And how exciting Lachlan Lam would be without ever having seen him play.

We should have an RLFANS lottery pool.

Same people are saying playing French at FB would be madness as he can't defend from that position (when they've never even seen him play FB)

With French definitely not a halfback and Tommy’s kicking game being so poor I’d genuinely give Harry Smith the 7 shirt next year, get him and Hastings working together in pre season and we could see a special halfback pairing

I’d agree with this. Hastings and Smith for HB next season. Despite my calling for French to play HB, after seeing his display v Salford it’s safe to say he shouldn’t play there.

I don’t see the value in going getting a youth player from Aus when we have one ready and raring to go.

French is an issue in a sense of where to play him. It just seems to be a panic buy to me rather than a signing we needed. We’re stacked for wingers, centres and FB’s (Hanley coming through). HB is the only position in the back line we need a bit more depth but French isn’t a HB. The only position he could realistically go in would be FB which means shifting Zak out to centre which in itself brings into question the Bibby signing.

He is a good, speedy player French but I just can’t help but think his signing wasn’t needed. It’s causing more problems then it’s solving which isn’t what a new signing is supposed to do.

Give French a go at hooker, he would be brilliant in broken play or on the back of a quick PTB

What I’m saying is French shouldn’t defend in the line as he would be the weakest link in our line of defence.

And what I was saying is he didn’t look confident defending in the line, if I was the opposition coach I’d have someone running at him to test him out to see what his defence is like.

Judging by his size and what position he plays I think he’d be better suited at fullback, or on the wing rather than playing in the halves and defending further in field.


Now tackling as a fullback is a different matter, and the way modern fullbacks play defence isn’t what it used to be.

I hope you can grasp what I’m trying to say rather than say I’m writing French off, I’m not.

Gets better this.

Untested Harry Smith should just be given the number 7 shirt.
French is one minute being touted as a poor defender by some is suggested to play 9 by others.

I give up.

He shouldn't just be given the shirt, but sooner or later he's got to get a run of games. That's how new players are brought into the team isn't it? Maybe he'll be spelled with TL next year?

In regards to Lam - I've not seen much of him, but I watched his NRL debut and he looked alright. In regards to where he's at then he's definitely in front of Smith as he's got a handful of NRL games, he's played for PNG and he's also played with Hastings at Jnr level.

I'd be more than happy if we brought him in.

Let Smith develop first. He’s so young. Bring him through correctly and the rewards will come.
Lots of options for him without throwing a young half in at the deep end.
Plus fans get over excited at young prospects. One upon a time fans were saying Logan Tomkins was coming through and was the best of the brothers, Hampshire was the future England starter and Nicky Stanton was gonna be as good as Jason Robinson.

I do get what you're saying and I'm certainly not advocating that he should be the starting 7, but he's got to get more first team games next season. I'd be really happy if he gets 5 or so games and also goes out to the championship on loan.

Of course. He needs more game time to help him step up a level and see how he performs against better opposition. Perhaps a loan spell etc.

At the start of the season we were in limbo as we had a salary cap deduction of 2 points got them back fortunately.
We had the Edwards saga will he wont he come .
We lost Sam Tomkins and Sutton, Bateman who is ripping it up in Aus not replaced Greenwood replaced Joel Tomkins.
Hardaker replaced Sam Tomkins .
Bullock replaced Sutton.
Then we lost Tauti and Hamlin drink drive and drugs .
A bad injury crisis which saw Lockers ,Flower ,Farrell out for weeks Bullock , Davies ,Manfredi out with season injuries .
A new coach with new ideas having to play young Smithies ,Byrne and Partington who burned themselves out as proved with the last 2 matches .
When fit to play allegedly Lockers ,Flower returned to the side but not improving the overall state of play imho we went backwards .
French devastating as he is has proved a problem he had to be signed this year as he would not have got a visa next year as he not played enough games in the NRL first team squad. Where is he going to play when Manfredi and Davies fit ?
Lams team selection is debatable Powell should have not have played against St Helens and Salford obviously injured.
Overall to finish 2nd when everyone on this forum had us down to finish in 6th or relegated /transition season.
OK we did not make the GF but to finish the season the way we did and with the new recruits next season could be a new kettle of fish on the whole we had a coach in Lam supposedly on a 1 year contract before Edwards took over lets hope we kick on from here .We won no trophy's this year but hope that next season could be better.

