Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:09 pm  

Tricky Dicky wrote:

They are flying back tomorrow.

That will give the 3 weeks with the team before the leigh game.

Both have been working on fitness in Aus. Hastings has posted a video of him working with a PT.

I believe that French will be returning later than Hastings

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 3:35 pm  

I've no doubt he will be back before the season start but here's a question - if you had the option of Hastings leaving and Wigan bringing in two high quality props to replace him and Burgess in the squad, would you take it? Keeping in mind Bevan will still be there and you can select any two of Field, Leuluai and Smith.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 3:47 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I've no doubt he will be back before the season start but here's a question - if you had the option of Hastings leaving and Wigan bringing in two high quality props to replace him and Burgess in the squad, would you take it? Keeping in mind Bevan will still be there and you can select any two of Field, Leuluai and Smith.

How does that work, given that Burgess is gone and we have been unwilling/unable to replace him with one high quality prop? Regardless - the answer for me is no. If we replaced Burgess with a high quality prop then I'd rather have Hastings than yet another prop.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 3:47 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I've no doubt he will be back before the season start but here's a question - if you had the option of Hastings leaving and Wigan bringing in two high quality props to replace him and Burgess in the squad, would you take it? Keeping in mind Bevan will still be there and you can select any two of Field, Leuluai and Smith.

no

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 4:26 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

How does that work, given that Burgess is gone and we have been unwilling/unable to replace him with one high quality prop? Regardless - the answer for me is no. If we replaced Burgess with a high quality prop then I'd rather have Hastings than yet another prop.

Its a hypothetical but I would take that option in all honesty. Our vastly inferior front row was the main reason we came up short last year - if the forwards aren't up to it you clearly don't get the best out of your backs. I don't want to be in a position again where we have stacks of quality in the halves and outside backs which doesn't get utilised in 90% of the game.

I also take into account that Saints have improved their forward pack this year and we have a great halfback prospect in need of game time.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 4:34 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Its a hypothetical but I would take that option in all honesty. Our vastly inferior front row was the main reason we came up short last year - if the forwards aren't up to it you clearly don't get the best out of your backs. I don't want to be in a position again where we have stacks of quality in the halves and outside backs which doesn't get utilised in 90% of the game.

I also take into account that Saints have improved their forward pack this year and we have a great halfback prospect in need of game time.

goalkicking cost us more

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:11 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Its a hypothetical but I would take that option in all honesty. Our vastly inferior front row was the main reason we came up short last year - if the forwards aren't up to it you clearly don't get the best out of your backs. I don't want to be in a position again where we have stacks of quality in the halves and outside backs which doesn't get utilised in 90% of the game.

I also take into account that Saints have improved their forward pack this year and we have a great halfback prospect in need of game time.

Fingers crossed we can have Hastings and at least one more top forward, if not two forwards. The club have said they will actively seek to bring a couple in during the season if they can. Lam said in the MEN the other day that they need a couple more players as the season progresses.

I agree with you regards where that Grand Final was lost. A big metre maker would be ideal for us at some point. I’ve said it before and I’ll highlight again that I think Havard was sorely missed. It’s a big statement for such a young kid but he was eating ground up week in week out pre injury and we never replaced that. He’ll be like a new signing at the start of the season and Bateman will help us go forward as well.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:37 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Its a hypothetical but I would take that option in all honesty. Our vastly inferior front row was the main reason we came up short last year - if the forwards aren't up to it you clearly don't get the best out of your backs. I don't want to be in a position again where we have stacks of quality in the halves and outside backs which doesn't get utilised in 90% of the game.

I also take into account that Saints have improved their forward pack this year and we have a great halfback prospect in need of game time.

I agree about our pack being inferior but not being able (or deciding not to) replace Burgess with one top prop strongly implies to me that we wouldn't suddenly be signing two of them if Hastings went. I do think we'll be better for Havard, Partington and Byrne all being a year more experienced and not using up spots on Burgess or Lockers this year though.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:54 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

I agree about our pack being inferior but not being able (or deciding not to) replace Burgess with one top prop strongly implies to me that we wouldn't suddenly be signing two of them if Hastings went. I do think we'll be better for Havard, Partington and Byrne all being a year more experienced and not using up spots on Burgess or Lockers this year though.

As I said its hypothetical - I know its not practical to instantly sign two world class props even with money and cap space.

We do know its very likely that two props will be recruited over the next 12 months, particularly as Clubb and Clark will surely leave by the season end. So it would be a sensible long-term strategy to jump on any opportunities to bring good front-rowers in as soon as they arise and therefore (again hypothetically) I would prioritise this over retaining Hastings if given the choice. It would improve our short-term and long-term chances.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:57 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I've no doubt he will be back before the season start but here's a question - if you had the option of Hastings leaving and Wigan bringing in two high quality props to replace him and Burgess in the squad, would you take it? Keeping in mind Bevan will still be there and you can select any two of Field, Leuluai and Smith.

I don’t think that we had the option of Hastings leaving.
Hastings I think took up the option of a second year. The option was in his favour so nothing we could do.