Gene Miles mould. Maybe not blessed with pace but great hands and the ability to create space for his winger at will (and before anyone says it; I'm not comparing him to Miles except as a marker of style he could play). Plus the added advantage of natural size in the backs, something the Aussies seem to do far better than we do with our tendancy to push anyone of size into the back row. I'd love to see him given a run there.

Miles was fast though