Just wanted to know your thought and opinions on the loose forward role.

The role of a 13 has changed over the years, and divides opinion through out super league, with many coaches choosing to play a 3rd prop there rather than a ball player,

My question is, what exactly do you want to see from a 13 in the modern game?

I think the loose forward role should be a mix of a stand off and second row. I'd like him to be able to ball handle and also be able to run at the line.

One word > Scully

In the two friendlies Manu has been named as our LF, but Wilkin seems to be playing that role?

It'll be interesting to see how Brown will be using the role.

a proper LF

When Scully was injured Wilkin seemed to play 13 when I saw you lot play.
Why didn't Wilkin get the 13 full time when Scully retired?
TP often gets the job now on the team sheet but doesn't seem to doing a LF's stint.

I agree that Scully was the ideal loose. Power, leadership, a tackling machine and a decent kicking game is what's needed and he had it all.

If all depends on the balance of the side, and how you use your 1,6,7 and 9. If you have enough creativity in other positions, you can use your 13 as a work horse, but if your halves lack that creativity, then a more ball playing 13 would be highly beinficial.

For me, an ideal 13 is one who can run, make the hard yards, has decent hands and can defend. We were lucky enough to have one of the best in Scully, and Wigan had one in Farrell. Wilkin will be our 13 this year, as he was last year, and although he is not anywhere near Scully's level, he is the best we have. I wouldn't object to Gaskell playing there, but I am not 100% sure he would be capable of making the hard yards, and he is a bit suspect defensively.

Aye, I don't understand the Gaskell at loose forward idea. He's far too light and no way near aggressive enough.

If he put on a stone or two he could play there, but his defence would be an issue. I also think that with a combination of Manu and Sia in the back row, it would be wise to have more of a grafter in their at 13. In the past I would have definitely wanted a more creative 13, but looking at the mix of players, I think Wilkin works best.

Scully is something of a Legend and any comparison to him at LF is going to end unfavourably.

He had to finish way before his time. He will only be 36 this year, which maybe too old to play, but considering when he finished.

Even if we could only have pushed him out for a few games a year, having Scully in a side could have turned some of those final losses against Leeds into Wins.

Even when he was not 100% he came on in the WCC and absolutley raised the team to another level.

I think their is a lot of debate about she best to fit the 13 into the structure of the side. Kevin Brown for example played loose forward for Huddersfield last season, and directed the play down the left hand side, where as Scully was a middle unit 13. When a pack struggles, the first players to blame will be the two props, not the 13, and when fans talk about the playmaking duties, the 13 is not a position that would be expected to have that sort of responsibility. Thee role is not considered to be a meter making one or a playmaking one, and that is where the problem lies in my opinion.

In my eyes the Loose Forward role in attack is an additional second row. Whereas, in defense they need to work their socks off. They have the opportunity to move around in the defense line unlike second rows, props, centres and wingers. I recon the games were people are critical of Wilkin going missing in are the games where he's put a ton of effort into defense. It's difficult to put in maybe 4 tackles in a set of six and then back up in attack because your trying to catch a breather. As we know Wilkin is often high on the tackle count.

To be able to stand out in both defense and attack as an all round loose forward you need superb fitness levels. Something Scully had and probably still has.

Everyone wants a Scully or a Farrell at 13, but those players are very rare, it seems you can either have a tackiling machine, like wilkin who can be an emergency pivot if needed, or a third prop, like a lot of teams do. Scully did all of those jobs, thats what made him so good.

This season it'll be Wilkin most of the time with one of Puletua, Manu or Soliola being an impact player from the bench will Perry and Laffranchi as starting prop forwards.