The idea is for laffranchi to cover the role TP took on last year. It's the extra prop at 13 that Royce likes.

Apprantley Royce opted for laffranchi over waterhouse as he thinks laffranchi is more suited to that role.

and he's right

I have never understood why we have a natural 13 in wilkin and yet successive coaches have played anyone but him at loose forward while he is used as a workhorse second rower. We are losing one of the most creative positions in the team by playing the likes of clough tp Hargreaves flannery et al there. It appears as though wilkin will go through his career played out of position and never fulfilling his potential. Shame really.

I agree.

The extra prop at 13 is a NRL thing and with Royce fresh from the nrl I think that's the reason.

However previous coaches haven't played him there either. We haven't had a real loose forward since scully, and wilkin has never been given a chance to play there, under Anderson potter millward and now Royce. I reckon he would have established himself as the best 13 in the country, let's face it, he's streets ahead of either curly or sinfield in terms of pace, creativity, workload and kicking game. He's the best loose forward we've never had

Id Guess the fact millward, Anderson, potter and now Royce won't play wilkin at 13 tells it's own story.

Do you honestly think that Hargreaves, Flannery, Clough and co are better 13s than Wilkin?

It's not what I think but it's obvious the other coaches do.

Maybe they feel wilkin offers more outside on the edges?

There is obviously some thinking behind it, I just don't see it myself

When I think of loose forwards, I think of Harry Pinner, Chris Arkwright, Scully, Jason Hooper, all of whom were clever ball playing forwards, with a reasonable kicking game, not always the biggest players. Wilkin is from the same mould, IMO.

He is but the game changes. Hookers used to there to win the ball in-scrums, wingers was all thin and fast, props was all big overweight guys etc

It seems teams have started to opt for the extra prop at 13 as we have the stand off, scrumhalf and hooker that do all the ball playing and direct the team.

I prefer the scully style 13 but I think them days are on the way out for that style 13.

Or it could be that a at least two of the last four coaches had better options at 13 than him.

I'm certainly not sure he's "streets ahead" of either O'Loughlin or Sinfield, they all bring something different to the position that's for sure.

In this day and age where most positions are very much less strict and rigid, and much more interchangeable in attack, if Wilkin has the skills of an attacking loose forward he should be able to implement them at periods of the game whether playing at loose or 2nd row. We have enough 2nd rowers-cum-props/centres to cover the gaps when he does so.

We've been a bit spoilt with Scully being a fantastic out and out attacking loose who also happened to be a superb defensive forward too. There aren't many players these days in that position that can do both aspects to an equally high standard.

What I will add tho, laffrachi has played backrow most of his career so he's more of a 13 than TP was who filled that role last year.

Laffranchi IMO is ideal for this postion as he's big, fit, makes good yards and also has good hands.

I think royce will go with

Perry
Roby
TP
Sia
Wilkin
Laffranchi

Which IMO is a very good pack with a good balance. Also we will have three of clough, flannery, Lms, magennis, Dixon and flanaghan all fighting for bench spot.