Fishermanscap wrote:
He's played HB reasonably well in the past? Looks another versatile signing, only 29 so a few years left in him.
I have a theory as to why French players seem to do well at Trinity. Due to our ramshackle ground and general levels of poverty than most SL clubs we resemble more what French players are used to in their domestic leagues. Yes, I know Catalan is somewhat different but it's still French and not quite as intensively scrutinised as the British game. Basically I just think they feel more at home with us than at say Leeds. Could be way off but heck.
Apart from the fact there is some racial stereotyping in there, I think you'll find the French sporting stadiums are equal if not better than their English counterparts. And as they have the Olympics in 2024 they are only going to get better.
At a grass roots level you only have to go to some backwater village and see the tennis facilities or the football stadium with astro turf. They were way ahead of us on that.
The French rugby league facilities are poorer because of the lack of money in the game but that doesn't mean a French person feels "more at home" in poor facilities.
Obviously Stade Brutus is pretty special but even Albi have a much better stadium than us. Villeneuve only have a 5,000 capacity stadium but the complex itself hosts tennis, basketball and has a couple of training pitches I think. It's a while since I've been to it but the facilities are pretty nice.
And it doesn't rain as much either.
In terms of French players settling in, it's probably more to do with the recruitment choice, and the fact that, compared to antipodean imports, if they feel homesick, they can just nip home on the weekend if they want to.