Playing very well for Swinton and played long minutes last 2 games, could be worth a bench place on Thursday as he seems to have massively improved his defence and gained some mongrel in his game

Good to hear, the few times I have seen him for Swinton he’s done fairly long minutes but done very little during them in both defence and attack, very minimal hit ups and trying his best not to get involved in the tackle. If he can play to his weight he has the potential to be a good player, his handling skills are so good for a big man.

A friend of mine went to the Bradford game today - he said Kibula was virtually unplayable at times.

Really hope he gets a go Thursday

He is on a season loan so cant play. He isn't on duel reg.

Been Swinton MOM in last two matches. Looking at the two RL papers he was playing second row yesterday.

Think dropping down to championship level will do wonders for his game and getting knocked about a bit by big blokes will bring out the aggression he so rarely displays. He was coasting at U19s level, relying on his size rather than his undoubted skills.

[urlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKdOLAjQFMQ[/url

Is he on a season long loan? He was at Dewsbury earlier this season. I presumed he was on a months loan, then it's on a week by week basis, so can be recalled if necessary.

They announced a month's loan extension on 3rd June so I'm guessing he's just week-to-week now

That was how I saw it.

No Kibula. Havard comes into the 19. Anyone seen much of him? Crazy that we are now up to squad number 42. There must be a reason we seem to consistently get so many injuries.

He's probably the most athletic prop I've seen at Wigan for a while, very highly rated and is already being "watched" by at least one Australian club.
He was outstanding for England v Australia at academy level last year, and still only eighteen.

Is Kibula still on contract next season? Given his showing for Swindon and Dewsbury I would like to see him getting a run out with the first team. His loan spells seem to have given him a kick up the bum that was needed.

I think he was on the list of players whose futures were still undecided when they announced who was available earlier in the year. That means he's able to speak to any club.

When he was sent out on loan I believe it was because the club felt he had things to work on and needed to earn a new contract. If he hasn't done enough to please the club then I'm staggered. He had some outstanding games for Dewsbury and since he's joined Swinton he's been one of their best players pretty much every week. The Championship is a tough league for forwards - we've seen how there are forwards there who can step up to Super League and excel - and Kibula is 19 years old and currently one of the form players. It's more than you'd expect from most at his age.

There's a lot of work to do for him to make it at the top level but potentially he could be a very good player. It would be daft to cast him aside at such a young age when the potential rewards more than outweigh the risks.

So we will be selling him in a year or two then ?

I agree Rogues he was a stand out against the Aussies last year in what was a fantastic England team

After that game at Headingley I posted that I would have taken Olly Wilson and IMO the best player on the park in Sam Walters during the first half until he got injured to the Rhinos as they were currently at Championship clubs

You have got a good un there,but I also think that the Giants have a future star in Wilson too

Sam Walters is almost like Denis Betts at such a young age and he is sensational at Academy level

All 3 will prosper to the top imo if they full fill their undoubted potential

If he has the desire, ability and motivation to test himself at the highest level who are we to deny him? I can't see him moving until he's around 23/24 though, similar to Ryan Sutton who was also "courted" around Havards age.

I was really surprised that Walters didn't come to Wigan, I know there was interest. However in Harry Rushton, James McDonnell and Brad O'Neill we do have some excellent back rowers coming through.

I noticed Wilson and Newman got called up for the England Knights squad. That’s great to see but I was a little surprised Smithies didn’t get the call up if Wilson had one. He’s been fantastic for us so far. I’m sure it won’t be far away if he keeps progressing.

I agree Smithies is a cracking player and he has a very high skill set and is a tough kid too,another who can get to the very top of our game.
It is going to be interesting watching all these young kids progress because there is definitely some very talented players in our academy systems.and more importantly across a large number of clubs too,which can only be good for our game.

If only! Unfortunately until the game over here can afford to keep these young players, (that topic flogged to death already) then the current trickle of UK talent to down-under will become a torrent, as we continue to be feeder clubs to the NRL.

Has he done enough to earn a new contract yet? The reports from Swinton are excellent but in the Bradford game, which is on youtube, he still looked sluggish in defence.

That link hardly shows anything, about 6mins. An easy try, a tackle after a penalty made and late cover defense with Bradford scoring.

Full match now on YouTube.

MOM again according to RL papers this morning.

I really hope he stays at Wigan for at least another season. It would be a real shame to lose a player like him just as the reserves is coming back in place, because it’s ideal for that type of player. He looks to be going along quite nicely at the minute.

In today's League Express they name Kibula as Swinton's MOM for the Barrow game.
Surely that's got to say something about his current form?