Back to French, another interview with Lam stating Hardaker is going to remain in the centres, and he thinks he will do well there, French has X factor at fullback etc.

I’m still not convinced about it to be totally honest. I think I’d prefer French in the halves with Hastings. Time may change my mind (it did from last season as I didn’t want French anywhere near the halves then!) and I do think when Gildart is back he’ll go centre, Zak to FB and French in the halves.

It’s great we have so much versatility these days though. It’s not a luxury we’ve had many times before

Can't see Lam changing things until Gildart comes back, even then it might be Bibby who's under pressure with him playing on the left.
Anyway it'll be a nice position to be in having multiple options.

Must already be an early contender for MOS, the poor lad must be sick of receiving the MOTM award already.

Genuinely not seen such an entertaining player for years and looks like he his loving his rugby at the moment.

Should remain at FB for me regardless of who that may upset.

I wanted him at fullback before the season started and even more so now. He’s done what he’s done in these first few rounds on the back of a pack who're not really firing, with some baffling selections going on. If we get him behind a pack who are winning more ground it could be carnage. I had a bet on him before the season for Man of Steel at 25/1, it’s early days but with it being a points system and him catching the eye regularly in our side, he should be a chance.

[urlhttps://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/man-of-steel-points-from-super-leagues-opening-weekend-revealed/[/url

I’ve had a fiver on him too. Made a great start.

Not seen excited from the crowd when he gets the ball since 2012, Sam Tomkins

It’s a refreshing change to have a threat from FB. Zak is a great defender but I watch sport to be entertained and there is little doubt who’s more entertaining. It’s day and night the difference between the two.

Please for heavens sake Lam, don’t move French from #1.

To play fullback without any real pace is tough and sadly Hardaker has lost his. If you can’t be a threat via your pace and running game from there then you need to be more of a creator like Lachlan Coote is or the modern day Sam Tomkins but Hardaker doesn’t have that ability. He is solid under a high ball and defensively but he reminds me of Paul Wellens late in his career and if we want to challenge Saints, Wire, Hull or whoever else may be up the top end of the table you need more.

People who will say “Move Zak to full back” need to read this.

And it’s not to say he’s not still a good player and hopefully he’ll settle in to the centre spot and make a career there at Wigan. To have him as back up in the fullback role is good but that’s all he should be.

Agreed, not bagging him at all. One of the first names on the team sheet. Like you say injuries happen and he may well end up at full back.

For me, Hasting and French can play where they like. Both are class acts.

French has really surprised me. I thought he would be dodgy as hell at fullback under the high ball and making tackles but he looks like a veteran.

A positive comment! This needs to be framed

He’s a very special player. We need to be talking to him already about extending his contract.

Maybe it's his black and white t.v.

Comparing him to Wellens is a bit harsh, he’s not that slow yet, might be after two hip operations and another 40 years.

Just watched the Catalan highlights. How good was Tomkins? Looking like the 2012/13 Tomkins again.

Shaun Briscoe a better comparison imo

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.