Lachlan Lam on loan

For the season? That would give us real strength in depth.

Only heard it as a rumour to be honest. How Lachlan isn't likely to feature for the Roosters next season but is in great need for game time, and SL, with his father, could be the idea platform for him to develop his game.

Merely a rumour...don't know of any other potential HB coming in.

What's your opinion on us bringing in another HB?

For the two biggest questions for next season are - who partners Hastings at HB and who replaces Sarge at centre.

Lam seems like a smart move imo.

In regards to HB, you'd think French will get the first shot. It doesn't seem like he's played much at HB, so the jury is out really.

After that, & if French doesn't work, then we'll probably see Tommy there. He's the complete opposite to French in that we all know what he brings to the table & we've seen plenty of success with him at 7 too. I'd still like to see him on the bench for 9 tho.

Smith is too young to be counted on & Shorrocks and Sammut might move on.

I have a sneaky feeling Zak will play 4 next season and French will play at 1

Lam would be an excellent signing. Hastings sadly will only be here for a year or two at the most. Lam and Smith could be good long term partnership.

Well in the halves we'll have:

Hastings
Tommy
Sammut
Sharrocks
French
Powell
Smith

Looking a little closer....


Hastings nailed on starter, great signing
Tommy; could potentially partner Hastings or fill in at 9.
Sammut, I could be wrong, but I think he's down the pecking order, was an odd signing to begin with for me.
Sharrocks; personally I don't think he's good enough.
French; could have great potential to be a running half, but who knows at this stage if 6 is the best position for Bevan
Powell; can cover 7 in the wake of a crisis, but for me is a 9.
Smith...too young, for me his goals should be getting as much experience has he can with least expectation and pressure, possible a loan move etc, he's one for the future, let's not rush him, let's develop him properly.

Depends how we look to play.'old school' attack with a dominate 7 playing both halves of the ruck with the 6th playing off him. On paper this means we play Hastings at 7, as the main playmaker and controller, with French playing off him as a second receiver allowing Zak to remain as our FB.

Or.. we split the halves, if this was the case I'm be more interested in Lachlan Lam. When you split the halves you're basically playing with two 7s, two controllers, one places first receiver on the left, the other on the right. If this was the case, in attack we'd be better off with French as our FB. with his pace and movement finding holes out wide as the second receiver as the half would be more suited to French than Zak.
Then I was assume we have Zak in the centres.

I can debate pros and cons for both really.

But the plus side is we're developing a squad with 'ball players' creators who can make things happen. It's merely a case of working out who fits where to maximise our team.

I don't think we need Lachlan, but having him would provide more creative options for 2020.

What about Woods on loan at Leigh? Saying that I can see him and Shorrocks leaving and Sammutt/Smith in the reserves next year with the odd game in the first team when injuries dictate. Tommy and Powell to share the hooking duties, probably with Powell being bench hooker as his running game has improved so he could come on as a scooting hooker once the opposition tire.

i have heard Sammut being linked with a move to HALIFAX

If French plays in the halves next year im very concerned we are replacing 2 excellent defenders, Williams and Tommy. Can French and Hastings defend?

Does that mean Gildart is going?

Forgot about Woods to be honest. I haven't seen much of him or how he's progressing at Leigh. Wouldn't be fair to comment.

No, it means Sarg is going which means if we play French at 1 and Gilly as one of our centres they'll be competition for the other starting centre spot, maybe contested between Zak, Bibby and Hankinson.

Tricky Dicky stated ZH at 4 he didn't say centre.
He's a canny poster so it wouldn't surprise me if Gildart is joining his buddies over in Aus.
I really like Gildart so I'm hoping I'm reading too much in the post

I'd say you're reading too much into it. But I wouldn't answer for tricky. But usually in here people talk by positions not squad numbers. With Sarge departing and no word of Gilly leaving I can only assume we're talking about the vacated centre spot.