I think there is something in what Trainman says. I am not saying we have an ideal set of props, but I do think they look a lot poorer due to the game they are told to play. In a nutshell they are used for defence and our backs, particularly wingers cart the ball up a lot. FPN's lack of interest could very well be because he is fed up with being told to play the game he is. We have form for doing this sort of thing. We sign players who look good and then when they get here we ask them to play a different game or even in a different position.

I have come to the conclusion you can't form a sensible opinion about all but a small number of players. They do as they are told and it doesn't matter if they are suited to the job they are asked to do or if the tactics are remotely good enough to deliver the goods anyway.

Frank had a fantastic cv when we signed him.

See that Leeds are recruiting for 2018, Gold Coast Titans prop Nathaniel Peteru on a three-year contract from 2018.

I still think we have a great prop on the books with FPN. He's not being used correctly though and it could be the reason he's not looked great. In the games where he takes the ball up a lot, he's looked a completely different player. He's like the others at our club and being told to allow the backs to do the work out of our own half.

Watching Melbourne last week, it's very noticeable that they have the exact same tactic.

Sorry, don't mean to gloat (honest) but for some reason this thread has just reminded me of when Taylor signed for Hull and a couple of posters on here accused him of lacking ambition and said he wasn't that good anyway. I said it was the opposite of lacking ambition because if he plays a key role in turning Hull around and wins at Wembley he will go down as a hero. Probably the only thing I've got right in the last 3 years.

Tbf to him I think he won Salford's player of the year, overweight or not.

As you guys have said, the number of carries from your front row must be a tactical thing. I can't imagine imagine Wane standing for it if it wasn't what he wanted.

Yes of course, that's we we signed him. Wane didn't "find" him, HKR did. We signed a good player who went straight into the 1st team. Along with Bateman he is a rarity. A very good player signed by Wigan in recent years.

All NRL teams do, but not at the expense of props doing their fair share too. Plus many NRL outside backs are bigger than those in SL.

moto - I'd say you've hit the nail on the head there - tactics need to vary depending on players sometimes. If you have big strong backs who like running the ball up, then by all means use them to do that. If you've got more whippet-like players then you need the forwards to get back and do it. Billy Slater can and does run the ball back really well, but when he does I bet Bellamy's heart is in is mouth because he gets absolutely smashed sometimes. His instructions to the wingers (and everyone else) will be to avoid Slater having to run the ball back if at all possible.

Fair assessment.

He had already played fir England when we signed him so the potential and ability was obvious.

Great up until his last season where he was a bit hit and miss, looked Simon par at Salford but now settled back at "home" he has started to improve again and looks like realising his full potential at Hull.

I was about to say the same thing. Have you seen the size of Melbourne's back line? I wouldn't be surprised if they're also fitter too.

How do you explain the odd good game he has had though (Saints away for example)? I understand him not taking many drives up if that is the strategy, but surely the few he does take should still be strong? I doubt Wane tells him to give up so many surrender tackles. I hope I'm wrong but he just doesn't look that bothered to me most of the time, either that or he is knackered from playing so many games/maybe training too hard. We have seen on occasion that he still has the talent.