cpwigan wrote:It was never a question of either or. Hughes was ready to leave and needed to be a starter. Burke IMO is under rated because he is not a showy player but clubs / coaches always seem to want him more than fans do.
I agree. It wasn't a choice there to be made at the time Hughes future was to be decided.
Always felt Hughes was underrated and suffered from being moved into the centres when at Wigan.
As to Burke I also agree. I think he is underrated. He seems to make very few errors and I think he must be doing what Wane wants of him or he would not make the side as he has been.
Very much. I have a lot of time for No Straw but on pure metres stats he is never going to be amazing. Last night he made a great play that led to a try but in metres gained it was nothing. I would rather have the play he made than an extra 2, 3, 4, 5 metres.
At the present time I think he makes a great reserve as he is very versatile and as others have said makes very few mistakes. He must have something if several coaches rate him.
I'd have Burke every time, we have strong second row runners, but not many ball playing forwards. Hughes's handling is shocking, but Burke's is very good. Once established in the team I can see him being like Lockers and able to slot in as a half if required.
He's not there to make metres, and filled the lockers place well last night.
Burke reminds me a bit of O'Carroll , neither the size nor skill to match the big heart. He's not going to be good enough to be a SL number 13 which is I think what the club were hoping he may do because he had good hands as a youth and is an intelligent lad. If he's not a 13 he becomes a bit of a bland utility forward - not sure we need one of those.
Burke was tagged by the RFL as prop being his optimum position which is why he partnered the Burgess twin as a prop for England Academy in defeating Australia. Wigan have largely always tagged him as a loose forward.
Both are big hearted players but neither particularly talented.Neither have impressed me and will probably spend their careers moving from club to club.Not good enough for Wigan