Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:15 pm  

Wigan love their second rowers don't they? Not surprised they're looking at KPP as a potential centre option given all of our options and prospects in the back row.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:22 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Wigan love their second rowers don't they? Not surprised they're looking at KPP as a potential centre option given all of our options and prospects in the back row.

We've got real pedigree when it comes to producing backrow talents. You can probably reel off 10 - 20 'gooduns' produced in the last 20 years.

Compare it to our production of props and centres and it seems crazily lobbsided.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:32 pm  

Smithies at prop and KPP at centre might be a pointer towards them looking at ways of getting more of these young backrowers some opportunities. The competition for places in that first 17 will be intense in the early rounds. It’s a given that Isa, Farrell and Bateman have a spot and you’re probably looking at 2 places between Smithies, Shorrocks, Pearce-Paul, McDonnell and Partington. If they go with 2 props and a hooker/utility back on the bench, it may only be 1 spot between those 5 (although Partington could be one of the props). You probably can’t totally rule out Nsemba based on today either but I doubt he’ll be in the mix in the first couple of months.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:43 pm  

Just seen that first try back, that cut out pass from Fields was a pearl and half

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 7:49 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Smithies at prop and KPP at centre might be a pointer towards them looking at ways of getting more of these young backrowers some opportunities. The competition for places in that first 17 will be intense in the early rounds. It’s a given that Isa, Farrell and Bateman have a spot and you’re probably looking at 2 places between Smithies, Shorrocks, Pearce-Paul, McDonnell and Partington. If they go with 2 props and a hooker/utility back on the bench, it may only be 1 spot between those 5 (although Partington could be one of the props). You probably can’t totally rule out Nsemba based on today either but I doubt he’ll be in the mix in the first couple of months.

I thought the Smithies move to prop was particularly interesting.
His game at the moment for a quality back rower is very limited and maybe longer term the front row is his best option.

Early days but interesting to see Peet’s changes albeit in a friendly game.

KPP isn’t the fastest of players but love it that every time he has the ball he is looking for the offload.
With the right level of application and luck this lad could be a future star.

Plenty to talk about and mull over. Still lots to sort out but little chinks of light are on the horizon.
The last 3 seasons are hopefully going to become a distant memory pretty quickly.

I was with a couple of Saints fans yesterday and they think we maybe a serious challenger this year. Hope that they are right.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:15 pm  

WWste wrote:

Just seen that first try back, that cut out pass from Fields was a pearl and half

Was quality, having a fullback who can pass adds so much more to a teams attack.

I hope he gets a go at fullback at the start of the season!

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:18 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

We've got real pedigree when it comes to producing backrow talents. You can probably reel off 10 - 20 'gooduns' produced in the last 20 years.

Compare it to our production of props and centres and it seems crazily lobbsided.

Why is that? Is it because you can get away without having any special physical attributes at second row? Don’t need to be huge nor scary pace? The who of Superleague looks to lack top talent at prop and centre currently but over the last 20 years it’s quite striking the lack of talent at prop and centre that have come through at Wigan.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:00 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Why is that? Is it because you can get away without having any special physical attributes at second row? Don’t need to be huge nor scary pace? The who of Superleague looks to lack top talent at prop and centre currently but over the last 20 years it’s quite striking the lack of talent at prop and centre that have come through at Wigan.

I don't know if that's true r.e special attributes - Joel, Faz, Hock, Lockers all different players but had something special about them. I think we just know what good looks like i.e toughness over size and apply that across the board.

Personally and I've said this a few times, the prop thing runs deeper and is a blind spot for the club. We don't seem to produce, or at least not in the same numbers as other positions, top prop talent. We also don't seem to recruit well for it either. Again when you compare it second row, we rarely seem to get it wrong there, with names like Bateman, Isa, Hoffman & KPP. How can the guys who spotted KPP, also pick out Mitch Clarke?

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:27 pm  

I liked Mago, not only was he a handful but if you watched how he rolled to one side after being tackled and playing the ball you can tell his pedigree as a forward, I think quick PTBs will come from Mago so need to jump on the back of them.

O'Neil playing Powell out of the side already and I think this season might be Powells last as 1st choice.

Nsemba a big strong runner in the backrow, something we need as a team.

Re: Vs Newcastle : Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:39 pm  

Powell deserves the chance to put a poor season behind him just like nearly every other player in the squad. He was superb in 2020 and has been an excellent player for us over a number of years. In saying that I hope O’Neill does push him and make him improve and if he takes his place over the next couple of years, that’ll be good for the side as he’ll need to play very well to do so.

He’ll always be a target for some will Sam Powell because he isn’t a dynamic runner but some of the criticism he gets, particularly on the other board, is well OTT. You always need to look to improve your side but Sam Powell has played a big part in the sides success over a number of years.