Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 5:03 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

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).

Yeah, even if French really becomes a success at 6 his style will likely be too off the cuff for NRL clubs so even though they’re short of decent halves currently I don’t think they’d go for French.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:03 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

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).

What do you mean the club let them live in Manchester?

Surely it’s nothing to do with the club and they can’t dictate?

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:15 pm  

[quote="nathan_rugby"]What do you mean the club let them live in Manchester?

Surely it’s nothing to do with the club and they can’t dictate?[/quote]

Pretty sure the club provide accommodation to the overseas players, so it would have something to do with the club from start to finish.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Aug 06, 2023 8:25 am  

nathan_rugby wrote:

What do you mean the club let them live in Manchester?

Surely it’s nothing to do with the club and they can’t dictate?

As far as I’m aware, the club has in the past (and other clubs have) had a rule where players need to live in the local area i.e the Wigan Borough, How you enforce that though, I’ve not a clue.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Aug 06, 2023 8:46 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

As far as I’m aware, the club has in the past (and other clubs have) had a rule where players need to live in the local area i.e the Wigan Borough, How you enforce that though, I’ve not a clue.

There’s no rule about living in the Borough, Hopoate for example lives in Orrell.

However the overseas players will have accommodation and cars provided, usually their wives get a sponsored car too. It may be that Wigan are just paying the rent for French and Field rather than their accommodation being club owned.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Aug 06, 2023 8:48 am  

Very mixed feelings if we were to let Field go and replace with Croft.

As stated above, i think very unlikely French or Field will get attractive offers to go back to NRL due to their size. Croft is more likely to go back at some point - so probably lose him sooner than later. Overall he's probably a more rounded 6 than anyone else, but I think French is building onto the role and getting better every game - just like Smithies is developing how ball playing skills. (as an aside I'm not sure the coaching team are getting any credit for developing the players skillset that we can all see in front of us - the inexperienced coaching team must be doing something right.....)

I think people forget Field is still coming back from a 2nd major hamstring issue too - I think he's still holding himself back and not really stretching out his legs and trying for full speed. I think we're gradually seeing more of it as the season goes on - latest HKR game being an example and i think we'll see more as we get to the end of the season. He is still playing much more of a link full back role though - and doing it well but could provide more threat running.

At the moment he has to make the gap himself and get on the outside shoulder of a lazy defender, against good defences less likely to happen - but if the coaching staff are able to get KPP, Dupree Nsemba or even Smithies working on a short pass or offload I think we'll really see the x factor that he brings. If we can work that out I'd rather keep French and Field long term.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Aug 06, 2023 9:42 am  

Big Steve wrote:

Very mixed feelings if we were to let Field go and replace with Croft.

As stated above, i think very unlikely French or Field will get attractive offers to go back to NRL due to their size. Croft is more likely to go back at some point - so probably lose him sooner than later. Overall he's probably a more rounded 6 than anyone else, but I think French is building onto the role and getting better every game - just like Smithies is developing how ball playing skills. (as an aside I'm not sure the coaching team are getting any credit for developing the players skillset that we can all see in front of us - the inexperienced coaching team must be doing something right.....)

I think people forget Field is still coming back from a 2nd major hamstring issue too - I think he's still holding himself back and not really stretching out his legs and trying for full speed. I think we're gradually seeing more of it as the season goes on - latest HKR game being an example and i think we'll see more as we get to the end of the season. He is still playing much more of a link full back role though - and doing it well but could provide more threat running.

At the moment he has to make the gap himself and get on the outside shoulder of a lazy defender, against good defences less likely to happen - but if the coaching staff are able to get KPP, Dupree Nsemba or even Smithies working on a short pass or offload I think we'll really see the x factor that he brings. If we can work that out I'd rather keep French and Field long term.

Field’s going nowhere.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:01 am  

Stu M wrote:

There’s no rule about living in the Borough, Hopoate for example lives in Orrell.

However the overseas players will have accommodation and cars provided, usually their wives get a sponsored car too. It may be that Wigan are just paying the rent for French and Field rather than their accommodation being club owned.

Not sure on the ins and outs but I recall about 8-10 years ago the club wanted players to live locally and that’s seems to have eased over time (We didn’t have lads travelling from Yorkshire like other clubs). Manchester might’ve always been acceptable but they seemed to start with Hastings and now a lot of the Aussies are living over that way. Whatever the set up, if it works and keeps them happy, that’s all good.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:03 am  

Big Steve wrote:

Very mixed feelings if we were to let Field go and replace with Croft.

As stated above, i think very unlikely French or Field will get attractive offers to go back to NRL due to their size. Croft is more likely to go back at some point - so probably lose him sooner than later. Overall he's probably a more rounded 6 than anyone else, but I think French is building onto the role and getting better every game - just like Smithies is developing how ball playing skills. (as an aside I'm not sure the coaching team are getting any credit for developing the players skillset that we can all see in front of us - the inexperienced coaching team must be doing something right.....)

I think people forget Field is still coming back from a 2nd major hamstring issue too - I think he's still holding himself back and not really stretching out his legs and trying for full speed. I think we're gradually seeing more of it as the season goes on - latest HKR game being an example and i think we'll see more as we get to the end of the season. He is still playing much more of a link full back role though - and doing it well but could provide more threat running.

At the moment he has to make the gap himself and get on the outside shoulder of a lazy defender, against good defences less likely to happen - but if the coaching staff are able to get KPP, Dupree Nsemba or even Smithies working on a short pass or offload I think we'll really see the x factor that he brings. If we can work that out I'd rather keep French and Field long term.

Agree with that, avoid Croft same as Williams. As soon as a trophy was won and the NRL offers came in both players would be off down under faster than you could say Qantas. Stick with Field and French, both are quality and both are two of the most exciting players to watch in SL as well as being match winners.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:14 am  

One thing that will hugely help the Field and French set up at 1 and 6, will be the increased threat our pack should bring next year. The more space you can work for them, the more time and space they’ll have. I do think on paper French, Croft and Smith offers more balance than Field, French and Smith but it’s early days for this current set up and we’re still short in the pack at the minute.