Hes a pretty good centre and your right, hes a better FB than centre.
But it appears that the coaches think that French is a better FB than he is 6 and that Tommy at 7 with Powell at 9 is a better combination all round.

Despite me agreeing that Hardaker had a good season last year he didn't look threatening from FB once
It reinforced for me just how good Tomkins was

If French continues to perform and develop as a FB on top of his performance last night then he is a Far more threatening proposition for defences and for me I would stick with it.

Pace is huge at fullback IMO and Hardaker has lot a lot of his during his lay off. He’s still a good enough fullback but French is blistering quick and looks like a player that will thrive with the freedom the fullback role will give him. He’s said himself today he prefers fullback to halfback as he doesn’t like the organisational aspect of playing in the halves.

I agree

totally agree, its the same with Ashton at Wire, can see both having great seasons if they stay at fullback

Without wishing to argue over details, you're missing one important word: "currently". I actually don't think there's an awful lot in it tbh as he does much of what he does at fullback from centre. As others have said he doesn't have the blistering pace to exploit the space from fullback and he's never been a link player, even during his MOS time, whereas French has both of those qualities. Hardaker's strengths have always been his defence, strong carries and eye for a gap and he can utilise all of those out of centre. He just needs to add the final pass to his game, which he's more than capable of, to become a complete centre in the Gary Connolly mould. Like I say, give him this season before making those judgements.

He has a rib injury from a hit by Navarette in training. Hoping to be back for Toronto.

Cheers Kris.

I like Zak, but for me last year he didn’t show he had the running or the passing game to play fullback (our most important attacking position).

Didn’t chime into the line well like the best of them do, think Sam, Coote, Luke Dorn in his prime.

Didn’t show the elite for he showed at Cas in 2017.

Zak is elite defensively at full back.

I’m happy for french to have a crack at it. What a start last night.

I was surprised Wire didnt bomb the hell out of him. Weve yet to see him under the high ball or in a position where he has to make a last ditch tackle. If he can do those 2 things to an ok standard then i think he will keep the full back spot for now but i think Lam still sees him as a half back long term.

You're right, given the wind I thought that wire would pepper him all game long but they seemed to ignore the problems that could have caused, i found it a little odd to say the least.

I was asking why Wigan didn't test the wire fullback. Hastings can throw up a towering kick

'Bombing the hell out of him' seems to be a tactic that has largely disappeared from SL full stop. I can't recall the last time I saw a good example,

As for French, I would say to poster post; we'll keep him at full-back,and as to what to do when Gildart returns, well, we'll wait and see. We may well be suffering other injuries by then. But I certainly think that Zak is a much better full-back than he is a centre, despite a solid display on Thursday.

Yes there's an element of square peg - round hole. But I have far more understanding of the signing of French now that we can see what a talent he is. It was a case of taking the opportunity and figuring out the logistics afterwards.

It's great to have in your team someone who can magic up a try out of nothing, as French has shown he can do. It's not how you are going to win games week in, week out (that has to come from the much trickier business of good organisation in the halves, and is yet to be determined, as we know), but it's a good addition to your armoury.

Where has this idea that French is going to play #6 come from? Lam has stated in his interviews on Wigan t.v. that he sees French as a fullback, and French himself has said the same thing.

The number 6 on his playing jersey?

French is the best fullback we have, his blistering pace and his knowledge of when and how to link into the line is better than Hardakers, Zak was very good last season but he’s lost a lot of his attacking ability and French is the most dangerous player we have. French will stay at 1 and when Gildart is back it’ll be bibby that drops out

What if Bibby is having a blinder?

Drop Zak

And if he is having a blinder?

Don’t bring Gildart back in straight away, knowing our luck with injuries though either French Hardaker or Bibby will be out at that point

.... do you think Hastings is a reserve?

Lam has mentioned it a number of times in the off-season and back end of last year about BF playing 6

Spot on. Let’s hope we have that problem were everyone is fit and they’re flying. If that’s the case then you don’t change it as nobody has an automatic right to a shirt. As you point out though injuries happen and it’s unlikely everyone will stay clear of them all season. There’s also the option of Bibby playing on the wing like he did at Salford. In short, when Manfredi and Gildart are back we’ll be in a terrific spot.

Of course not. Totally different situation. Hastings Specifically wanted the 31 shirt.

1-13 are still a general representation of preferred positions. Mostly.