I think he knows exactly where he’s playing him to start 2020 but he’s not saying as of yet and why would he.

It was made clear when he signed that he’d have a totally different role in 2020 to 2019. He was viewed as a utility last year but I’m pretty sure Lam knows and has known for a while where he’ll be turning out come that Wire game.

Bigredwarrior likes this.

If I knew how to add a smilie thingy I’d add one here!!

I knew you'd see the funny side of it mate

Hastings doesn’t return to training till 2nd of January, he’ll have 2/3 weeks to try form a partnership with French and French isn’t a stand off, French should start at fullback and Hardaker at centre, I don’t particularly want Tommy at 7 but it’s the most logical move imo to start the season anyway

I wonder if the Lachlan Lam rumour will resurface? It seems Sammut is on his way; Woods and Mullen also off the cap; there could be room to bring in another signing before the season begins. We massively need to move Escare on. He’s a player who’s eating up cap space who’s not now considered a first team player. His salary plus others mentioned could be enough to bring in someone who can give our team other options.


I want to see the Hastings/French combo given a go. To see if can offer something new and exciting.
But the more I think about it I see a current FB who’s lost a crucial yard of pace and doesn’t link out wide and we have a lightening fast 6 who’s best used as a strike weapon out the back linking the play from FB.

Only issue is who plays in the halves with Hastings? Perhaps Smith can be given game time, but we’re missed a good half.

I wouldn’t want Tommy there all season but I’d have no problem with him starting in the halves early season. Starting ‘summer’ rugby in January can be tough, with freezing conditions and heavy pitches and you know Tommy won’t let you down when games are tight and attritional. I’d hope we’d have enough strike and creativity with French at fullback and Hastings in the halves to allow Tommy to just keep it simple. I’d spell him with Harry Smith (or spell Powell) to allow Smith the minutes to try and stake a claim for a starting spot later in the year.

I think Lam will play French and Hastings together though.

I think we’re still missing a half. Never particularly rated Tommy as a 7. Lacks creativity and literally has the worst kicking game I’ve ever seen in a professional half.
Solid in defence, and plays tough; but who in gods name sizes a 7 cos he can hit hard.

I’m gutted we could have worked something out with Sam Tomkins. When Tomkins lost his pace he should have been moved into the halves. He has a fantastic rugby brain; would have/still could make a great half.

Spot on. Sam was a good FB in his day but he was always a class HB. We’re feeling the effects of letting him go for sure

In tekation to Tomkins there were not many bigger fans than me, but it’s time to look forward not back.

Saying we are suffering the effects of letting him go is a little frustrating as every player we “let go” will have an effect somewhere or other.

The main effect of allowing Tomkins to go this year in particular would be thstvwe wouldn’t have been able to sign one of Hastings or Burgess.

I also don’t like to use the term “let go” in relation to Tomkins. He wanted to go. I think his time at Wigan had come to a natural conclusion and with a few off the field issues along the way it was in both his and Wigan’s interests to move on.

Don't think anyone used the term 'let go'. There's 'let it go' but that's from the film Frozen. I've not seen Frozen 2 yet; so no spoilers please.

I fully agree about Tommy but other than throwing the kid Smith in, I don’t see an option. I don’t think Shorrocks is good enough and I’d want the pace of French at the back. At least Tommy would have a dominant half with a kicking game alongside him this year. Over the course of the season I’d hope Smith could break through to become a starter.

There in lies the problem. For the past several seasons we've needed a half. Firstly to partner Williams, now to partner Hastings. Personally I would have taken a older seasoned 7 from around the league or the NRL. Not a marquee signing, but someone who knows the game like the back of his hand; can lead the team around the park and has a good kicking game.

I'd say it's actually quite crucial that we sort out the HB pairing situation. Let's face it Hastings is a special talent and we've probably only got him for 12 months. I'd hate to see us waste him by swapping and changing his HB partner through the year (that's a real possibility btw).

I'd like to see us move the leech that is Escare on and bring in Lam. He's a natural HB, but more importantly he knows Hastings from his time at the Roosters.

Looking around the place it’s tough to see who we could’ve got in to fill that Deacon style role but I agree. It was so frustrating that Williams never had what felt like a proper partner and it doesn’t feel like Hastings has one. It looked like Sammut could’ve done a reasonable job alongside Hastings but Lam never fancied him. I’ve said before I think it will be French and I’m not writing him off in that position but I feel we need him at fullback.

It all points to there being a real opportunity for Harry Smith to get plenty of minutes this year and if he can transfer that promise in to first team performances that may be a great thing for the club.

You make another good point. If we play with 2 halves which play together, with Hastings as the controlling dominate half with French playing off him; what happens if Hastings goes after a season? Perhaps Smith will turn out to be quality, perhaps he won't... seems like that we're still lacking another half.

If we'd have brought in a Paul Deacon he could have partnered Williams, then Hastings and helped coach and be of the right age to step aside to allow Smith to break into the side gradually. Especially considering we might only have Hastings for 1 season.

It’s who though isn’t it? Thinking of players around superleague, the only sort of experienced heads I can think of who would’ve been realistically available these past couple of seasons would be Kev Brown or getting Matty Smith back and they’d have gone down like a fart in a lift. Maybe Danny Brough a year or two back but he’s a loose cannon. I’d have loved to see Rob Lui here alongside Hastings but Leeds got him. I thought he was every bit as impressive as Hastings in games against us last year.

That’s why I’d have Tommy Leuluai in the role. He was very good at six for the NZ Warriors alongside Shaun Johnson because he was able to keep it nice and simple and that allowed Johnson the freedom to create.

We had one and he has now left for Leigh

Yep. I noticed no SL teams came in for him.

Yes because championship is his level.

How many games did we win with Sammut starting last year?

I thought it was all of them bar the Cas game when he went off injured and we completely collapsed after he went off. (but I may be wrong)

Matty Smith is a free agent...

Errr....no

Not sure of the Sammut starting to win ratio but otherwise I completely agree. An absolute waste of time and money which would have been better spent elsewhere. I’m genuinely amazed there’s people actually sad about his departure, I’ve even seen some say the club don’t know what they’re doing in this regard!

That either says a lot about the drop in standards at the club that we’re willing to accept a Championship level player or the standard of acceptance for some is alarmingly low.