Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 8:41 am  

Pemps wrote:

I think there's an assumption that because he has an offload, he'd be able to play centre. That may be the case but no one at London, or Wigan, has put him in at centre as far as I'm aware and they see him on a day top day basis.

I don't remember people asking for Hock to be moved to centre?

He played there at times for London. I'm not saying have him first choice there but as a reserve I'd say he's probably a similar speed to a 31 year old Thornley, with the added advantage of potentially improving with the gametime, unlike Thornley who we basically know what we're going to get with.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:51 am  

Grimmy wrote:

He played there at times for London. I'm not saying have him first choice there but as a reserve I'd say he's probably a similar speed to a 31 year old Thornley, with the added advantage of potentially improving with the gametime, unlike Thornley who we basically know what we're going to get with.

With that analogy, can you not swap Thornely's name out for any back up centre in the game? I.e why play them when you can run with an athletic 2nd row. Maybe that's why we're so weak in that position btw?

The advantages of Thornely is that he knows the position and slots straight in. There's no development time, there's no rookie mistakes etc. It's solid and dependable, plus the other benefits he brings to the to the table.

If we wanted to improve KPP then the most logical decision, imo, would have been to move Isa on. He's no spring chicken and there's two international back rows already there. Smithies, whilst not as good as Isa, is probably ready for that next step up & that opens up his spot for KPP.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 11:43 am  

Grimmy wrote:

He played there at times for London. I'm not saying have him first choice there but as a reserve I'd say he's probably a similar speed to a 31 year old Thornley, with the added advantage of potentially improving with the gametime, unlike Thornley who we basically know what we're going to get with.

I’ve seen this said that he played centre at London a few times.

I may be wrong but I don’t think he did.

I think maybe the highlights reel of him running down the right edge for London may have confused people but I don’t think he ever did play centre.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:00 pm  

jonh wrote:

I don’t get the logic behind KPP to centre. It seems to revolve around the fact he has an offload….that’s about it.

He’s a secondrow forward.

That’s where he needs to stay.

100% agree.

2 most important skills at centre is your sliding defence and ability to create space/draw man and set winger free. 2 things we haven't ever seen from KPP because he has only played at second row.

Offload is great, but how much use at centre will it be?

Shows a lack of appreciation for the nuances of playing centre to suggest playing him there. I can only guess it is from people who haven't actually played rugby at a decent level (Not a criticism, just my opinion. Not every fan has played the game and that is fine obviously but you understand different things when you have played).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:25 pm  

But... On all this 'if's and but's' logic who would have thought Bateman would have made a centre? You could even argue it's his best position because he was a 10/10 every time he played there and Bateman has the pace of an asthmatic snail.

[Pemps]

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:32 pm  

Pie_Eyter wrote:

But... On all this 'if's and but's' logic who would have thought Bateman would have made a centre? You could even argue it's his best position because he was a 10/10 every time he played there and Bateman has the pace of an asthmatic snail.

Apart from never passing to his winger and never beating a man...
For me he was decent at best.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:22 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Looked like he was carrying a fridge when in the clear at Hull. I had thoughts of him playing centre until that but they ended.

Yes one of those big American ones.

hard to really say with out stats and seeing a bit more but he doesn't look like a natural runner.

I do wonder where he will fit into the plans this year and I am intrigued to see how it pans out.

He looks like a second row all day to me but if he filled out more he could move inwards to prop and be as effective with that off load down the middle, We have seen he has some natural aggression at times as well which is good to see.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:56 pm  

JonnyBroad wrote:

Yes one of those big American ones.

hard to really say with out stats and seeing a bit more but he doesn't look like a natural runner.

I do wonder where he will fit into the plans this year and I am intrigued to see how it pans out.

He looks like a second row all day to me but if he filled out more he could move inwards to prop and be as effective with that off load down the middle, We have seen he has some natural aggression at times as well which is good to see.

Agree, far more likely to become a middle than a centre.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:05 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

100% agree.

2 most important skills at centre is your sliding defence and ability to create space/draw man and set winger free. 2 things we haven't ever seen from KPP because he has only played at second row.

Offload is great, but how much use at centre will it be?

Shows a lack of appreciation for the nuances of playing centre to suggest playing him there. I can only guess it is from people who haven't actually played rugby at a decent level (Not a criticism, just my opinion. Not every fan has played the game and that is fine obviously but you understand different things when you have played).

Couldn’t agree anymore with you and jonh. Keep the lad where he is and where he is absolutely smashing it. Why ruin it by putting him to centre? If we need a centre, call me radical, but we should maybe sign *ahem* a centre?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:27 pm  

KPP never played for Broncos first team.
If he did play centre then playing for their reserves. That's a long way for centre for Wigan's first team.
Keep him where he is, he's doing fine there.