Yes I am.
Do you seriously rate ST defensively at FB?
Fantastic going forward but pretty poor under the high ball to the point that he brings too much uncertainty to the team.
Just an opinion but it will take a lot to shift it

I think you have a pre formed opinion on the matter. As the stats just outlined, he missed less tackles than escare has, and made less errors (which would include knock ons).

As good as Escaré has been for us, anyone who thinks he's a better fullback than ST really should watch something else. I will confidently predict much egg on many faces when ST returns at full fitness.

Did you go to or see the the first Cas away game last year? Sam was absolutely superb defensively and a BIG part of why/how we won that game.

I think defensively Escare is better than ST.
Do I think Escare is a better player? Absolutely not.
I just think that unless ST can regain his pace from 4 or 5 years ago ( yes it's that long ago) he will be better the halfs.
I'm not anti ST and would love it if he could rekindle his superb form pre his move toNZ.k

J I'm not a stats man.
My opinion has been formed by watching ST since his return and comparing that to another player.
It's purely subjective.
I'm an avid ST fan and just think he would be better at 6 where he can do more damage and would hopefully improve us across the park in attack.

Yes. Can I remember a superb defensive display? Not particularly.
So am I to believe you consider ST to be a consistently good FB since his return?
Have you never seen him have a poor game or is he beyond criticism?
I'm not having a dig at him I just think someone has come along who is probably better than him right now in that position and offers pretty good potential in the future in that position.
In my view ANY fullback who lets a high ball bounce deliberately (and ST did that a few times and statistically won't be considered an error) ain't a good defensive FB.

I want ST to return and play a major role in hopefully a successful season. I just think that at the moment that for would be at 6 with Williams at 7.

I completely agree. If anybody thinks ST has been fully fit at any point during his 2nd stint at Wigan are simply wrong. He hasn't been fully fit and probably won't be until next season when he gets a full preseason in him. That said, an 80% fit ST will still be a devastating addition to our squad and I can't wait for him to come back.
Escare is going great and I'm delighted we've pinned him down long term. That said, ST has EARNED the right to be given a fair opportunity to prove his fitness and his worth to the team having single handedly won a shedful of games for us with his incredible talent. When he's fit, i'd put him straight in at FB and I'd be very patient with him. He'll not set the world on fire straight away but I'm confident he'll get back to being one of the best players in the competition this season.

I am not sure ST has earned anything - the player who did that is a long time gone. I think it is more a case of he owes the club - given that they are paying him a huge wage, he came back from the NRL injured and missed a lot of game time, came back played a few half decent games then got injured and since missed a lot of games (and has there ever been a fully official version of how he got injured?????).

The ST before he want to the NRL may have credit in the bank but since then I would say he has to earn a place back in the team just like anyone else, especially if that means displacing someone who is trying his heart out and not doing a lot wrong. Hopefully Wane will adopt the same approach.

There is also a big question over if ST will ever be anywhere near the player he was.

I petty much watched every minute of his 16 games last season and up until cas away in the 8's he was very good defensively, pretty sure he didn't drop a high ball and I could be mistaken but didn't see him let a ball bounce either.
The lads I stand with had a bit of joke thing going on about it has been 1 game, then 2 games, then 3 games without him dropping a high ball and I'm pretty sure I remember it getting to 10 plus (we used to have joke about the, when would kris radlinksi break a tackle when returning the ball stakes, I used to bet June every year).
Cas in the 8s he was poor, he was average week after but by the time we got to warrington away he put in another good display and got us back in the game just before half time and setting up 2/3 tries second half.

I like escare, he's been a very good signing. I don't need to criticise anything he's done (and he has made errors and has flaws) to try and prove Tomkins is a better full back etc and I do think people are worrying about Tomkins wage packet or his injury rather thank taking his performances on face value and I think people should do the same the other way.

We've got 2 really good options at full back and I want them both fit, we've now good another 2 great options on the wing in Davies and Marshall bit I want budgie back there and Manfredi fit asap along with gildart.
I want Tommy back fully fit as I am convinced we will.see so much more from him when fit along with more options like a fit gelling, Bateman etc outside him.

When same is back and near full fitness then wane will have a question or 2 to answer, until then it's a moot point.
When he is and say 90% of the squad are fit then we'll see who the boss thinks is the right one to play there.
Moving forward I think you may be right about Sam in the halves, but I can see that being a steady process over the next 18months.

