wakefieldwildcats.co.uk/news/jam ... e/2012/11/ Raleigh Amor Poore Wilkes We might be a bit light now if we pick up an injury or two!

wakefieldwildcats.co.uk/news/jam ... e/2012/11/ Raleigh Amor Poore Wilkes We might be a bit light now if we pick up an injury or two!

Whilst I liked James and thought he made an impact when he came on, this is understandable. If four players are ahead of him and he wants regular rugby? Fair play to him. Sorry to see him go after seeing so little of him. However I think he'll do well at Fev.

Like I said before, I don't think we'll let anyone go without someone coming in and there's still plenty of time for that to happen. Pleased that Ollie's not going anywhere, he'd have been a loss.

Quite suprised - the other players on twitter had all mentioned how fit he'd looked coming into pre season ( & I mean physically fit by the way !) .

For all we know he could of knew a few months ago mid of off-season. Goodluck to him anyway and I hope we can welcome him back a few years down the line

Think we'll now definately need to add another prop to the squad but there is still time and maybe someone already lined up (ex-HKR prop Jason Netherton?) although I hope it is someone super league standard who is arguably a better option than James. Unless Mariano who has the size & strength moves up to the front row?

Good luck to James he never really seemed to get much of a look in last season and Southern was preferred to play out of position instead when James could have been given more of a go maybe? Hope he comes back in a couple of years to WTW better as he is a local lad.

Good luck Matty all the best

Agar did his best to get rid last year by all accounts, hence the delay in announcing his signing. He obviously doesn't rate him much but it leaves us short. We now need two forwards, i trust its all in hand.

I was reasonably happy with the prop situation prior to this news, as James seemed a good back up. I don't blame him for going but it does leave us bit thin on the ground now -we've lost Johnson, Southern and now James and signed just one forward I think? I don't know what the situation is with younger players and if any are ready to step up ?
We're ok, of course, if we stay injury free!

We are now 2 props short.

I like Moriano in the second row running wide not prop.

I hope we have a good prop coming in and a decent back up prop.

I guess it's watch this space over the next week or two but pre season has started and again we are still player hunting.

Sign Mose Masoe maybe?

Mariano should not even be considered for prop

We do have eight on the website listed as 'back row', I'm pretty sure at least one of those could fill in if three of our props were injured.

Good luck to Matt James but the direction we are intending to go I dont think he is good enough for SL the Championship is where he will do well, he one of those in between players for me perhaps too good for the Championship but not quite good enough for SL, sure he will rip it up next season at Fev, he looked good in the U20's but he was never anything other than a back up IMHO onwards and upwards we need competition for places and another quality prop will bring that.

If three of our props are injured we're in trouble!
I think you really mean if ONE of our props is injured one of the eight listed as back row forwards could fill in. Well I dont agree with the old second rower forward being a prop (Steve Southern!). We should have props in reserve as well as a mulititude of second rowers. The top clubs bring in props not second row forwards.

Hopefully if we still have one to come in, he was always the one most likely to be off loaded.
Shame really, i thought he looked like he could have made an impact given fair wind and a bit of consistent game time as he was a big strong lad and looked for the work.
That said i would have been more disappointed if any of the other props had been let go.
Good luck at fev, thats two decent players they've got off us for next year.

Good signing for Fev,good replacement for Stu Dickens ,hope he does well.Wakey couldn't promise him 1st team .as regards prop injuries and cover,all top teams would struggle with 2 forwards injured.Have faith in RA,we will be ok.

Interestingly Kyle Amor 6ft 2in 16st 5lb
Frankie Mariano 6ft 2in 16st 10lb
Could be used as prop if really necessary.
Southern was 6ft and 15st 8lb

Mariano style and workrate rules him out of being a prop. Leave him running at the edge defenders where he's suited best.

Correct, don't see the point in using possibly your best S/R as a prop. Being big despite what some say is not a given for being a prop, work rate and toughness is far more important.

Why use him as a battering ram? he runs good angles out on the edges and was probably our best linebreaker last year. Or if he wasn't it felt that way. No point putting him up front toiling away

I don't think there's no doubt if it came down to it with injuries Mariano could do a decent job for us at prop. When he came back into the side last season it was obvious he'd put some size on and was a real handful whenever he took the ball up, breaking tackles and always needing 2 or 3 to bring him down, both around the edges or straight down the middle. Ideally using him there would be only in an emergency and we'll hopefully be bringing in another forward.

Well I for one doubt it, I don't see Mariano as Prop material at all - no way. On the flanks he's breaking the line running at S/R'S and Centres. Running down the middle he will be running at props and will IMHO get mullered I'm afraid.

It's a shame Anakin isn't a bit bigger as he'd make a great prop, sadly he's small even for a back rower.

Exactly. If Southern could be considered for such a role,( didn't think he was 6ft to be honest more 5ft 9-10)? then if real needs must then why not Mariano at prop as last resort who is genuinely big and strong.

If Ali & Kirmond are firing at back row and Wilkes & Raleigh are injured (former second rows?) then should we seriously consider going into the loan market to a get a substandard prop? And leave Mariano either on the bench or out of the 17 when we have Walshaw that could be the second row on the bench instead? We need some flexibility in the squad with it being smaller and another prop is definately now needed to avoid this discussion becoming possible reality once we're into the season.



Who will it be now to replace James as it is believed to be British target prop that Agar is looking at according to Express? Any ideas/rumours?

Southern failed at prop. It knocked his confidence.
Raleigh and Wilkes have adapted well to the prop role but not all second row forwards can change to that role. Although props are not as unique as they used to be in the days of contested scrums, there is still as subtle difference between them and out and out second row forwards. Frankie, Ali and Danny Kirmond are all second rows forwards and damned good ones. Lets just but another prop instead!