Was KPP the reason we lost at Hull KR? (despite scoring a try)

Any single player is NEVER the total reason why a team loses
However
KPP needs to bring more intensity/line speed/attitude & IMO Toughness to his style of play to be a starter in THIS Wigan team
Isa knitted that right side defence together far better last week, and his overall attributes work better CURRENTLY

Before the season started my concern was KPP & Right side defense

I knew King would be the scapegoat for this, but KPP (And to a slightly lesser extent French & Cust) was as big if not a bigger problem
His inside chase 2nd half and getting caught at marker (Along with retreating for the 4th tackle from the PTB to a position BEHIND Jai Field) at FB left all kinds of problems which were too much for our right side that was already a bit Flakey.

For now I trust Isa to work with his inside/outside defenders better doing the hard stuff and laying the platform/field position to allow our more flamboyant/ball players to play.

There are attributes KPP brings that he does very well and can contribute for Wigan, however some of his fragilities create issues that we can ill afford at key periods in games

This is bang on. He really doesn't use his attributes enough, he starts games well but seems to completely fade away. I try and not judge young lads too much, but you can see he still has a hell of a lot of learning to do. Positionally in the defensive line, he looks so slow and vulnerable. I was surprised that people thought we wouldn't miss Bateman that much because we've got KPP. I just don't see it at the moment but hopefully he'll improve as the season goes on. Maybe off the bench is where he is best placed with Isa starting. We did look miles more comfortable against Wakey despite being a weaker opposition.

Big game for us this week mentally I feel, another away loss so early on in the season won't sit right.

I said the same about KPP during the Hull KR game, his work rate was low and he was not working with King in defence.

You could tell he had a few honest words in his direction at half time as he seemed to liven up for about 5 minutes before going back to hiding.

If he thinks he can coast through this season before jumping on a plane then I think Peet is right to send him the message and leave him out of the 17 for a few weeks.

He is a wonderfully talented player no doubt but he doesn’t bring nearly enough to the table in certain aspects of his game…which Isa does.

Some fans seem to think he is the best thing since sliced bread because he can offload, that’s all well and good but it’s bugger all use if he is not doing the basics of his job.

It’s a big year mentally for KPP and if the KR game was anything to go by it’s not one he is ready to front up in.

Hopefully a few weeks on the sideline will be the kick up the rear he needs.

I’ve never got carried along with the KPP hype tbh. I was staggered he made the mid season England training squad tbh and presumed it was to try an oil the wheels towards a new Wigan deal. I was even more amazed to then see him announce an exit and get picked for a 24 man World Cup squad.

He is a talent, there is no doubt about that but he’s got so far to go in his development across the board. It’s all well and good being an awkward ball carrier and having ball skills but you need more than that to hit the top level. I’m yet to see him really push himself in terms of workrate, he doesn’t run the ball with a great deal of aggression and his tackling needs work as well. I can’t help but wonder if subconsciously he’s held back somewhat, with an eye on what is seen as a real challenge over in Oz. In the case of Will Pryce, it feels much the same. They’ll both certainly need to up it if they want to make names for themselves (I do think they will to be fair).

For me KPP is currently an impact player who can create something once the early exchanges settle down.

He lacks the physicality (or at least has yet to show it) of the high intensity early exchanges in a game.

Coming off the bench against 25 minute old legs is where I see him this season.

He has all the physical gifts to be a top class player but he still lacks the experience in the “trenches” and needs to show a bit more heart if he is going to achieve his potential. If he sorts that side of himself out he has the potential to be a top player.

Isa could be a very very important player for us in 23 if we do not replace Bateman mid season.

I’d certainly have him in the 17 somewhere. While I do think he’s been overrated to a degree by some, I do see loads of potential and loads of talent. Maybe they pick and choose starts for him and games from the bench in others. You wouldn’t fancy him in the first 20 minutes of a Derby but I’d have no issues with him starting less intense games. Maybe being dropped last week will kick him on a gear in his physicality. It’s such a shame we seem incapable of producing that all round package in the forward. We seem to either get big and nice lads coming through or the ones with that mongrel in them are on the small side.

KPP is Hock (big, rugged, strong, great offloader) with a sprinkling of Karl Pryce thrown in, big but lacks effort and aggression sometimes.

It’s bob on. I see loads of Hock in him but Hock was scary because of his aggression. KPP needs to find a bit more of an edge to kick on. Hock would batter the ball up and attract people to him and his offloads were then dangerous because of spaces opening up around him. Teams don’t need to over commit to KPP because he’s just trundling it up half the time.

Gareth Hock was a rugby player.
KPP is an athlete.
Currently I wouldn’t mention KPP in the same breath as Hock.
I want KPP to succeed but he’s currently a forward with little aggression and minimal work rate. He can’t pass in the traditional sense. He can offload (not seen recently) but he can’t pass two handed.
Somebody may potentially get KKP to a good forward but in his final season with us Peet has work cut out.
I’d love the lad to have a great year but don’t see where it will come form.

Unless there are significant changes in his attitude or more worryingly maybe injuries he will get limited chances this season.
I hope the lad does well next year but at the moment he is very average championship level second rower. If Peet can enhance this then he’d be a real super coach.
I haven’t written KPP off but he isn’t a guy currently who you think will help us kick on.
I’d love him to prove me wrong but he can’t even offer effort to offset experience in the short term.
A major task for Peet this year is to drag KPP to the next level.

There was a thread on here, possibly before he had even played a competitive game, saying that he was world class.

How times change.

The cynic in me wonders if the opinions would be differert if he wasn't leaving next year....

Or even if he was a Wigan lad

The billing has always outweighed the talent and performances. I think his size, athleticism and the fact he’s not from the heartlands always had eyes on him and people willing a feel good story. He could well develop in to a top class forward and I do think he’ll be important for us this year but after seeing bits of Melbourne yesterday and Penrith/Brisbane today, his physicality will need to go up ten fold in the NRL. He’ll get battered about the place if not because he’ll have a target on him as an English player.

I was afraid when I posted what I did that it could turn into a KPP bashing and that isn't my intention
I'm saying he gas certain aspects to his game that don't suit our current situation.
And as it stands we need solidity on that right side, which he isn't all to blame for but is part of, and Isa can do a better job of for now.
Bateman, whatever people think comparing to the pre 2018 Bateman, gave us that with his hard work and experience and toughness on that side.

KPP can get worked over in that channel, and that adds to some other little areas of weakness (I like Cust but he can get caught on the outside shoulder as an example) and although no one.person is responsible it needs someone who has those attributes to connect them all together and make us thr best version we can be of ourselves.

KPP is like a Mago currently in that he can be a point of difference, someone who could change a game and that's how I'd use him for now.