Ian Kirke's position in our stats for this year, along with the people better/worse than him.

Tackles: 6th, 526. (1st Peacock, 2nd JJB, 3rd Ablett, 4th Sinfield, 5th Clarkson)

Tackle Accuracy: 3rd, 83%. (1st Ablett, 2nd Moon) *of players with more than 400 tackles

Busts: 15th, 14. (level with Leuluai & Singleton, ahead of Bailey, Delaney & Moore)

Carries: 15th, 180. (ahead of Achurch, Singleton, Sutcliffe & Moore)

Metres: 14th, 1317. (ahead of Achurch, Singleton, Sutcliffe & Moore)

Average Gain: 10th, 7.3. (highest of any forward with more than 5 appearances)

Offloads: joint 11th, 12 (level with Ablett, ahead of Clarkson & Delaney)

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I don't claim these are the stats of a star prop. But as the stats of a 20-minute give-JP-a-breather prop, they are at least comparable to others in the squad.

The best stats we could have would be all the absolute ones used in this post, adjusted for minutes on the pitch. Tvoc?

Happy to hold my hand up and say this.....

I thought Kirke's quality of work at Wigan was good, and said so, even though the quantity was, as usual, poor. At Warrington I thought his work rate was much better than his usual effort, even thought it wasn't great quality like the rest of the pack.

Last night I thought he was very good, wouldn't say he was the best prop on the pitch, but I was pleased with his performance.

I;m probably the most vociferous and longstanding "Kirke hater" but certainly not the most negative poster. I take it as no slight on my judgment when Kirke puts in a display like that. I'd like to see that every week. It is what I would hope his coaches would expect to see from him every week.

In summary, overall, he's strung three performances together which have been far better than anything he's done all season long. Long may that continue.

I echo this......it still remains a mystery as to why he continues to be regularly selected when his performances do not warrant it, but last night I did think he was actually the equal of Kylie and Peacock. Shock horror !

I think I said he had a good game last night but should be doing that every week not just once in a blue moon.
Good luck to the lad if he starts to play like this every week.
I actually thought and said he was one of our better forwards last night and will need to do the same next week to make up for the loss of Delaney.

Kirke is not the man to replace Delaney. Delaney's qualities are work rate and leg drive. Whatever Kirke's qualities it's not those.

True. But I meant he would need to up his game to make up for the loss of Delaney and possibly JJB. Singleton I assume will come in for one of them. Do you think Clarkson for the other if needed?