Quote: DaveO "I don't get the issue with him wanting to play 6.
Perhaps he has seen what happens to players who play out of what they feel is their natural position. The last player we had do that was Hughes who took on the job of centre when he was really a forward and despite making a better stab at it than some other so called centres he ended up out of the forwards and eventually out of favour in the pack. His willingness to fit in with the needs of the team out of position did him no favours.
And if full back is just another half back why have we never seen Smith there? Or Williams? Why not play Williams at 7, Hampshire at 6 where they played in their academy days and stick Smith at full back?
I am sure the answer will be no one thinks Smith at full back is a good idea. Has it ever entered anyones head as a plausible idea? If not then Hampshire at full back isn't a good idea either.'"
Another player we did it with was Sam Tomkins.. how did that work out?
I'm with Rogues and Cruncher on this one and have been banging this drum for some time. I don't like that a 19/20 year old is trying to dictate where he should play and equally I don't really understand why he would have reservations about playing FB when the modern style of play suits having a pacey playmaker chiming in from the back. As NK says, it may be the defensive side he doesn't like, he's not the best under the high ball but he'll need to do more tackling at 6 than he would at 1.
I hope he has a good season at Cas and comes back next season a better player, because he's an exciting attacking player who I think could have a good career at Wigan. But ATEOTD it's taken an injury to a first choice half back for him to even get a shot at Cas so there's no guarantee he's going to get 15/20 games in this "preferred position" of his.