Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun May 30, 2021 2:39 pm  

I wouldn’t be against Kata. With French and Gildart leaving we need some X Factor in the backs.

Bibby is a OK finisher and solid in defence.
Manfredi is still getting back his form, slowly.
Hardaker at centre doesn’t offer much. Isa is now a better option there sadly.

Marshall is now our only back for next year you could say has an X Factor but remains to be seen how he comes back from a bad injury.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon May 31, 2021 8:40 am  

Bibby simply hasn’t done enough to be given a centre shirt as a first choice player. He’s scored a few tries this season on the wing but he’s been exposed defensively when he’s played centre. With Gildart going I’d say we need two centres and two props, plus Williams as an absolute minimum for next season. Bibby is no better than Hankinson and id prefer Thornley to him too. I’d only have him as a squad player.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon May 31, 2021 2:12 pm  

Kata was an improved version of Hurrell, so I wasn't surprised NZW swapped them. Is he still in Union?

If anyone in the squad can hold their head up after this unimpressive start, it's surely Bibby, who deserves a bit of credit in the bank for his efforts thus far this year. And push come to shove, we have youngsters that can slotted into the centres from time to time, such as KPP, Halsall. But as we have seen, we can't keep relying on kids up front as we have been doing, without beefing up the squad by bringing in at least one new prop.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon May 31, 2021 5:22 pm  

moto748 wrote:

Kata was an improved version of Hurrell, so I wasn't surprised NZW swapped them. Is he still in Union?

If anyone in the squad can hold their head up after this unimpressive start, it's surely Bibby, who deserves a bit of credit in the bank for his efforts thus far this year. And push come to shove, we have youngsters that can slotted into the centres from time to time, such as KPP, Halsall. But as we have seen, we can't keep relying on kids up front as we have been doing, without beefing up the squad by bringing in at least one new prop.

Hardaker has had a couple of crap games but for the first 5 weeks of the season he was by far and away the best player in the comp, amazing how people quickly forget things. The way some fans are going on you’d honestly think we’d won 1 out of 8, not lost 1 out of 8. Regardless of how poor we’ve looked at times we’re getting results which is the main thing early in the season, we had plenty of successful seasons under Wane doing very similar things and peaking late in the season, yes Lam hasn’t won anything but we made a good late run last year and with a bit of luck could have won the grand final. Hopefully we can click late in the season again but get over the line this time, stranger things have happened.
I will caveat this by saying I do think the brand of rugby is pretty naff the majority of the time but the same could be said of us under Wane, I certainly think Lam deserves a go until the end of the season and I think that’s what he will get.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon May 31, 2021 8:04 pm  

I’d love to see Kata at Wigan but I don’t see it as realistic.

He must have gone to Union on a big contract and even if he isn’t ripping it up the French and Japanese leagues still pay big contracts for players like him.

He would be a sensation in SL in my opinion.

If it comes down to Thornley and 2 quality props or Kata and 1 prop then the former is a priority for me.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 01, 2021 7:00 am  

Nathan Mason from Leigh following Thornley according to rugby league live as a replacement for Bullock. It won’t get people’s juices flowing that’s for sure. The article does also say we’re looking for a top level prop from the NRL, so I can accept it if that’s the case.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 01, 2021 8:41 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Nathan Mason from Leigh following Thornley according to rugby league live as a replacement for Bullock. It won’t get people’s juices flowing that’s for sure. The article does also say we’re looking for a top level prop from the NRL, so I can accept it if that’s the case.

We don’t need to get anyone’s juice flowing at prop. We need two or three lumps who can run hard and tackle.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:03 am  

Trainman wrote:

We don’t need to get anyone’s juice flowing at prop. We need two or three lumps who can run hard and tackle.

I agree but this signing will be bagged by some. Looking at a few of his performances in terms of stats, they’re much of a muchness with what we already have but he has put in a couple of good performances against us and that will have caught the eye. Hope he gets that finger sorted before he plays for us

I’d imagine he’ll be fighting it out for a spot as that 5th middle forward like guys like Clark and Bullock have done (Bullock more recently after probably being top two last season) and with guys like Byrne next season and he’s a good age to be coming in to his prime.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 01, 2021 10:00 am  

We also have to run a reserves side next year so there will be plenty of game time

[Pemps]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Jun 01, 2021 11:23 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Nathan Mason from Leigh following Thornley according to rugby league live as a replacement for Bullock. It won’t get people’s juices flowing that’s for sure. The article does also say we’re looking for a top level prop from the NRL, so I can accept it if that’s the case.

I assume we'll also be losing Clarke and Clubb, along with Bullock.