Bad news and as I've said previously the first month of the year will likely be challenging. Hopefully we can scrape some wins and then really get going in mid April. The main concern is the Challenge Cup game which takes place the week after round 2 I think. Hopefully all will be back by then but there will be a lot of rustiness in the team.

The only saving grace with Manfredi is that a thumb injury won't prevent him from working on his fitness and he'll be able to work around it in the weights room.

Yeah true. All depends on his medical status and who else is available. If the same injury is likely to re-occur then I'd only be offering him a low contract, and let him take up someone's cap space if they want to accept the risk and pay more. If it is different injuries or they think they have it all sorted then what has happened previously doesn't really matter. I don't know who else will be available either, we have done well over the last decade with being able to produce first team wingers so we don't have to sign any and probably underpay for them. I don't think Hanley or Halsall look good bets for a regular starting wing spot next year, and Bibby is better suited to centre, so we would need to be bringing someone in if he went.

At least with Manfredi it's nothing to do with his knees, more concerned about Gildart.
If French does make it back (and as far as I'm concerned family comes first) he goes straight in and that takes a lot of pressure off.

I think all the signs point to Field starting his time at Wigan at fullback until Bevan gets back. If one of them is available for round 1 it would free up Zak for the backline and make things a lot easier. I personally would consider playing him on the wing but I doubt that will happen.

It would be interesting to know how long they anticipate Bevan to be away for and how long Gildart might be out for. Any longer than a month and I'd be looking at recalling Hank (if possible of course).

Phil Wilkinson tweeted that Hankinson could be recalled as his loan period started Jan 1st.

We never seem to recall loan players but I would be doing here. I've been vocal about how easy that Leigh game will be but we probably have enough players missing to make it a concern now.

i suppose there are a number of factors to consider, over and above, we need a player for week 1,2 or 3

If we recall, can he actually go back to London for the rest of the season once we get our 1st team players back?
If we recall, whilst it helps us out in the short term with injuries, will he be sat on the bench for the rest of the season, if he cant go back to London (think we all know that answer)?

whilst he is a specialist back / centre, and given that he hasnt really cemented a 1st team spot, will it benefit him being brought back? If he then cant play for the rest of the season, what is the benefit of bringing him back? In this circumstance, the only way i would personally recall him is if the club knows that the injuries are long term, and those players are unlikely to play any of the season. He isnt a young kid coming through the ranks and at 27 i am assuming he wants game time and a 1st team spot at whichvever club he is at?

I don't get where this theory that he couldn't be loaned back out to London (or elsewhere) all season if we recall him comes from. Is this some rule I've missed?

i dont know i was asking a question. Can he be loaned back if he is recalled? i genuinely dont know.

if he can go back then all well and good, and as a short term fix it would work for us, but may cheese london off slightly

if he cant, then i personally think for his sake, he needs to stay out on loan as doing nothing more than bench warming isnt going to help his career

Unless you know otherwise I'd have thought it would end the current loan agreement but can't see why they couldn't just negotiate sending him there again if London still want him, or sending him to another club if they don't. It's not ideal messing London and Hankinson about, and we don't want a reputation for doing it or other clubs won't loan players off us, but I'm sure all concerned will be able to look at our injuries and see that our hand was forced.

Had a good game today kick 4 from 4.