Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 8:02 am  

It’s a shame but we’ll be fine. If the last few seasons have taught us anything, it’s that the coach is the most important man. It frees up a quota spot, so we can now use that to either try and replace French or on another position (probably centre).

I can’t knock the lad for going back. He’s had a rough time of it. He’s fulfilled his deal and been a joy to watch. There’s not much more you can ask for.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 8:06 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

It’s a shame but we’ll be fine. If the last few seasons have taught us anything, it’s that the coach is the most important man. It frees up a quota spot, so we can now use that to either try and replace French or on another position (probably centre).

I can’t knock the lad for going back. He’s had a rough time of it. He’s fulfilled his deal and been a joy to watch. There’s not much more you can ask for.

This…

I think so far both he and the club have been very good for each other and treated each other very well with both benefitting out of the deal.

Would be gutting to see him go but if he does nobody can really be anything other than thankful for how the last few years have worked out and the entertainment he has brought to us.

Big boots to fill if he does go.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 8:46 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

It’s a shame but we’ll be fine. If the last few seasons have taught us anything, it’s that the coach is the most important man. It frees up a quota spot, so we can now use that to either try and replace French or on another position (probably centre).

I can’t knock the lad for going back. He’s had a rough time of it. He’s fulfilled his deal and been a joy to watch. There’s not much more you can ask for.

Made up for him on a personal level, especially if the 3 year deal reported is accurate. He’s a great guy.

He was the clear man of the steel in 2020 IMO. Gave us some great moments in a depressing year.

Helped get us that challenge cup we’ve been missing for years.

His 7 tries in 53 minutes will be talked about for decades.

Hopefully he can add a couple more memories in the next 2 months.

As has been said we’ll be fine moving forward, players come and go.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:18 am  

NSW wrote:

Made up for him on a personal level, especially if the 3 year deal reported is accurate. He’s a great guy.

He was the clear man of the steel in 2020 IMO. Gave us some great moments in a depressing year.

Helped get us that challenge cup we’ve been missing for years.

His 7 tries in 53 minutes will be talked about for decades.

Hopefully he can add a couple more memories in the next 2 months.

As has been said we’ll be fine moving forward, players come and go.

He does seem a terrific lad and the sort of character you want at your club. He’s been refreshing at a time when we’ve had a couple of blokes we should never have touched, around the place.

I really hope we can send him out on a high. It seemed like he wanted to take responsibility for that 2020 GF loss and it was never his fault. To send him out by turning that memory around would be pretty special.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:25 am  

I hope he goes well but for me he went well in his first stint in the NRL yet was still deemed not good enough as he doesn’t fit the mould of an outside back over in Oz. Also he will likely be on the wing for Newcastle, will they give him a licence to get involved more similar to what we do? I hope so as he’s 100% good enough to be a hit.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:42 am  

Ffs that’s Saints and Wigan both in the market for a winger next season. I was hoping we would be the only top club looking for one!

Do you have any ready replacements in your academy who can step up?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:43 am  

Miski probably gets first shot.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:43 am  

Really hope it goes well for him

Sad reality is though that an NRL side could pay him more than we can and still be comfortable cap-wise to just stick him in the reserves if it doesnt work out. He could stay here, earn a pretty penny and be a superstar for years

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:47 am  

I'm still torn when it comes to French leaving.

On the one hand, he's entertaining and the very definition of "on the edge of your seat" when he gets the ball. He also scores tries that very few people in world rugby could. I'm also worried that, if he leaves, those scores dry up + the ones he fashions out of nothing do too. We can't just replace like for like, so does our whole style and approach to the game need to change?

On the other hand, I'm not a big believer in paying marquee money for a winger (no matter how good they are). Granted French is slightly different, as he swaps in at 1, but he can be nullified out there sometimes.

Interesting that he's picked Newcastle too. He's not getting in regularly at 1 there.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 06, 2022 9:56 am  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Interesting that he's picked Newcastle too. He's not getting in regularly at 1 there.

I think Ponga may end up at stand-off there.

It’s good in a way that he’s deemed good enough to go back - I’d rather we get the best of a big money import (with the risk of them going back) than them just being solid or above average. Many of the best NRL signings to Super League over the years have gone back and gone well ala Lyon, Soliola, Green, Hoffman to name a few. Far too many see their time out when they’re no better than some of the lads on the fringes.