I really like Lam but I can’t see much changing at all next year. I hope I’m wrong but even with the burgess signing we still look too small in the middle and Hastings can’t do it all on his own like Williams has had to do for the past couple of years. At Salford Hastings has had Lui and then Lolohea (pardon the spelling) to help him out whereas I can see lam sticking to his guns and keeping tommy at 7 where he offers nothing other than great defence...

I really hope I’m wrong but I still think we are a halfback, right centre, right second rower, and two props short of a top side. Worries me in a salary capped sport we are carrying a lot of players who offer very little.

True, but to get those players we would need to move players on and that ain’t going to happen, they’re not ruthless enough.

Navarette, Greenwood, Hankinson, Sammut and maybe even Burgess and O’Loughlin to be honest.

We need another hooker too, Powell isn’t good enough to be first choice hooker.

I think Powell has done a fine job this season.

When he doesn’t play or has an off day who do we play instead? Leuluai? But then that’s dragging him from 7.

We need another hooker, someone to put pressure on Powell or to play when he is off the boil.

Powell has improved this season, massively, especially since his return from injury. But still what if he gets injured who do we play?

We have about 65 wingers, 1 hooker and 2 props.

We would be out of our minds to be offering Lockers a new deal in my opinion. He's well past his best, and on the verge of ruining his own legacy if he continues. Give Smithies the 13 shirt and move on.

Also, im surprised Partington hasn't been mentioned much, been absoulutely murdered the last 2 weeks. I love his attitude, love his passion but the simple fact is that he is NOT big enough, and never will be.

If we are talking about getting money off the cap, don't offer Lockers a new deal and we should be looking at Leuluai's contract at his age now, and what he's contributing. 2 massive earners coming to end of there career's and tieing up big chunks of money.

Partington is only 21 years old and a prop. Give him time. Props only come into their own when they're around 29/30. See how be develops before writing him off just yet.

I think there's an issue in this. Powell has improved in some aspects of his game, we noticed the improvement and suddenly think he's doing a fine job; he's not. We've not had a great number 9 at our club since Terry Newton. I include Micky Mac in that. Riddell has a scoot and an eye of creativity, but often struggled with fitness etc.

At Wigan, whether it be style of play or something else, we've not had a controlling 9 with a quick scoot, clever passing and an eye to play off the cuff. The 9 is the first point of attack, they get their hands on the ball before anyone else, with a great 9 you have someone who is almost like a second 7, can dictate the play and make a massive difference. Storm's main playmaker and decision maker is Cam Smith play out of dummy half. Canberra are the same with Hodgson, Saints has also massively benefited from creative 9s over the years with the likes of Cunningham and Roby.

My fav 9 at Wigan was Martin Dermott, one of the most underrated players ever at our club, overshadowed in a team with the links of Greg, Edwards and Hanley, but 'Germ' was a complete 9.

I still think this is a position needing of improvement.

I really do think Powell has been very lucky to be at a top team for so long. When you break down what he offers compared to other hookers in the competition you’ll see pretty much every team in SL has a hooker that is better than him.

I'd argue that outside of Hastings and Gildart then there's certain question marks (form, injuries, age) against the every other person in the squad.

Powell isn't the best in the league, but I think there's more pressing concerns like ZH ineffectual attack, who will play 7, Greenwood & Faz being made out of glass, can Burgess lead the pack etc.

My point wasn't discussing 'pressing concerns' just the differences between Powells performances/improvements and what a top 9 does/adds.

I’d be happy if Powell was back up hooker or back up 7 to be honest. With the reserves comp starting next year he’d get plenty game time and I think that’s his level for us.

For anyone wondering about the quality of or squad they only need look at the seasons stats and who makes the GB squad. Other than Williams I don’t see anyone else getting picked.

Yeah that's fair enough. Like I said most of the positions have some kind of question marks over them in regards to either what they add or value for money.

I really do miss the days where we had a side of players who just performed week in, week out and didn't have question marks over their heads. Think back to some of our GF wins and no-one could really question Tomkins, Carmont, Pat, Lockers, HH, Coley etc.

Dermott was one of the smoothest operators to ever play 9. The way he could pick the ball up and throw accurately, fast and at distance in one smooth movement is something ive never seen since he played the game.