As Gildart is out injured, I can the logic of playing Hardacre at Centre and French at Full Back.



Especially, when we are not short of half backs like Hastings, Leuluai, Smith, Sharrocks and wingers like Bailey, Burgess, Manfredi, Marshall.



The question is, where do we play French when Gildart returns to Centre and Hardacre reverts to full back?

I think Hankinson would miss out then with Hardaker staying at centre (if it had worked up to then, anyway)

French stays at Full back and we have a threequaters of Manfredi, Hardaker, Gildart and Burgess. Pace to burn with a bit of size mixed in. That would be the best threequaters line up in super league.

Hardaker

Manfredi

Gildart

Bibby/Hankinson

Burgess

French

Hastings



Tommy should be nowhere near a HB shirt in 2020. He isn’t good enough to play there and hasn’t been for a few seasons now.

For me all that GB tour proved is Hardaker isn’t brilliant at centre,admittedLy against arguably stronger teams than in SL

Tough to judge a great deal from that tour though in fairness. Looking at players performances on that tour you’d also say Widdop and Hastings are bang average, Thompson and Walmsley are two puddings and so on. It was a shambles of a trip and very few if any players came out with much credit.

100% correct

Hardaker or French at full back are two excellent options. Whether Hardaker at centre will work is another matter but this is Lam's call.

He will get the credit if it works and take the criticism if it doesn't.

Nothing new for Hardacre to play centre as prior to being signed by Leeds, most of his games playing for Featherstone Rovers were in that position with some at full back and on the wing.

Hardaker played a lot of centre at Leeds also. His entire first season was as a centre

One challenge I think we’ll have if we move Hardaker to centre is getting him to enjoy it as much as fullback. I always get the sense he loves playing at fullback and has never seemed quite as up for it when I’ve seen him play at centre over his career. Hopefully the whole side will come out flying and if we can get guys like French, Hastings, Manfredi and Burgess playing their best rugby then the centres should have a field day.

To be fair mate who cares if he doesn’t enjoy it as much. He’s very lucky the club didn’t sack him last year for his drink driving before he even put a shirt on for us, so if he’s paid to play anywhere he should feel lucky to be able to do so whatever the position. If he doesn’t play well in another position then that’s on him.



It will be great to get a fully fit backline firing next season! As you say, if all goes well they should have a field day...some serious speed and talent in there!