From what I understand it he has started preseason like a house on fire too and came back in outstanding shape before it started as he is injury free for the first preseason in a while.

I expect he will take the Cust role next year but also may some time at Trinity too.

Good news. Essential cover across several positions for the coming season.

I wonder whether Leeming will be next in line to play in the halves if we have injuries?

He's definitely an option but I think Hampshire will be first choice as he was last year. They may even look to give Farimond some game time

Hampshire then Keighran would probably be the plan - gives us two players with experience in the halves, also could move Field into the halves at a push if needed then leeming as well. We have enough cover unless we get really unlucky with injuries.

Hardly worth its own thread but I thought this comment from Sam Burgess in a recent interview was quite funny:

“I won’t give you all of the grand plans because quite frankly, I don’t have one – that’s just me being honest.”

I remember Tom Burgess talking about the appointment during the Tonga series and he said Sam had applied for the job and his response when he got it was ‘bloody hell, I better take it now’ as though he was surprised and had applied for the interview experience.

With all these new regulations about the number of minutes and games players make play in. Perhaps this will affect who we will be loaning to Trinity in the DR arrangement.
Maybe fewer forwards and more backs?

Genuine question are those rules applicable for.next season?
I actually agree with a degree with some especially if players have had more than one concussion in a given period, infact I think that's where the sport should head rather than the tackle rulings. If a player gets a leg injury we think nothing of a six week or loger layoff that's how HIA should be treated especially if you have a few. The below shoulder rule is almost impossible in the guise the RFL was selling it, pretty sure one of the Salford players who played in the legal tackle showed on the clip said an HIA and confirmed concussive injury occurred in that very tackle something most who played or play already know.

I hear Wakefield are lining up a move for Tom Johnstone from Catalans. Would that mean under the duel reg agreement we have in place that Johnstone could potentially turn out for us? Might just represent peak Danson sh-ithousery if that's the plan

I think it’s for next year as a marquee signing, good sign of intent from Wakey, seems like the relegation might have given them a kick up the and end up being a good thing, they’ve got their new stand (obviously not because of relegation) and 5,000 season tickets sold for next season.

That would be a bold move for Wakey of they pull it off

Interested to know any of your thoughts on your prop Max Wood ?

<<< Lights blue touch paper and retires to a safe distance >>>

Decent player mate but unfortunately for him he is way down the pecking order at Wigan. I don’t think he is ready for first team rugby.

Mate of mine watches midland hurricanes. Says he saw him play once and was utterly terrible. From memory it was when they lost about 80-0

Think that was the only game he played

Never judge a player off one performance.

Knew this was pure fantasy when you started your post by claiming to have a mate.

Only seen bits and bobs of him but he’s looked pretty good. He’s behind a lot of players here and certainly doesn’t seem to be as highly thought of as Hill or Makin. It’s always sad to see a young player go and especially to a rival but it’s not like losing Matty Nicholson. That was losing a guaranteed future international IMO, whereas this is losing a lad who may or may not end up as a first team quality superleague player.

Good luck to him.

Field and French both out of contract this year. Will be a challenge to hold on to them both.

Maybe I’m too optimistic but I think we’ll keep both.


French will be 29 at the start of 2025. Can’t see an NRL club really pushing to bring over a small player at that age, when he can still earn a big salary with us.

Field will be 27, think we’ve established his only position is full back. Can’t see an NRL club picking a 5 foot 10 13 stone full back (they are struggling for half backs but full backs they have loads).

What I can’t predict is they perosnal reasons for wanting to return but think Wigan balance it nicely with allowing them to spend a lot of the Australian summer at home and during the year they have Europe on their doorstep and are making very good money.

French will have played for us for 6 and a bit years. We’ve had the prime of his career and likely his best years.

They both have options on their contracts too so sorting extension, should the players want them, will be easy.

The later in to their careers that they’re here, the greater the chances are we keep them IMO. It’s crazy to think that they’d probably only get offers as squad players in the NRL and in the case of French, he’d probably go from being the starting stand off at a title challenging club in the UK, to becoming a back up winger for a basement club in Oz.

The fact Wigan are letting them stay in Oz for 3 months or so every year is likely to be really helping push the clubs case. Getting extensions announced in the run up to the WCC would be a real boost.

If Matty had stayed at Wigan he would have been our loose forward next season.

And would have been a downgrade on Smithies if so (imo if course).

Anybody is a downgrade on Smithies however, I agree with Nicky that the lad will become an international.