I think I'd stick with Hardaker at FB, safe as houses there. Plus think of the space Hastings will give him next season.

Let Marshall, French & Burgess fight it out for the wing spots.

Manfredi & Davies, we can hope they come back good but never guaranteed.

I suppose so.

I agree though, are 1-7 does look mouthwatering for 2020. Where I will disagree though is moving Hardaker from FB. Defensively and offensively he’s been outstanding and more than deserves that #1 shirt. I’d put French on the wings partnering Burgess/Manfredi personally.

Zak, French, Bibby/Hankinson, Gildart, Burgess/Manfredi, TL/Smith, Hastings

Whichever way you put those names into formation it’s a formidable back line

Hardaker is a safe option at the back for sure but I do still feel like we need a bit more in attack from him. He looks a yard down on pace from that 2017 season at Cas but maybe with a full pre season behind him and as pointed out, Hastings to pull the strings and create space, we could see that come back.

Ultimately it’s scary options to have. To have to decide between French or Hardaker at fullback, Burgess, Manfredi, Marshall or Davies on the wings and so on is just brilliant. We should be great to watch next year whoever pulls on the starting shirts.

One things for sure, it allows us strength in depth. Is Sammut signed up for next year or just this?

Don't forget we have the Escare (remember him anyone) situation to deal with as well, oh if only someone could take him off our hands, very much surplus to requirements... And very costly too I believe.

His balance, step and turn of pace had me thinking about Amos Roberts 2010. Literally untouchable.

Outstanding tonight. Went round people as if they weren't there and literally left them grasping at thin air!

Where I disagree with some on here is I think he'll thrive in the middle running off Hastings who operates both sides of the field and makes gaps for fun. Not that French seems to actually need gaps mind...

Maybe a lesson for those who hadn’t seen him play voicing an opinion without any evidence to back up their comments. Didn’t someone say he was 10/1 to be the next Dennis Moran something like that? I do wonder if that person had seen French play in the NRL.

Looks like he’s had an effect on Tommy as well. Tommy looked like Chikka Ferguson dancing round people for his try.

Pretty sure Sammut is signed up for next season too. I honestly can’t see a spot for him, even with an injury to one of our halves we’ve got young Harry Smith to step in. It’d have to be a proper injury crisis for him to get a look in. Same with Escare, which I think is a shame as he is a decent player. Just lacks that game intelligence which would probably make him a near certain starter.

I don’t remember the negative comments to be honest but I agree they’re looking very silly now. Some of our greatest signings have been NRL cast offs.

He's going to frighten the opposition no matter where he plays in the back line.
The defensive line will always have to be on their toes when facing a player who can step and move like he can.

But where to play him? Depends on how we structure the team. If we're splitting the halves he looks like a fb for me. But then you have the dilemma of what to do with Zak. For me I imagine French to be more of an attacking threat than Zak, but Zak is a better defense fb. Zak is the best defensive fb we've had since Rads.

If we're looking at more of an 'old school' 6 and 7 give French a go at playing off Hastings. Can you imagine the pace and strike our back line will possess with French running off Hastings with the likes of Gilly, Manfredi, Marshall, Burgess and Zak outside of him.

I don't want to see French as a play maker as such. He's a strike weapon. He shouldn't be putting others through gaps, he's the one to put put through the gap.

Agree with this. I also think Zak will go up a gear next year. He's been absolutely rock solid in defence and does the tough stuff probably better than any other fullback in the league. This was never more obvious than last night when comparing him to Sam. That's not likely to change as it's been a big part of his game throughout his career. However I think we'll see more of the 2017 attacking threat from him next season as the gaps to run into will definitely be there. You only need to look at Hastings' stats to know he's the best in the league at opening up a defense.

I agree. I really rate Zak. Always have. I truly believe he's the best defensive fb we've had since Rads.
Not just saying this as a Wigan fan with cherry and white tinted glasses, but his exclusion from the GB squad is a massive error for me.

If there were any negative comments there weren’t many. It’s been very much a case of those who know of him saying he could be brilliant over here and those who didn’t saying his NRL record looked good.

It certainly wasn’t a reaction like Sammut’s signing got.

I don't understand it, especially in the light of Jamie Shaul making it. Even the Hull fans think he's been poor this season. When you factor in that Hardaker can also slot in at centre, a position we're not exactly blessed with depth in, it seems like a very questionable decision.

I can only assume it's due to his past record. If that's the case, I would hope he responds accordingly; keeps his head down, continues to work hard and has a sustained period of the stability he seems to be enjoying at the moment.

A player with that level of balance, agility and speed off the mark could absolutely destroy big lads playing in the middle. If Hastings is dictating play behind a more dominant pack and guiding us around the park then, French playing 6 could be a perfect fit. He will undoubtedly exploit any space that’s left in the blink of an eye. Conversely teams would have to really focus on him which would result in space out wide. Hastings has the ability to make the right decisions and launch French through the middle or to go out wide and launch our 2nd rows, centres and FB. Very excited about the rest of this season and even more so about next.