Because he needs to kick on from this impact tag, especially when the impact is questionable like last season. He is a good player hopefully Powell can get him running better lines and improving his impact whether he starts or comes off the bench.

He doesn't have the engine or the size to play starting prop IMO and unless he's grew a foot taller and been doing military training in the off season I cannot see how he will ever be a prop.

Whats wrong with keeping him as an impact player, getting rid of Jason Clark and signing a quality big prop forward?

That's a very good question and one I don't have an answer to, I'd have done the same as you suggested! Too late now though and an error IMO.

I think Philbin can play well at starting prop personally but like you say he would need to change his game a bit. The problem with keeping him as an impact player is that it's useless when he doesn't have much impact.

Didn't he start at home against Saints this season? That was certainly one of his best games of the year. I think this will make Philbin kick on, plus two starting Warrington born props is excellent....shove Walker inbetween them in some games and I bet that would be a first ever Wire born front three.

He did play well against Saints as a starter. And I agree it was one of his better games of the season.

Pretty sure he started at saints away as well. Seem to remember him putting the almighty walmsley on his backside with the first run of the match.

Could go either way this move. It either gives your pack a boost early doors and you get on top in games. Or the opposition matches your opening salvo and you are left very exposed as it leaves you with a weak bench. The sapping first stint could well take the energy and impact away from Philbin and there's not much left after that.

I wanted another experienced mainstay prop to complement Cooper and Mulhern, allowing Phibin to continue from the bench. However, Cas fans probably felt the same about Powell not replacing Daryl Clark when he left for Warrington. They wanted a decent established hooker and got McShane instead. Didn't work out too badly in the end though.

I'm prepared to give Powell a year to prove Philbn as a starting prop if that is indeed his plan. I gave Price 3 years to prove he could fix our attack, so I'm a hypocrite if I start judging Powell before a ball is kicked!

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Hopefully Rob Butler might start to recreate some of his London form too

INOUT
I think Bullock will hit top Form under Powell, and yeah if we can get Butler back to fitness and form i think we're looking good in the forwards, just prop depth isn't great.

Bullock seems to have all the attributes to be a quality prop; size, good footwork, strength and power, he just seems to lack the belief and aggression from what I've seen.

Some of my Wigan relatives have said the same

Unless they've kayfabe'd his stats, apparently he's the same height and a bit lighter than walmsley.

The eyeball test wouldn't support that, him not running his size would also support that.

I think he’ll go well under Powell. He seems the type who needs a coach to put an arm round him and build his confidence, rather than a coach who couldn’t get the best out of anyone and was just happy to pick props who’ll try hard, even if it meant sticking a full pack of juniors in the 17.

There’s no doubt he lacks aggression and seems to lack a bit of confidence/belief but in terms of physical attributes, he’s got everything you’d want really. I can’t think there would be many props quicker than Bullock and he’s a huge bloke, so when you combine that, it’s an impressive base. I’m not sure he will ever have the personality/mindset to be be as good as he should be but I still think under the right coach he’ll be extremely handy.