Props at Wigan get a very easy ride. If you can be solid in defence and make 40m a game you're one of the first names on the sheet.

For years now we've flogged our back rowers and outside backs at the expense of props doing any real work.

It's embarrassing when you compare them to actual props who not only do the same work in defence but also do 3x the work with the ball.

I've said for ages what's the actual point in us even having props? Just sign a few more second rowers and play them in that position.

So what? He is down as 3 carries.

His carries are very low, but we don't know what he's been told to do or how to play.
He's the 4th highest tackler with 37. Personally I wouldn't play him at 13.

Do the stats show possession rate whilst they were on the field, if we only had 20% possession when player x was on the field then they would probably be lower than player y if we had 80% possession when y was on the field, not sure where to look for stats

Don't think they exist mate, I've never even seen a stat for minutes played, never mind who had the ball during those minutes. I do think it's forgivable for a forward to have a low number of carries if he made lots of tackles though, and vice versa.

Agree with the previously mentioned "Props get an easier ride at Wigan" For years we had backs that made 100 mtrs plus with Gelling Charnley and Sarginson. They, and other backs, made a large contribution to the squad's meters gained stat,
Now most of our backs are missing those filling their places can't and won't make those meters.
That leaves only one option and that is the props step up.
Now if we all know this then the opposition coaches will most certainly know it.
The remedy is for the coaching staff to change the tactics slightly to allow the props or meter maker more space and opportunity to gain ground.
Wakefield have some big men in their pack and their backs are hardly small either.
This game is as much a challenge for the coaching staff as the players and I'm more than certain they are capable of it.

Sutton for Canberra ran for 177 meters and made 47 tackles. When can we expect something similar from our props?

Didn't people say he wasn't good enough for Wigan?

calculate metres different over there

maybe they will

Sutton doesn’t even look like the same bloke anymore. He is a prime athlete now, who looks to have decided to commit and push himself. In his time here he was carrying a spare tyre round and played within himself. He was still a good player but a move to the NRL always seemed to be the plan and now he’s got it, he’s giving it everything he has. Fair play to him, he’s a cracking prop now and will make the England squad for the World Cup IMO.

You are right. Only 66 post contact meters.so he must be running from a long way back. Assuming contact is in front of the gain line he must still be up around the 100 meter mark. as well as getting 3 tackle busts.

To be fair regarding his weight/fat it’s easy to forget he was only 22 when he left us, still very much a baby in real terms and some of that weight he would have been carrying would have been both puppy fat and also probably required to help him cope with the physicality at such a young age in his position. Remember Andy Faz when he came though being a totally different shape to the Faz we saw in his peak playing years.

At 25 now he has grown into himself and entered that period where he is able to lose that and reveal his natural playing weight condition.

I wouldn’t expect it will be an indication on him working any harder, just conditioning his body to the stage of his development.

He does look in fantastic condition now.

There’s definitely an element of that I’m sure. I’m probably too hard on him but I always sensed we had a lad who just coasted a little bit but even doing that, he was a good player for us and did a great job at such a young age. I can’t say I’m convinced he’d be in the condition he is now had he stayed here just through naturally shedding puppy fat but maybe I’m cynical. He knew he’d be moving to the NRL for that 2019 season prior to us starting our season in 2018 and it was no coincidence he got himself in much better shape for that last season with us.

That ship has sailed with Sutton anyway. He did a good job for us so fair play and he’s turning in to a top player now and I’m happy to see it. I don’t think we’ll ever see him back in superleague from the noises he makes but I look forward to seeing how he gets on for England.