Did we not used to do something similar the last time we overstaffed our FB position? I'm sure Escare used to come off the bench and we swapped a few positions around.

I think in 2018 Escare may have come off the bench to play full back with Sam moving to the halves.

That was my memory too, but wasn't 100% sure it was Sam that we made the switch for.

I do remember, whoever it was, that it seemed convoluted. My argument is that if you look across the history of top FBs they don't then switch half way through the game and play HB.

No I don't think it's the best way to develop a cohesive spine in your team. Peets comments today about potentially playing two fullbacks was interesting - almost like a football side changing formation.

Id go with this but I really dont want Smith in the team

I’m not sure what the answer is but to have both Field and French will the ball in their hands as much as possible will be something to look forward to.

I think they’ll use French on the wing for at least the first few games but with a freedom to roam a little and offer a threat by popping up in other areas of the field. I recall an interview with Peet were he said they’d been working with the wingers, encouraging them not to just stay on their wing waiting for opportunities to come to them and he indicated a willingness to use them in a way that wouldn’t be what you expect from a traditional winger.

I'm sure there's no way on God's green earth that French will be thrown straight back in at full-back, and they will use him as NK suggests, He can always pop up in midfield and take a scoot from dummy-half, Marshall (and plenty of other wingers) already does this.

Having second thoughts, I think I’d start with Thornley on the wing for his size and ability to bring the ball from out line and bring French on at half time when Hull sent as fresh.

I would only have one of French or Thornley in Thursdays team v Hull and the one who misses out could play in the reserves v Bradford on Friday.

I’d love to see French at FB & Field/Cust in the halves together at some point on Thursday. I think that’s really well balanced, and if you get the back rowers providing good options it’s in theory “just” a case of picking the right pass. If you ignore Faz’s lead and he gets it he’s through, if you rush him and it goes out to French you have a 3 on 2 or he’s through, and if you push past Field and someone is half lazy on the inside he sticks and goes. I’ve over simplified that massively, but I think even the best of defences make a compromise somewhere defending that and we have the strike to punish it if we’re on it.

I think the choice will come down to either Singleton or Partington.
Thornley to start on the wing with French on the bench wouldn’t surprise me at all. If Thornley is fit I’d be amazed if he isn’t in the starting 13. French and Marshall on the wings is too lightweight against a team like Hull.

Personally the 4 I would omit would be O’Neil Miski Shorrocks and Isa.
There is no way Isa will be omitted but for me he’s done very little so far this season to command a starting 17 position. We haven’t got a 13 in the entire squad but for Thursday I’d rotate Smithies and Partington at 13 even though in principle I’m anti a prop at 13.

Their front row will dominate therefore, for me we need to compensate elsewhere physically to give us some go forward in what I’m pretty sure will be a decent contest.

Reckon Miski is unlucky Thornley and French have come back in the same week, from the little I've seen of him I reckon his size would be more than useful bringing the ball back against a side as big as Hull.
Isa/Singleton can consider themselves lucky if they're in the 17 and really need to perform.

I reckon we will line up like this:

Connor
Swift
Griffin
Tuimavave
McIntosh/Wynne/Mitch
Lovodua
Gale
Satae
Houghton
Sao
Ma'u
Savelio
Lane

Brown
Evans
Fash
Wynne/Johnstone

Yeah it is for sure. First we were short of forwards and then short of backs, now there are decisions to be made for both.
Our record at your place is abysmal but I'm hopeful for a decent game.