Swapping Hardaker for say Lauchlan Lam would be a no brainer for me. A French - Hastings - Lam combo looks very exciting.

Serious doubts about Adrian Lam but I doubt bringing in Hastings and maybe Lauchlan would be possible without him being here.

I'd really like to know how often and how much fans have seen Lachlan Lam play in over the last 18 months.

Lachlan Lam is basically a junior with no first team rugby under his belt. I’d rather throw Harry Smith in tbh. Next season would be his best chance of making it, playing alongside Hastings will ease him in nicely.

I was thinking the same thing. How have we gone against the teams we measure ourselves against? The ones who have won trophies already and are likely to be champions. Against Wire and Saints when it mattered the answer is rubbish.

The league is an odd one this year there weren’t that many points in between being considered part of the relegation fight or pushing for a playoff spot. Either the way it’s not a strong league and the fact we lost to Saints and Wire as often as we did yet still finished second is a bit of a head scratcher. If the management is comforting itself because we finished second (as some fans are) they need a wake up call.

A poor observation then. His try saving tackle was top quality.

If that is what he is like when he is "not confident" and "trying to mask that fact" the keep him like that because he has been excellent.

And how exciting Lachlan Lam would be without ever having seen him play.

We should have an RLFANS lottery pool.

Same people are saying playing French at FB would be madness as he can't defend from that position (when they've never even seen him play FB)

With French definitely not a halfback and Tommy’s kicking game being so poor I’d genuinely give Harry Smith the 7 shirt next year, get him and Hastings working together in pre season and we could see a special halfback pairing

I’d agree with this. Hastings and Smith for HB next season. Despite my calling for French to play HB, after seeing his display v Salford it’s safe to say he shouldn’t play there.

I don’t see the value in going getting a youth player from Aus when we have one ready and raring to go.

French is an issue in a sense of where to play him. It just seems to be a panic buy to me rather than a signing we needed. We’re stacked for wingers, centres and FB’s (Hanley coming through). HB is the only position in the back line we need a bit more depth but French isn’t a HB. The only position he could realistically go in would be FB which means shifting Zak out to centre which in itself brings into question the Bibby signing.

He is a good, speedy player French but I just can’t help but think his signing wasn’t needed. It’s causing more problems then it’s solving which isn’t what a new signing is supposed to do.

Give French a go at hooker, he would be brilliant in broken play or on the back of a quick PTB

What I’m saying is French shouldn’t defend in the line as he would be the weakest link in our line of defence.

And what I was saying is he didn’t look confident defending in the line, if I was the opposition coach I’d have someone running at him to test him out to see what his defence is like.

Judging by his size and what position he plays I think he’d be better suited at fullback, or on the wing rather than playing in the halves and defending further in field.


Now tackling as a fullback is a different matter, and the way modern fullbacks play defence isn’t what it used to be.

I hope you can grasp what I’m trying to say rather than say I’m writing French off, I’m not.

Gets better this.

Untested Harry Smith should just be given the number 7 shirt.
French is one minute being touted as a poor defender by some is suggested to play 9 by others.

I give up.

He shouldn't just be given the shirt, but sooner or later he's got to get a run of games. That's how new players are brought into the team isn't it? Maybe he'll be spelled with TL next year?

In regards to Lam - I've not seen much of him, but I watched his NRL debut and he looked alright. In regards to where he's at then he's definitely in front of Smith as he's got a handful of NRL games, he's played for PNG and he's also played with Hastings at Jnr level.

I'd be more than happy if we brought him in.

Let Smith develop first. He’s so young. Bring him through correctly and the rewards will come.
Lots of options for him without throwing a young half in at the deep end.
Plus fans get over excited at young prospects. One upon a time fans were saying Logan Tomkins was coming through and was the best of the brothers, Hampshire was the future England starter and Nicky Stanton was gonna be as good as Jason Robinson.

I do get what you're saying and I'm certainly not advocating that he should be the starting 7, but he's got to get more first team games next season. I'd be really happy if he gets 5 or so games and also goes out to the championship on loan.