Re: Jake Bibby : Tue Oct 15, 2019 10:10 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

I think so yes. From what we’ve seen before v Cas and Saints when he played HB he just looked lost and couldn’t create anything for anyone. For me HB’s in 2020 should be Smith (Harry!) and Hastings. Like I said in my full post; French is a problematic signing.

Im not sure problematic is the right word for a bloke who has probably been our most exciting player since he came in. He simply has to be in the 13 for me and the only problem is where he plays. I’d agree with NK that to write him off as a half is premature. A full preseason alongside Hastings and operating behind a far stronger pack could make a massive difference.

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:02 am  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Im not sure problematic is the right word for a bloke who has probably been our most exciting player since he came in. He simply has to be in the 13 for me and the only problem is where he plays. I’d agree with NK that to write him off as a half is premature. A full preseason alongside Hastings and operating behind a far stronger pack could make a massive difference.

'The most exciting player since he came in' no ones comes in since him mate

But yes, I agree, playing off Hastings will give French a different platform for his game. For me French needs to be on the ball as a 1 or 6. For me it depends how we play.

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 9:49 am  

Pemps wrote:

Have we?

Now I'm not saying he's Brett Kenny but I think he'd need a good pre-season learning the plays before we can judge him

Spot on Mr P!

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 10:38 am  

If we can teach a couple of the props to bust a tackle or throw the odd offload with Hastings doing the bulk of the organising/playmaking role & French been used more as a runner/support player I'd imagine they'd be an absolute nightmare of an halfback pairing to play against, unfortunately for it to work all depends on the pack actually laying a platform & getting abit of a roll on up middle to take advantage of broken defensive line/tired retreating defenders. Zak might even become abit more of a threat chiming in then with some doubt in the defence

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 3:40 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Im not sure problematic is the right word for a bloke who has probably been our most exciting player since he came in. He simply has to be in the 13 for me and the only problem is where he plays. I’d agree with NK that to write him off as a half is premature. A full preseason alongside Hastings and operating behind a far stronger pack could make a massive difference.

I didn’t label him problematic, I labelled his signing problematic and you’ve literally proved my point in your response with “the only problem is where he plays”.

He plays FB he pushes Zak to centre and Bibby is pushed out
He plays wing he’s pushing any one of our wingers out
He plays HB he pushes out Tommy (not a bad thing) and Harry Smith

I’ve already stated that I like French, he’s speedy and agile. Give him a yard of space and he’s away. I’d rather we had him than any other SL side but that adoration for him doesn’t necessarily transfer into an automatic playing spot.

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 4:46 pm  

100% Warrior wrote:

I didn’t label him problematic, I labelled his signing problematic and you’ve literally proved my point in your response with “the only problem is where he plays”.

He plays FB he pushes Zak to centre and Bibby is pushed out
He plays wing he’s pushing any one of our wingers out
He plays HB he pushes out Tommy (not a bad thing) and Harry Smith

I’ve already stated that I like French, he’s speedy and agile. Give him a yard of space and he’s away. I’d rather we had him than any other SL side but that adoration for him doesn’t necessarily transfer into an automatic playing spot.

So he adds competition in numerous places; sounds like a good signing to me.

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 4:53 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

So he adds competition in numerous places; sounds like a good signing to me.

Spot on. It’s a great problem to have!

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 5:22 pm  

Last Son of Wigan wrote:

So he adds competition in numerous places; sounds like a good signing to me.

A positive side effect I agree but I still stand by what I said.

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 7:09 pm  

[quote="Barrett was robbed"]If we can teach a couple of the props to bust a tackle or throw the odd offload with Hastings doing the bulk of the organising/playmaking role & French been used more as a runner/support player I'd imagine they'd be an absolute nightmare of an halfback pairing to play against, unfortunately for it to work all depends on the pack actually laying a platform & getting abit of a roll on up middle to take advantage of broken defensive line/tired retreating defenders. Zak might even become abit more of a threat chiming in then with some doubt in the defence[/quote]


Dont think we need to worry about that with George Burgess. Pretty sure he will be skittling a good few next season.

Re: Jake Bibby : Wed Oct 16, 2019 7:30 pm  

What's so terrible about playing French on the wing?