Aye he’s not quite that slow yet but he’s lost an awful lot of pace from the 2017 Hardaker. I just think it’s so important to have out and out pace or a real creator in at fullback.

It's always good to have your most dangerous attacking threat at fullback because it's harder to pick them out when defending. French looks a natural in the role and our best attacking moments so far have generally involved him. I don't quite understand the calls to move him away from that position. It's working right now. Circumstances may change over the season but why change what works? He's a bigger attacking threat at fullback than Hardaker was last season. We should make the most of that.

Also, Hardaker is currently our best centre. Bibby has done okay but isn't even at Sarginson's level at the moment, so there's some improvement required from him. Hardaker has looked strong in defence, strong carrying the ball and while the attacking aspect of the position may take some time to master he's not let anyone down so far. I was far from convinced previously when he was played at centre for other clubs but maybe it's just something that needs time. Given quite a few experienced coaches have considered Hardaker at centre it suggests they see something positive in it. Regardless, if Gildart returned next week it would be Bibby out rather than Hardaker, so why weaken our centres and switch our fullback for someone less effective in attack?

There may be a benefit to playing French in the halves later on, particularly if Leuluai, Smith and Shorrocks are found lacking. What worries me is that French is best when running the ball, and if Hastings has any flaw in his game it's him running the ball too much and taking himself out of the following play too frequently. I'm not sure a Hastings-French pairing would offer much balance at present, but both players are young and still learning so there's no point writing anything off. Also, one aspect that needs improving is our kicking game. Harry Smith improves that massively (although by the end of the Toronto game he really needed to rein it in a bit) but I'm not sure what French would bring in that department.

We might not be setting the competition alight with our attacking game but for me that's not necessarily to do with French, Hardaker or our halves. The biggest change in our game last season was when Powell returned from injury and actually started taking the ball out of dummy half and engaging defenders. That change in his game made a massive difference to how the whole team played in attack. He's played 22 minutes for us this season. Our attack against Cas and for most of the Toronto game was pretty similar to our attack early last season. Against Cas Tommy made 3 runs from dummy half and 25 metres. Against Toronto he didn't make any metres whatsoever. He's a pick up and pass hooker who doesn't engage defences and I think that's one reason why we look ineffective down the middle even though our young props all seem to have played well. When Powell returns we'll get a better view of the strengths and weaknesses of our attack.

yep looked awesome

Because he's got away from the terrible jobs for the boys culture at Wigan

I regularly post positive comments when they are warranted. Its just that you and the happy clappers cant take the truth when i post something that isn't to your liking.

Good medicine tastes bad. The Enforcer gives you the medicine to get right.