I didn't say the FB position is his for good but I stand by my comment that he has earned the right to prove himself. If he plays and is poor after being given a fair crack then he should be replaced.

He's not been the same since he came back from NZ because he's never been fully fit. He played a few half decent games last season and I think the Warrington game when Flower was sent off, he was a huge factor in that win.

I'm confident he'll get back to being one of the best in SL, even if he plays a different game than he used to!

Excellent post which pretty much sums up my opinion too.

These two were impressive again today. Bruce had his best game yet aswell!

I'm really glad Forsyth went well. He's had a mixed time of it in the first team with some good and bad showings but he always puts a shift in and he seems to be gaining some confidence.

Tom Davies looks a real athlete. His two try's today were proper wingers try's showing pace and anticipation. He must be thrilled with how his first team career has gone so far.

Davies and Marshall are both in front of Tierney now for me, both dangerous and work hard, without the frailties of Tierney.

They both look like wingers, with pure winger instincts rather than a converted winger which Tierney is having played fullback a lot when he was younger. Can't fault Davies and Marshall, they're learning on the job a bit earlier than expected but not showing any major weaknesses. Definitely a pleasant surprise to add to the squad this season.

Fully agree, they were both very good (Forsyth too), in a pretty small scratchy performance, despite scoring g 42 points. Particularly liked Forsyth's try where he collected the ball after a pretty awful bit of play, saw half a gap, and headed for the line full speed ahead. Again, the score of a real finisher.

Looks like there are lots of tries in this backline. Forsyth was good. Davies was excellent and he finally got a few passes. Lockers showed what class he has. Is there anyone in the game who can perform as a prop one minute and a scrum half the next? (Answer; no-one is close to his skill set)

Interesting that Escare saved his worst performance for his old team. It just shows that ALL full backs drop the ball occasionally and that you can't judge them on that alone. I hope it doesn't affect his confidence

I think it's only fair to credit some very good high kicks that most fullbacks would have struggled with, especially with the sun in their eyes. Very happy with the overall performance, of the team, not just Escare. I love Davies's confidence to take on defenders with pure speed. The youngsters will only get better with more playing time, and I agree with those who have said that Tierney has now fallen behind them in the "pecking order". Hardly noticed that we were missing 4 of our 5 first choice backs, and the other playing out of position.

It was inevitable that Escare would have a poor game after me pontificating about about him.
Great to see Davies score a couple of belters. The lad has confidence in himself and it is heartwarming watching him take his opposite number on.
I'm really enjoying watching these young lads develop.

The thing I like about Davies is that he seems a really good lad. I've seen interviews with him where he seems well mannered and genuinely made up to be getting his chance. I saw on twitter also that he took time after the game to send personal thanks to fans who'd congratulated him on his performance.

In the grand scheme of him being a good rugby player it isn't that important but you can't help but want characters like that to succeed.

Davies is looking more and more like a genuine first grader, when Manfredi, Tomkins and Gildart are back someone is going to be very unlucky.

With the massive squad we have, it is going to be the case that the likes of Davies and Marshall are being paid buttons. At the end of the season they will both be in for hefty pay rises (and quite rightly). I hope we are able to keep them both because I imagine with their lack of wingers Warrington would be able to offer quite a good deal.

If everyone is fit Manfredi and Burgess have to be in the team. I wonder what people think about a backline of - Escare/Davies/Manfredi/Burgess/Marshall - just a thought because Manfredi is inhumanly strong and may make a very good centre.

Interesting point about Manfredi. Before his injury you could make a very good case that he was developing into our best back, definitely got the skill set to play at centre. The trouble as I see it is that once we start thinking that way, we just pass over the same problem (if you can call it that) to other parts of the pitch by keeping Gildart and Forsyth out of the team.

I think it's got to the point now that we need to get used to the idea that we're going to have to let at least one very good young player go at some point. The only downside of having a production line as prolific as ours.

Manfredi is very much 'head down' in how he plays and as brilliant as he is, I don't think he's got the suitable skills to play centre. You look at Burgess though and he's the oppposite. He is constantly looking around him to see what options he has and he's got the handling skills to put others in to space. He's been exceptional in the position.

Longer term when Gelling, Gildart and Manfredi are back where do we go then? We'll have two superb centres, Burgess who can cover both wing and centre and be one of the best in the league in the position and four other out and out wingers.

Good luck Shaun Wane!