It wasn’t really a case of Catalans wanting to let him go, it was more to do with the circle of friends and outside influences he had around him from his youth that were deemed to be holding him back.

They tried on several occasions to adjust his mentality but he kept going back to the same group.

It was deemed by Catalans and the player who wanted to break away the only way this could be done was a total move away hence why he ended up with us. Were his off field situation sorted he would be a Catalans player now.

We’ve been crying out for a kicking 7. We still don’t really have one but Tomkins is miles better than Powell at it. Powell just can’t get any length to his kicks although I do like his kicking close to the line. Surprisingly Escare did some great field kicking from FB last season.

I do think that when comparing Escaré and ST at full-back, opinions were coloured, not unreasonably, by the relative expectations for both players and the size of their pay-packets. Escaré looked a risk, to say the least, and people were pleasantly surprised when he proved much better than expected.

Does that make him a better full-back than Sam? Not so clear-cut, to say the least.

Escare isn't a better full back than Sam but the balance of the spine looks very good with Morgan, Sam, George, TL and Lockers.
That looks like the best spine of any team in SL.
To make them play at their best we need the front row and the whole pack to get us on the front foot and going forward with power and pace. The backs have real pace and it all needs us getting our act together.

Spot on FT. If we can have a bit more luck with injuries and keep key players fit, we’ll not be far off. I may be in a severe minority but I can’t wait for the season to start.

I just hope the players are buzzing to get going. They’ve looked like their minds are elsewhere at points these past couple of years and as though they’re struggling to motivate themselves for anything other then the really big games. We can learn a lot from Cas last year and how they seemed to enjoy each other’s success and celebrated try’s as a team.

If we can get a good spirit going and some excitement in to the players, we’ve got more then enough talent to not only win games but to entertain.

There’s definitely something in this. If we look back 2 or 3 years it was almost as if there was a forfeit for being last to join the celebrations! They were running in from everywhere and laughing their heads off!

Under Maguire I think there was or at least they were encouraged to all get in.

I’m not one of those fans who bags Wane constantly but there is no doubt over the years that some of that spirit and culture that Maguire instilled in the place has been eroded. This may sound silly and non important but even little things like seeing the players going to training camps or turning up for games in all odd training gear is a sign that the place has lost some professionalism and discipline. I’d want my ‘team’ looking like a ‘team’.

Maybe I’m sad

Never heard anything of this. Just witnessed a FB who was under-par then replaced.

I hope I'm wrong, but as cover, Escare is a good signing, as a first team starter? I'm not so sure.

john is right

Cheers for that.

no worries

Escare was a strange one from a fans point of view and to a certain extent it is to do with expectation, and managing expectations.

When he joined us he was seen by most including myself as a squad player who would only get a run out when we had an injury crisis.

As I mentioned above the coaches who are paid to know their stuff in both France and England rated him much higher than that.

I accept he is still green and learning which seems an odd thing to say for a player of his age and experience, however he was an absolute breath of fresh air in relation to providing the speed and evasiveness and general X factor that our turgid dull team so badly needed and I think that because not much was expected when he delivered like he did providing real moments of entertainment he became a fans favourite.

It’s kind of a role reversal from Tomkins where much was expected but for whatever reason last year he didn’t deliver and some fans turned on him.

I would say in both cases I would trust the coaches judgement over that of us sat in the stands.

Personally I’m more than happy for him to have the odd brain fart but start and give us as spectators something to shout about in a positive way.

100% agree