Big Steve wrote:3/4's through the season I thought Bryne was finished at the club and on his way out especially when he was sub but didn't come on. He was either not getting selected after missing a number of games through poor tackle technique and when he did play he would come up with soft errors, usually dropping the ball in tackle or sloppy ptb.
The last few games of the season though he played more minutes and I can't remember a mistake or poor tackle. I think he's obviously put alot of work into his technique at bending his back more in the tackle - and i suspect Wigan have been working hard in the background with him on this.
I think he still has a lot to offer and if he puts the work in I think he can mature now into a very good prop for Wigan. and he's a very big body who can take alot out of the opposition. He won't do the spectacular stuff, but he's the sort of prop every team needs to take some sting out of the opposition forwards.
A lot will come down to what he is happy with I guess. He is at best 4th choice behind Ellis, Havard and Thompson and he's not as good an impact prop as Mago. I think Dupree has more potential but Byrne had moved past him by the end of the season.
He's up the pecking order with Cooper gone but could be under pressure from Hill.
This year showed it's good for us to have depth at prop but if he wants more than 10 minutes here and there he will probably be looking elsewhere.