I fully agree mate. Some people who think they are speaking ‘frankly’ need to get a grip, lose the chip on their shoulders and just get behind him and the team. Pryce doesn’t have to impress anyone on here as he’s obviously impressed the only guy that counts in Madge. He’s taken a MASSIVE step forward with his inclusion this week and it’s obviously come from a lot of hard work behind the scenes in training as Madge wouldn’t have selected him otherwise.

At a time when we’ve seen Carmont’s form falter and Phil Bailey struggling for pace in the centre we really need Pryce playing well. What a major problem solver it would be if we could call Pryce up to cover or even replace Carmont?

There are rumours going around that we’ve been looking at Shenton and other centres from the NRL for next season but how much easier would it be for everyone concerned if we do like Rouges stated and found out what makes Pryce tick.

Mate, I wish for exactly the same.

The day that Karl Pryce plays for the Wigan first team, I'll be wanting him to succeed because that improves Wigan's chances.

That's not to say that I shouldn't think he's a lazy, disinterested lump, because to date, that has been my observation of him.

As I said earlier, he quite obviously isn't doing enough to get in the first team to date, and hasn't proved himself in the reserves to be given a shot. This tells me that he's not done what the coaches have asked him to - So far.

I will absolutely give him "a fair crack of the whip", but as with other players before him (Richards, Roberts, Piggy, Lam, etc.) he himself has to put in the hard work and prove to the fans that we've not seen the full extent of his talent to date.

The only way to do that is to play himself in to first team contention and then pull his tripes out from the second that he sets foot on the field to the second that he leaves it, and NOT to play at being injured the first time that things go slightly awry.

OK. It looks like he now HAS "done enough to get in the first team to date, and HAS proved himself in the reserves enough to be given a shot.".

As stated previously, if he plays, I will back him 100% as part of MY team.

He's done the hard bit (convincing Madge and Waney), so now comes the easy part (turning public opinion)



As I said, others in this team (Richards, Roberts, Riddell) have all been in similar positions and challenged themselves to show us their best.
I sincerely hope that Karl goes on to do exactly the same.

The big problem I have with your interpretation is that it relies on things occuring in a vacuum. Karl's selection or otherwise is not solely dependant upon his own performances in training/reserves, but also the performances and form of the other players competing for the same spot. Darrell Goulding has performed admirably this season, as has Amos Roberts, Pat Richards, Martin Gleeson, and prior to Injury Cam Phelps. Who would have been dropped even if it was felt that Karl had been performing well in training/reserves? unless one of the others gets injured or starts performing worse?

It really is quite silly to imply that his previous lack of selection backs up your view of him being lazy, the only certainty that can be deduced is that MM and SW felt that his performances did not warrant his selection over the other players in those positions. Stop being so polarised about everything. The truth lies somewhere between your view of lazy/no heart/does nothing, and my view of he's a talented young player who given the right spark and opportunity could do a real job for us.

Karl was in contention for selection prior to picking up a knock just prior to the season start, Darrell got the opportunity and took it fantastically well. All Karl can do is keep doing what's asked of him by the coaching staff, and bide his time. Hopefully that time has now come and he'll have a good performance though don't expect an on fire performance from somebody who's been out of that level of competition for so long, especially if the rest of the team aren't totally firing - evidenced by a couple of the 'thrown to the lions' appearances under Noble. If he can perform well enough to satisfy what MM/SW ask of him, then frankly I couldn't give a flying one what anybody else thinks of him, and neither should he.

It's also strikes me as a little silly to dismiss that 'dancing' doesn't have anything to do with it, as clearly time after time, year after year, some players are singled out for things that go without a passing comment from others. The common factor seems to be a particular player's popularity with a section of the fans, which in any sport is not always directly related to their actual ability or performance level, and often influenced by their demeanour and how they make fan's feel (see the recent discussion re: Feka and Fielden for a couple of good examples of this phenomenon)

And i'm glad to hear that you'll back him 100% if he plays. No how about backing him 100% even if he doesn't, as he's still actually part of our team and one of our players?

I really hope he does work out, as like Rogue's has stated, the lad really is one hell of a talented player.

Sorry, but if he's taking first-team wages and being left to rot in the reserves, then it prevents us from signing anybody else, due to the artificial limitations applied by the Salary Cap.
For that reason, I cannot back any player who isn't putting the effort in.



So do I. I hate to see both talent AND Salary Cap money going to waste.

As to the rest of your post, I only hold a polarised view of Karl because he has proved that view (lazy/disinterested/soft) to be correct on too many occasions to date.

I am still willing to have my mind changed though (as I was with Pat "Shït Boy" Richards after his first year). The name stuck (as will "Dornkay" for Karl Pryce - You need the Shrek accent), but as Pat's is now used as a joking term, I hope Karl's will become the same.

Actually I don't expect he's on a big wedge and there is no way that it would prevent us from signing anybody who the club felt was worth signing as I'm pretty sure IL is a smart enough and determined enough man to 'get his man' if the right person became available.

We can play 17 players each week, yet can have 25 top earners, there's always going to be 8 players who you should equally feel prevent us from signing anybody else. I think it's more than a little unfair to hold that against the lad.

I'd be delighted if Karl did come good - when he first arrived, I thought highly enough of him to be part of a group that chose him as our sponsored player for 2009, and was delighted to be sat with him (and Feca) at the end of season Gala Dinner.

Sadly, since then, I've seen nothing in any of his games, either for the first team or the reserves, to suggest it was a sensible decision. I can only assume Madge has seen something in training to suggest he's earned a place, and, most definitely, "in Madge we trust"!

Have a great game, Karl, I hope you prove all us "doubters" wrong!

I hope you kept a keen eye on your dinner with those 2 sitting nearby.