Now that we have 2 more prop forwards, Joe Philbin to starting second row is our best option. He played there in the Academy and, if I remember correctly, was a regular try scorer. The back row was as limited as the front last year and this would make it far more dynamic and a good replacement for BMM. Hughes to loose forward but not at the same time as Jason Clark in any game. More playing time for Longstaff and Doro too where possible.

Your comment reminded me of the academy grand final back in 2014 where he scored a hat trick and was unplayable and got MOM in a losing side. Think he had played a few first team games by then but could be wrong. wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=4517

Your comment reminded me of the academy grand final back in 2014 where he scored a hat trick and was unplayable and got MOM in a losing side. Think he had played a few first team games by then but could be wrong. wigan.rlfans.com/news.php?readmore=4517

I still think our best option is Toby king to second row as he is a strong line runner who can pass the ball.

Looking at the team sheets highlights how few make it through from the Youth set up I include Wigan in that.

Has he got the engine to defend and run for 80 mins or has he now finessed the "human wrecking ball" tactic? I dont see him drawing and passing to his 4 & 5 which is my biggest gripe with Hughes, play reaches him and it stops with him 9/10.

Philbs as a 13 (aka extra prop) and a mobile 2nd row instead of Hughes could work, draw em in the middle and then go outwide to a GI etc might be fruitful

He’s been most effective as impact prop Even though he was initially a backrower, he doesn’t beat our crop of current backrowers imo and hasn’t shown enough ball in hand to warrant changing my opinion as a future prospect either. So no from me.

Let's see if the new props earn their places in the match day 17 before suggesting one of our 3 best props gets shuffled about.

This is an option for sure but butler and mulhern need to make an impact to make price have to shuffle and accommodate them. I'm absolutely sold on King to 2nd row and have been since price was forced to play him there after the restart, that was the most dynamic and balanced that the team has looked for a long time. Unfortunately we have since let Gelling leave and brand has gone out on loan so we only have Inglis and mamo really as capable centres if we take King out. I like longstaff and wrench could be decent too but that's not a great deal of cover. Realistically we need a new second row or centre in place of Jason Clark but that won't happen until next season now.

I cant see price doing anything other than currie and hughes in 2nd row with Clark at 13, dull, slow flat and predictable rugby with halves having very little to work with, underused centres and wingers being used as wide props. He's not the messiah, he's a very negative boy.

God no, leave him at prop. I'd rather throw Robson in at second row and Hughes at 13.
Butler and Mulhern are gonna be great for us and will massively improve our forward pack, with Sita and Doro in reserves and Latu watching from the sidelines until he leaves at the end of the year.
And jesus christ leave King in the centres, he's brilliant there and closing in on an England Jersey at centre. Yeah he played well at second row but leave him at centre. Inglis and King at centre for me.

100% correct. Worth listening to what former Wire coach Tony Barrow has to say about King on the latest 'What Bevan' Podcast.

ironically, i think there were more ex wire players in SL than wigan last year from those 2 team sheets. 6 to 5.

From memory I think Wigan had George Williams, Joe Burgess and maybe Ryan Sutton who were in their final year of the 19s but had broken into the 1st team already by then.

very probably, i know powell hampshire and williams came through at roughly the same time, you had the issue of trying to fit them all in at half.

tbh it was more an observation (amongst us) that we dont produce anyone from our academy, and yet, as i say, there are several from one team alone, and a about 2 or 3 more that were championship based last year as well.

That was the best academy team (U20's at the time) that we have ever produced. We won the league winning 20 games from 24, losing to Wigan and beating them once. We should have won the championship but as usual, Wigan grit and determination won out on the day watched by a crowd of 1500 at the HJ. Some of the notable names that played; Toby King and brother George, Jack Johnson, Sam Wilde, Phibs of course, Dec Patton, Harvey Livett, Mike Nicholas's son Morgan and Louis Jouffret.

As somebody pointed out, Philbin had played 3 games in the first team that year (plus two for Swinton) and he was a handful. During the year he was 3rd top try scorer with 18 behind Jack Johnson. (wing) 22 and Toby King (24) whom I remember TS saying was "too good to be playing in the U20's".

We could do with a few more academy years like 2014.

It was a great contest all year. Wigan lost 4 out of their 1st 5 games before absolutely battering St Helens then barely lost another game all season. Warringtons side were great to watch and any game involving any of those three and you could add Leeds and Cas at that time and they were great contests generally.

Toby King looked a level above as you say and also a lot of promise elsewhere in the side.