It's the age old argument
His value to Hudderfield is greater than his value to Wigan

As discussed previously, I would certainly have kept him on a similar amount to what he's on now on in his 3rd year at Wigan
I wouldn't based on his value to Huddersfield who have seriously increased his Salary.

Good luck to the lad l, deserves the break and has always done his best for Wigan

It's a short career so I don't blame him one iota for moving for improving his income.
A real solid clubman who will do a job for Huddersfield at either centre or wing. We have a severe shortage of both so hopefully further additions to the squad to be announced over the next few weeks. If we don't replace him he will be missed.
A good St Cuthberts lad.

He seems a great character and again, like Partington, has given it everything. The posts above nail it, we can’t afford to bump his wage up to the level he’s getting elsewhere if we’re then going to use him as a squad player and IMO that’s his level and how he should be used here. It may well be how he is used at Huddersfield as well mind, when you consider they have a 2-5 available of McGillvary, Naiqama, Marsters and Senior and also have Cudjoe to throw in.

As for us, we need another centre without a doubt IMO. We need to nail that position and get some stability in there. I’m really hopeful the Wardle rumours come to fruition and we can then relax and finally move on from throwing second rowers in there.

Actually think Bibby was downright lazy at times this year. 7 carries in the Leeds game for 40 metres.

I don’t really view us as having a shortage I think we have some real top quality across the outside backs and have the balance about right between youth and experience.

I agree he needs to be replaced and anticipate he will be with Wardle. Once we do replace him I think we have great options across the backline.

We have 3 very good wingers in Miski, French and Marshall.
We have 3 specialist centres in King, Thornley and Halsall with I still believe Wardle to come in and replace Bibby.

We also still have the likes of KPP, Isa and Bateman who can “do a job” in the centre however with the 4 listed above I think that should become the exception in 2023 rather than the rule, which we saw in 22.

I cannot recall the last time we had 2 specialist centres in the 17, and I think this has been an area that Peet has addressed as a priority.

In regards Bibby I would have liked to retain him too but I understand he was offered more than we were willing to pay to secure his services. Whilst I’d liked to have him around the squad I don’t see him as a regular starter at Wigan in 23, and we have a backup centre wing in Thornley so it makes sense for both parties to move on.

Good luck to him. He hasn’t let anyone down during his time with us.

IF Wardle is announced we'll be in a miles better position in the three quarters than last season, hopefully he has signed and baring the direst emergency that should be the last we see of second rowers being stuck out there

I've been a big advocate of Bibby and stuck up for him plenty of times in the past. I've seen him have blinders Vs far more hyped players like Johnstone, who he's had in his back pocket most
of the times he's played against him.

That being said, I think he's been poor this year. On Good Friday, I was quietly confident and looking forward to him doing a defensive number on Hurell. Sadly the opposite happened and he wasn't the same after. He seemed to lose his confidence and Peet seemed to lose confidence in him too.

I hope we've got Wardle, or it will completely negate the resigning of French imo.

Miski and Halsall are currently, based on 2022 selections, perhaps considered not good enough by Peet due to the lack of first team appearances even with the injuries we had during the season and the exit of Hardaker?

Miski has improved marginally but his debut was one the worst debuts I've ever seen in a Wigan shirt.

Wouldn't surprise me if Thornley retires. He had awful luck with injuries and maybe his time has gone? He's at age where injuries are going to be an ever present and I'm not sure that he has the willpower or the capacity to keep struggling through
.
I stand to be corrected but I think Halsall played FB in his amatuer days so his experience at centre is somewhat limited and maybe that is what is preventing him from commanding a first team place at centre?

Apologies if that sounds negative Jon but we have been delinquent for many years in recruiting specialist centres and for me, even with King coming in we are short of top quality centres with decent backup.
Maybe I've mentally, incorrectly, "accepted" that Thornley won't be coming back and feel that we still require more experienced cover in the three quarters.

I'm quite hopeful that Wardle will join us per your prediction which will be a big improvement on recent years in the centres.

Itchy Arsenal wrote:Miski and Halsall are currently, based on 2022 selections, perhaps considered not good enough by Peet due to the lack of first team appearances even with the injuries we had during the season and the exit of Hardaker? Miski has improved marginally but his debut was one the worst debuts I've ever seen in a Wigan shirt. Wouldn't surprise me if Thornley retires. He had awful luck with injuries and maybe his time has gone? He's at age where injuries are going to be an ever present and I'm not sure that he has the willpower or the capacity to keep struggling through . I stand to be corrected but I think Halsall played FB in his amatuer days so his experience at centre is somewhat limited and maybe that is what is preventing him from commanding a first team place at centre? Apologies if that sounds negative Jon but we have been delinquent for many years in recruiting specialist centres and for me, even with King coming in we are short of top quality centres with decent backup. Maybe I've mentally, incorrectly, "accepted" that Thornley won't be coming back and feel that we still require more experienced cover in the three quarters. I'm quite hopeful that Wardle will join us per your prediction which will be a big improvement on recent years in the centres. According to the attached article Thornley will be playing in 2023. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... 23-3858129

Itchy Arsenal wrote:Miski and Halsall are currently, based on 2022 selections, perhaps considered not good enough by Peet due to the lack of first team appearances even with the injuries we had during the season and the exit of Hardaker? Miski has improved marginally but his debut was one the worst debuts I've ever seen in a Wigan shirt. Wouldn't surprise me if Thornley retires. He had awful luck with injuries and maybe his time has gone? He's at age where injuries are going to be an ever present and I'm not sure that he has the willpower or the capacity to keep struggling through . I stand to be corrected but I think Halsall played FB in his amatuer days so his experience at centre is somewhat limited and maybe that is what is preventing him from commanding a first team place at centre? Apologies if that sounds negative Jon but we have been delinquent for many years in recruiting specialist centres and for me, even with King coming in we are short of top quality centres with decent backup. Maybe I've mentally, incorrectly, "accepted" that Thornley won't be coming back and feel that we still require more experienced cover in the three quarters. I'm quite hopeful that Wardle will join us per your prediction which will be a big improvement on recent years in the centres. According to the attached article Thornley will be playing in 2023. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... 23-3858129

Zig wrote:According to the attached article Thornley will be playing in 2023. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... 23-3858129 Really nice guy and I feel for him, but that's pie in the sky stuff imo. He's had bad injuries at most places he's been. He's had what 3 big injuries this season? On form and fit, he's great but he's no good sat in the stands.

Zig wrote:According to the attached article Thornley will be playing in 2023. https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... 23-3858129 Really nice guy and I feel for him, but that's pie in the sky stuff imo. He's had bad injuries at most places he's been. He's had what 3 big injuries this season? On form and fit, he's great but he's no good sat in the stands.