Simple fact is there could have been a stipulation that Clarke couldn’t play against Cas this season. You’ve gone from saying he’s not good enough to warrant a place in your side because your other forwards are better, to saying he’s too big a threat to your play off ambitions. Which is it?

Both. He doesn’t get in Cas’ first choice pack, but he improves Wigan’s.
I think it might go a bit deeper as well to be honest. Powell is known for ‘sending out a message’ to the rest of the squad. By not allowing Clark to join Wigan now, he’s making the point that players who sign elsewhere for the following season can’t just throw a stop and get their own way whilst they are still under contract at Cas.
Unlike Clark, Greg Minikin hasn’t acted like a spoilt brat even though he’s signed elsewhere for next year. As such, he’s kept his place in the team. Clark spat his dummy and has ended up playing at Leigh.

Well that's not true either, is it? He was playing (and playing well) in your pack and has lost his place due to a falling out with the coach, not because of form. If you're going to rewrite history you need to delete all the threads where he's getting loads of praise earlier in the season over on the Cas forum.

He did have some good games. His problem is that he’s an impact forward, so he only plays 20/25 minutes. If he does his job well and makes an impact, he stands out for the time he’s on the field. If he doesn’t, then everyone considers it to be a waste of interchanges. Powell’s approach has always been to withdraw him after ten minutes or so if he hasn’t made an impact (he’s done the same with similar players in previous seasons) as he quickly becomes a defensive liability.
In fairness I think he did lose his place because other players returned. When he was playing Cas were missing a mixture of Millington, Sene-Lafeo, McMeeken, Moors, Holmes and Cook. Most of th se players returned to fitness and offer far more than Clark, so he dropped out. Then when he did get a chance, he looked disinterested and was subbed off after 7 minutes.
I’m with Powell on this one. When Clark was subbed he stormed off and refused to leave the changing room. We had a concussion interchange late in that game and had to put a knackered Grant Millington back on when I suspect Clark would have been used if he wasn’t refusing to play. I said at the time I didn’t think we’d see him in a Cas shirt again, and so it has proved.

And were all those other players injured again when he got that second chance?

No Moors, Sene-Lafeo or Holmes when Clark came back into the team.

As an Eels fan it will be interesting to see how Bevan goes with you guys. He was amazing to watch in 2016 and probably the quickest winger at the time. Last year though he became a bit of a liability due to his size and was rag dolled far too much and rarely made decent metres on kick returns. His confidence was clearly down, hence not seeing any first grade time this year (plus we have Ferguson and Sivo who are monsters). He’s been going well and scoring regularly for Wentworthville, so he might be on the up again. He prefers to play fullback, so will be interesting where he fits in. I don’t think he has the defensive game to play 6, but who knows in your formation. Anyways, I hope the move is successful for him as he has talent to burn.

Bet Zaks glad you've stopped stalking him now Nottingham Tiger.....

Agreed it looks like he's a bit of an unknown. Is he as much of a gamble as say Gelling was? I don't think so (and Gelling was successful for us in the end).

I'm excited. I will repeat my post from around a week ago.....

For only the 2nd time in the IL reign (so over a decade) are we looking away from the Wigan Borough for genuine talent. The first time being the Melbourne trio (who came here under different circumstances).


Hastings - Quality. Signed.
French - Quality. Signed.

Burgess - Quality. Rumoured.

Without YouTube highlights undoubtedly most of us would be questioning the French signing, who is he? Any good?

Reminds me a little of 1984 when we signed a certain John Ferguson. He did alright for us.... You never know!

I've hyped up players before they've kicked a ball for us to then only turn out to be garbage so I prefice this post with that acknowledgement, BUT

Christ this kid looks good. There is a cracker where he makes a break, kicks the ball over the top of the fullback, skins Brett Morris and regathers/collects and scores. Brilliant. Another cracking clip of him playing out from fullback with a no look pass to setup a score. Appreciate these are anecdotal highlight clips, but I am genuinely so excited to see this guy play. In this league, raw pace, balance and footwork is devastating.

On social media people are debating where he would play and getting het up over who might drop out - who cares? Isn't this the way it should be? Competition for places.

Personally, I would see him introduced on the wing and ease him in.

I have definitely been quick to jump down IL/KR throats before when things havent been great, but top marks on this one. If we have got George Burgess too I'd get a season ticket again. No shame in admitting it.

I wonder.

If Wigan played French at fullback,Joe Burgess and one of the other three wingers, with Hardaker and Gildart in the centres would it be the quickest backline in Super league and probably the fastest since the days of Paul, Offiah, Robinson, Connolly and Inga?

I'm similar in regards a season ticket. I go 95% of games home and away anyway but don’t bother with a season ticket due to missing the odd game for holidays but if we pull of a signing like Burgess on top of getting players like Hastings and French I’d feel compelled to back the club and buy one. I wouldn’t make much of a difference to the coffers as I go anyway (and it probably costs me more over the year) but you get excited by big players and exciting teams to watch and I have mates I’m sure would go more, I’d take my daughter more, my nephew etc.

If we manage to get Burgess over the line then there’s going to be one hell of a buzz going in to 2020.

Glad I don't sit next to you Mr Happy

Playing off a pack of Burgess, Powell, Flower, Greenwood, Faz, Lockers

Hardaker is the best defensive fullback out there and I'd be sad to see him movex to another position. But maybe Lam thinks we need someone who's better chiming into the line in attack.

Still think French will move to the halves with Hastings.

Hardaker to stay where he is.

"The only reason Hastings would stay for two seasons is if he’s poor the first season"
For me Hastings would have to be really special to go back to the NRL. Lots of young half-backs coming thru,he may have missed the boat over there

I think we’ll try him at six and see how it goes. I had a look at the club page for the side he’s been turning out for though and reports he’s been in the halves for them seems wide of the mark. He’s been at fullback for at least the last couple of months.

2020 line up;

1. Hardaker
2. J Burgess
3. Gildart
4. Bibby/Hankinson*
5. Manfredi
6. French
7. Hastings
8. G Burgess
9. Powell
10. Flower
11. Greenwood
12. Farrell
13. Smithies**

That is one formidable line up.

*I’d probably err towards Hankinson but it’s still for me a weak spot. Having said that it’s arguably one that can develop and evolve into something special.

**I do think SOL will drop down a shirt, and it would be a tough but the right decision. Working on the presumption he doesn’t opt to retire

French
Burgess
Gildart
Hardaker
Manfredi
Sammut
HAstings
Burgess
Powell
Flower
Greenwood
Farrell
Clubb

Honestly never heard of her

yeah...good one

One slight negative for me is that I would have liked Lam to have had a clear plan in mind of what he wants from French. In the WEP he acknowledges he doesn't know where he'll fit in. Hope it won't end up being a case of square pegs in round holes.

I read that report as, he will be in the team, it depends how people go this season as to who misses out next year if everyone is fit. He puts pressure on every single back we have to perform as he can fit in from 1 - 7.

Or maybe he doesn’t want to say 1 as it would confirm Hardaker is off or say 6 as he doesn’t want to give the game away about Sammut and maybe Tommy?
My guess is he will start on the wing which is probably a good thing as it will be easier to bed into the side slowly but he must be earmarked for 1,6 or a centre spot.