I really think that we need to bring Hank back. With Field being out for 6 weeks, there's a need for more back support + he can kick too.

Isa should never be picked a centre again either (not his fault before anyone starts). Leave the guy in the middle and let him set the tempo for the defence.

Gildart's the one I worry about, how often do groin strains turn into hernia ops, really hope I'm way off the mark with this one.
Hopefully Manfredi is close otherwise it could be a very short challenge cup run if we're drawn against anyone decent with our current backline

Agree re Isa, he’s a cracking secondrow but a liability in defence on the wider channel against more mobile centres.

In relation to the Hanley debate I thought he went ok too.

He’s probably not robust enough to play week in week out though.

We tend to use our wingers as extra forwards early in the set coming out of our half.

We have 3 wingers who generally do this well and generate good post contact meters.

Hanley seemed to lose contact every time he tried to do a similar carry. He’s not developed enough yet for that style.

I’m in the keep him on the wing for now camp but I’d also say I agree with others who think we need to bring Hankinson back from his loan spell now.

Hardaker will be fullback again next week so it will be bordering on the masochistic if we don't bring Hankinson back to fill a centre spot plus he's by a mile the best goal kicker at the club

I think the club will give French a min of two weeks before he plays (like they did with Hastings). Add onto that Field is out for 6 weeks, Gildart is out (no idea on how long) both wingers & you don't want young lads playing every week too.

Bringing him back, just loosens things up a little

Do we definitely have the option with Hankinson? I can't understand why it hasn't happened already if we do. He played last week for London so he's cup tied but we could still do with him next week even if Gildart is back.

Lam confirmed we do but said we hadn’t considered it last week. I wonder if the salary cap plays a part? If they have room but want to save it for later in the season, that may impact on it.

I feel for Hankinson really. He’s been sat twiddling his thumbs for a couple of years and now he’s not here he’d walk a place had he stayed. It still would probably be short term though.

The obvious move is to bring Hankinson back, it's not obvious to Lam though.
He's a far better goal kicker than Zac and these missed pens and conversions will cost us games if the problem isn't sorted.
The right centre position was his and last night showed why we need a big man/good tackler at right centre. I really do doubt Thornley would have scored that try had he been facing Hanks.
On ly two problems, is there an option to bring him back and even if Rads/IL did would Lam play him? Somehow I doubt it.

Hanley did fine. He was targeted by Leigh and stood up to it and took some confident catches. He was beaten to one or two but pretty much every single winger will lose at least one contest when a team puts that many kicks up to someone to contest. An error here or there is to be expected with young players. Our two starting props made bigger errors during that game. Any player can be rusty at the start of the year. For me Hanley showed that he's more than capable of being one of our wing options.

As for next week, if they do consider French to be okay to play then he's be the obvious choice to slot in at wing. If not then it's a bigger headache. Against Salford the McDonnell - Bibby combo looked weak so I'm not sure it's ideal to play McDonnell at centre. Bateman would be an obvious candidate but I thought it was telling that we looked better when Lam reverted Bateman to right second row and Farrell moved into centre. I don't think we'd have won if Lam hadn't made that change. However, I don't think using Farrell at left centre is a good option as he looked very uncomfortable defending there.

If it were up to me I'd just say give Halsall a go. Bibby and Isa in the centres.

I think the best we can hope for re. French will be the challenge cup tie, if he has to isolate (not sure if Aus is on the list) he's no chance for next week, we could really do with drawing one of the championship survivors to give him an extra week to get back into the swing of things

Probably sound like I have a vendetta but the stats are out now. Five errors from Hanley last night. I'm pretty sure that's four near our own line and one in the opposition half which sent Leigh away for a break (luckily they knocked on the pick up). Wakey have Johnstone-Tupou-Lynne-Kay available today. They will convert those opportunities into tries. If Gildart is back and we can't/won't recall Hankinson then maybe stick him and Bibby on the wings. If not then I think Halsall deserves the opportunity to show whether he's any safer.

I think you run the risk of ruining the lads confidence with that move.

I don't think he was either shocking, or brilliant last night. Some stuff to work on, but that's what you'd expect from a guy making only his 2nd SL appearance (might be wrong on that stat btw).

If the club believe that he's our 4th choice winger and also mean what they said in regards to his good progress over the last 6 months then he needs to stay in the side.