As soon as typed the thread title I could hear the ''YOU'RE USING HIM AS A SCAPE GOAT!'' brigade gathering...

I didn't feel confident with him on the wing last night despite his try. He made a couple of very good cover tackles, but it was his own fault that he had make them in first place as he showed them the wing and was easily beaten. His turn of pace is simply way, way too slow for a winger.

To me, Pryce is similar to Feka in their respective positions. They have combinations of size, power and pace that can't be matched by others who play in the same position and it's good to have in certain game situations. However, other attributes have to be sacrificed which have to be compared and weighed up against any positives. In my opinion, his weaknesses are too easy to be exploited but that's not to say he can't go to another club and be much more suited to their style of play.

In my opinion it's time for Pryce and Wigan to depart. It's a shame as we brought him back to League, helped him through a nasty injury and rebuilt his career but I can't see him in 2011 doing anything more than playing another year in the U20's, whilst making the odd appearence in the first team. I just can't ever see him earning and maintaining a starting spot for a considerable length of time when you consider the competition for his position, so what's the point in retaining him? He has potential and it's good to see him coming back to Super League form, but his future lies else where. Time to move on.

I would agree seeing as we have Marsh and Charnley waiting in the wings both with bags of pace.

I would have liked nothing better than Pryce to rip it up and show us what he used to do at Bradford but he hasn't and at 24/25 he should be at his peak.

He was left out to dry by his centre partner defensively, and considering Hodgson is supposed to be quick and is one of the leagues top scorers, Pryce did well to turn and make the tackles.
Do you think Goulding would scored Pryces try?

Seeing as two of Huddersfields tries came on the other side of the field I think it's wrong to blame Pryce.

Marsh had a very poor game, with and without the ball. There were far worse performers on the field than Pryce last night.

Have you watched the game again?

He is not a winger. If that is where we want to play him I agree we are wasting our time.

Hang on, check my first sentance of the post.... I'm not using him as a scape goat and I've not said he was to blame for yesterdays loss. This is merely a focus on Pryce himself.

What role do you see Pryce playing next year and for the considerable future, Brian?

I fully agree.

The writing was on the wall early on when Huddersfield chipped over the top and he was stranded trying to get back - fortunately for us the touchline helped us out. His try scoring record is impressive, but I'm convinced that the vast majority of that is down to the calibre of the players inside him rather than through his efforts. He would not be on anywhere near the amount of tries he's got if he'd have played last year.The fact that he seemingly doesn't run wouldn't endear him to many fans, as it can be seen as a lack of effort by some.

It's a shame as I quite like him, and he's had some unfair criticism, but he doesn't offer the team enough when he plays, and is the obvious weak link in the backs. I think we could better use the cap and squad space elsewhere

I'd like to see him given a run at centre.
What's laughable is the comment above about the chip kick to Pryce, watch the game again and they used the same tactic against Richards and for again for their last try.

Pryce was really good defensively last night, he carried the ball in (something he has been accused of not doing) and took his try well.

Of course he will struggle to turn quickly, so did Vainikolo and so does Meli, but last night when he had to turn he got back and saved four tries.

Marsh, bar one good run was awful last night both with and without the ball, but he is young and will learn.

He hasn't got the enthusiasm and the ability to step upto the marker in such a pivotal and creative position. I have the upmost confidence to say Karl Pryce will never be a regular centre for Wigan.

He's entering his third year with Wigan aged 24 playing in the U20's without doing anything to cement his place within the first team.

It's not doing Wigan, our youngsters or Karl himself any favours.

I'll still have the same view that I have had all year. I would give him another years contract (at the right salary)
Charnley will eventually fill that centre spot, but as he still qualifies at U18 level I would hold him back for another year at least.
Marsh, as I said was very poor yesterday, and I think his natural position is at fullback. With Carmont leaving at the end of next season, and then Gleeson probably the season after centre positions will be up for grabs. I don't see anybody in the junior teams (except Marsh and Charnley) to cover.

