Quote: Barbed Wire "I’m not sure on this. King has been superb this year, not just in those glossy areas but in carries, meters, offloads, tackle busts… he has contributed to the team really well. Still made double figures for both tries and assists.
In truth, he’s done everything that Ratchford and Matautia didn’t in 2023.
Back in the England squad again too, granted without Farnworth available so might not have made it without that, but Wane (who has an inside view to his year being inside the Wigan system) must like what he has seen.
It was difficult to watch our player in a Wigan kit winning the grand final at the weekend. Even worse that we were paying part of his salary. Sad indictment of the management of the club over the past few years.'"
Completely agree with this. He has been superb for Wigan.
I’m struggling to understand what people expect from a centre these days.
I think people have this perception that good centres have to make tackle busts every carry like Inglis in his prime, have the pace of Offiah, the offload of Gene Miles and defensive capabilities of Dean Bell.
I genuinely cannot think of many centres in the modern game on either side of the World that have this mystical “strike” ability people seem to crave.
The modern game generally sees the primary creator of tries to the winger as the fullback he generally also provides the strike.
King when used to his strengths is an excellent centre.
Strong carry, great work ethic, good offload and can put his winger away.
This whole create something out of nothing line is almost like people think SL is under 12s rugby.
Defences are generally very well organised. All players rely on space except the very special ones and they tend to be fullbacks.
I’d much rather Wigan retained King than had to recruit Keighran.
Wardle has caught the headlines in the last couple of months but over the course of the year King has been the more effective of the 2 in 2023.