Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:01 am  

I have to smile when I read comments on social media and the other forum saying we need to bin off Thornley and Hampshire and questioning why the hell we signed them. We signed as back up and funnily enough that means they ‘back up’ first choice players and therefore don’t play. They add a cheap safety net and mean we don’t only have 18/19 year old kids to back up and when we get one injury, one of those kids has a huge burden put on them.

Going forward in to 2024 though, I would agree that we should keep Hampshire but let Thornley go. Hampshire covers 1.2,5,6 and 7 but I think we need to move Eckersley and Douglas up a spot.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:10 am  

If Cust is leaving (which I think he will) then Hampshire is a must imo.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:16 am  

Thought Hampshire did well when he got a chance. I suppose it will depend on his options as well. If Fev came up, you could see them making a play for him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:53 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

Thought Hampshire did well when he got a chance. I suppose it will depend on his options as well. If Fev came up, you could see them making a play for him.

I’m sure there are options in our favour for his contract so it’s up to us really.

For me he is an important squad player for next year and maybe the year after too.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:24 pm  

Seen a rumour on Twitter saying Field is going Catalans and Croft is coming Wigan next year, don’t see that happening myself and for as much as it would make us more balanced i hope it’s not true.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:29 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Seen a rumour on Twitter saying Field is going Catalans and Croft is coming Wigan next year, don’t see that happening myself and for as much as it would make us more balanced i hope it’s not true.

We’d be a lot more balance that’s for sure.

1 French
6 Croft
7 Smith

Is a lot better then

1 Field
6 French
7 Smith

My worry would be keeping it together long term. I feel Field will stay over here for the rest of his career as he’s just build for SL and not the NRL. French as well I think will stay at Wigan for numerous years yet.

Given the shortage of halves in the NRL I can’t believe Croft hasn’t gone back already.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 1:34 pm  

Just been reading that. I’m probably more comfortable with it than I thought I might be. French is settling a bit at six but it still feels like fullback is comfortably his best spot. I read a few responses saying Harry Smith and Croft are too similar but I don’t agree with that. I thought Croft was the best running half in the league last year and would actually offer a nice balance with Smith.

I still hope it’s not true because I think we can make it work with Field/French here and it would need to be a Croft like signing to lessen the blow but I can see why the club might like it.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 2:22 pm  

I’ve had a feeling all year one of French/Field wouldn’t be here next year, and it pains me to say it but I do also think that we’d be better off cashing in on one of them rather than risk losing both at the end of 2024. And I would rather keep French than Field.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 2:37 pm  

CJamesy wrote:

I’ve had a feeling all year one of French/Field wouldn’t be here next year, and it pains me to say it but I do also think that we’d be better off cashing in on one of them rather than risk losing both at the end of 2024. And I would rather keep French than Field.

I don’t think we’ll lose them to Australia.

French will be 29 in 2025 when his contract is up. The NRL is stacked with fullbacks and he’s not the big ball carrying winger they like, especially at 29.

Field is even more built for SL and doesn’t have a role in the NRL.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 3:14 pm  

The club seem to have found a formula to keep the overseas lads happy, letting them live in Manchester, where it seems like they spend a lot of time together. That, along with the fact French and Field don’t fit the physical profile of the types of backs NRL clubs want (as pointed out) gives me confidence we could have them long term (if we don’t flog one to Catalans).