The other issue is that we need our back three to make good metres and put us on the front foot.

I do not think that all of our pack needs replacing, most of them are capable of doing exactly what is required of them. But we got to the Grand Final last year despite the glaring weaknesses not because of them. We covered over our lack of forward meter makers through dogged determination and a back line that could get us out of trouble. The same issues are still there that we tried to address by buying Burgess. Individually our forwards are fine but together they do not have the makings of winners. It is a bit like trying to paint but only having shades of red available.

One metre eating prop changes the whole feel of that front row for me. A big, raw boned, experienced body who can make ground from their own line would bring such a nice balance. You then have Singleton and Partington who bring aggression and a real combative nature, Bullock who can knock holes in teams when he’s on and Havard who is statistically superb but still very young and could just do with one more experienced prop to play on the back of.

I think we’re closer to having a top level front row then we’ve been for a long time but the gap without that one we need is so glaring. Not that we have a sniff of getting him but we’ve spoke about Liam Watts many times. Just as an example, you put him in this side and the perspective on the rest is so different. Singleton and Partington can just do their thing as we have a player smashing the metres out, Havard and Bullock can play on the back of that as well and have an easier job because opposition teams defences are being challenged more by a player like that.

If there was even a sniff of signing Watts we ought to be throwing the kitchen sink at him to sign him. Unlikely as you say but with Powell leaving you just never know.

We’ve mentioned his name time and again but sadly the ship sailed when Wane wanted to get him from Hull. In terms of what we’ve missed the last couple of years and what we need going forward, they both wouldn’t have been or continue to be an issue had we got him. The whole George Burgess mess probably wouldn’t have happened as well and the club would’ve saved a fortune in the process.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing I suppose.

Why are we incapable of signing the right type of prop? Are we unlucky or is it down to someone not doing their homework?

It seems to be an on-going issue with Wigan - I am struggling to think of any prop signings who have been top drawer (GB might have been an exception if he had been fit but that is another story) in recent times - we seem to have a blind spot in signing props - Lima is the last one I can think of who was really good (I think of the likes of Flower as decent but not in the top bracket).

Certainly in recent years we have a well below average track record, some of the prop signings have been really poor., you have top go back a long way for Wigan to consistently sign top class props- for some reason we have a much better record of signing players in other positions, it is very strange.

When we had Taylor, Flower, Dudson and Mossop was probably the last time we had a set of bog props and we won the double



I think it must have been a policy under Wane to have smaller props no other explanation for it really, The way we played suggest it too.

Since he's left we've signed Bullock and Burgess so seems like we are at least looking for big metre makers now.

Not throwing the baby out with the bathwater but hope we see a better performance this week.

We have a real blind spot when it comes to props. I did a post a couple of years back saying that we don't sign, or produce any props of note. Now that's changed slightly with the progression of Sutton in the NRL and hopefully Havard coming onto the scene ​too.

Like you said however, in the last 20 years you can probably name 2, or 3 top draw Wigan players for every position apart from prop.

I think that if Watts leaves Castleford then he will follow Powell to Warrington

Because the type of prop people want are few and far between, who fits the bill of what we need? Not very many, and the ones available are probably zero.
If Luke Thompson becomes available we should try and move heaven and earth for him and use the Marquee spot.

Some SL props that (IMO) would improve our go-forward:
- Mike Cooper
- Robbie Mulhern
- Mikolaj Oledzki
- Ligi Sao
- Sebastine Ikahihifo