I believe Karl Pryce has been offered a two year deal at Bradford, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I think the main problem with Pryce is his perceived lack of enthusiasm. He looks like he'd struggle to get out of bed in the morning and I think his brother alluded to this in an interview once. He has all the physical attributes to be a great centre in the mould of an Greg Englis or a Jamal Idris but that doesn't mean he will be. People around me moan and scream abuse at him throughout the match for not running in with the same aggression as Feka, but how many players actually do run in like that?

For me he's not lived up to the hopes I had for him and I don't think my expectations were as high as some peoples. If he's cheap enough, I'd be tempted to give him another 12 months but he's not someone I'd get my knickers in a twist about if he goes.

If I was him I'd snatch their hands off

Totally agree, I felt Marsh was shocking last night and left Pryce high and dry and he did well. The tackle on Hodgson probably the best finisher in the game was outstanding text book tackle. Many times I have seen him offered the outside and take it, last night the door was well and truly shut.

Some seem to criticise him on another thread for "only being effective from 10 yards out". I find this very odd. The current game is about building pressure and winning the field position. Having players like Pryce who can finish the pressure so effectively is a real feather in our cap.

He is without doubt behind Goulding and rightly so, but for me he is worth 1 more year, if we are in the same position as we are now in 12 months time I agree let him go, but I personally feel he does have something to offer although I also would prefer to see him in the centre.

Regards enthusiasm or lack of it, see Marsh's marker work for the match winning try. He had every opportunity to put Brough under pressure for the kick, but simply went through the motions took 3 steps from the marker then stopped and jogged back to the centre spot allowing Brough an eternity to put in the match winning kick. He is young and will learn but these young lads have no excuse for lacking enthusiasm.

And with the rules that apply to the U20's team as to how many overage players you can have he will be getting in the way of other players both young players coming up and more senior players who need a bit of rehab before going into the first team. We have already released a couple of young players who have reached 21 as they could not break into the 1st team and I have nothing in Pryce's game to suggest he is worth playing regularly in the U20's (which is where he would play most of the time next season) at the expense of anyone else.

Dave

You are KP's Dad, Rouges is his Uncle and I claim my give pounds .

The pair of you blaming March one of the most ridiculous things I have seen either of you post. KP was at fault not Marsh. He was out of position not because he was covering Marsh he was just in the wrong place! KP was outplayed by his opposite right wing who was also a big lad who looked a far better player. KP doesn't make any yards taking the ball out of defence, he doesn't make any breaks anywhere on the pitch and Hudds kicked behind him because they know he can't turn quickly. He's just not good enough to warrant a place in the side at 24.

As to it being a feather in out cap we have a player who can finish from 10 yards out he needs to do more than that. He is being carried most of the game by his team mates and if you can't see that then you must be blind IMO.

Dave

I completely agree with not just this but your opening post. Pryce was poor and showed once again that he is no winger. However as you say he is certainly no centre either.

Pryce is far too slow, lacks acceleration and has the turning circle of a tank which makes him a liability at times. If some of Huddersfields kicks had been better and he was playing against a better winger than Hodgson then he would have been caught out much more yesterday. Hodgson showed that he hasnt really improved from his Wigan days and has lost the pace that he used to have.

Even the things that people are praising him for are when he recovered after missing a tackle or when he was out of position in the first place. This and his wrong decisions constantly put the team under pressure when it didnt need to be. In attack his lack of work rate is embarrassing and when he does make a drive he just trundles it up and gets tackled after a few yards. He just does not offer enough.

I also think that the Pryce fans who are trying to blame Marsh for Pryce's failings are way off the mark. Marsh is no centre and he wasnt great by any means but he certainly wasnt the weak link like some are trying to make out and was no worse than Pryce.

There is no way that Pryce deserves to be retained and he is just wasting a squad place. If injuries do occur I would much rather see Charnley and Marsh get games than Pryce and thus I see little reason to keep him.