My unpopular opinion of the day.

How good Escare was for us has been largely overrated. He looked good because he is fast, but he doesn't have the creative capabilities of Tomkins from the fullback position when he joins the line.

Escare was better than i thought he would be but no where as creative as Tomkins can be from the back. Like a previous poster maybe look at Escare at 7 he has a good boot on him and could do a Burrows type role for Wigan. Lualuai was good for the Kiwis at 9 but Mcllurom had a very good game for Ireland. Plenty of options around hooker and half its just getting the right balance

Thats exactly why Escare's time at Wigan thus far has been overrated. In reality we got him because Catalans no longer wanted him, and people weren't expecting much. He was good (I'm not saying otherwise), but Tomkins offered much more. The reason some people don't see it like this is because we expected a lot more from Tomkins, and he gave us less than our initial expectations. Whereas Escare exceeded (his much lower) expectations and took us by surprise.

Escare isn't creative enough...... so stick him in the key creative position in the team?

This is exactly how I see it. There's a definite loss of pace there, but I can see Sam developing into a much better version of Luke Dorn in his time at Cas. Not the quickest over a sprint, but has the brain & guile to be very dangerous, and can play a bigger role in organising the team than he did in his early 20s.

That said, Escare definitely contributed more at full back last year than Tommy did at 7, so moving Sam into the halves is probably still my preferred option.

It isn't about Escare being better then Tomkins at fullback that makes me want him in that shirt, it's the fact that Escare is a better fullback then Tommy is a scrum half IMO and Sam will bring as much, if not more, at halfback then what he now does at fullback with him lacking his old pace. In turn Leuluai is a better hooker then he is scrum half so it seems our best option.

Ideally we'd sign a proper scrum half but I've resigned myself to the fact that ain't happening.

If you use a quote try reading it, I stated he was not as creative at fullback as Tomkins, very few players are. That doesn't mean he couldn't play in the halfs.

If you use a quote try reading it, I stated he was not as creative at fullback as Tomkins, very few players are. That doesn't mean he couldn't play in the halfs.

I think you are underestimating the importance of the position, particularly when partnered by Williams. Whoever plays scrum half for us next year needs to be our key organiser, directing our attack. No way would I give it to someone who has never played that position, and speaks limited English. S.Tomkins, Powell and Shorrocks are all better options there IMO. Escare at FB was one of few things that worked really well last season, there are plenty of other areas more deserving of change.

I’d like to see us go ...

1. Tomkins
6. williams
7. Powell
9.McLlorum
14. Leuluai

Escare did pretty well at the beginning of last year but to me he still looks like he’s a couple of errors away from a Liam Marshall esque breakdown. He a great backup to have imo but I would t be happy with him as first choice one going into a full season.

My feeling is that Escare's form was starting to dip even before he got injured. He was poor against Catalans at home for example. I think we have seen the best of him. However, I do agree with others on here that Sam should be played in the halves. If that does free up a place at Full back I would rather see Josh Charnley there than Morgan Escare to be honest.

Typo?

I think it was supposed to say James Tedesco, It's easily done

My tuppence worth is,

1. Escare
6. Sam T
7. Williams
9. Tommy

It won't happen because Mickey Mac is un-droppable even though he is the least effective hooker in the league. Escare IMO did more than enough at full back to have that no.1 jersey. He may not be able to create more than Sam but can WITH Sam. He showed us all that he isn't afraid of throwing his body at the props. He is pretty safe under the high ball, he can kick and he can get the ball out to the 20m line and further a lot quicker than Sam can gaining us valuable field position. I would love to see Tommy at 9 for 1 season and Danny Walker from Widnes as his protege. A proper scampering hooker who can zip through a gap in the blink of an eye. When was the last time we had one of those?

Just reminds me of Roby. Imagine having a Roby for 10 years or so