Do you think Smith is fast enough to play full-back? I've never seen him show that kind of pace.

The answer is quite simple, all the players who have moved to fullback have a lot of pace, Smith doesn't, Wiliams has a bit, but nowhere near the likes Hanbury, Dorn, Tomkins, etc.

Another player we did it with was Sam Tomkins.. how did that work out?

I'm with Rogues and Cruncher on this one and have been banging this drum for some time. I don't like that a 19/20 year old is trying to dictate where he should play and equally I don't really understand why he would have reservations about playing FB when the modern style of play suits having a pacey playmaker chiming in from the back. As NK says, it may be the defensive side he doesn't like, he's not the best under the high ball but he'll need to do more tackling at 6 than he would at 1.

I hope he has a good season at Cas and comes back next season a better player, because he's an exciting attacking player who I think could have a good career at Wigan. But ATEOTD it's taken an injury to a first choice half back for him to even get a shot at Cas so there's no guarantee he's going to get 15/20 games in this "preferred position" of his.

I'm guessing he doesn't want to play FB because we already have Tomkins to come in so at best he'd be a stop-gap or 2nd choice and reserve player. He probably thinks he is a better player than Williams, which is a good thing - confidence is impossible to coach.

You can't blame him though if he isn't comfortable playing FB. People are talking as if Fb and SO are the same position, they aren't. Much more pressure on a Fb and Rocky clearly thinks his skill and quick feet suit his game in the position he grew up in. Ask a footballer to play right back when he has played all his career as a striker and he won't perform.

This could well be the answer.

Personally I don't mind a young guy pushing for a particular spot if he has the talent to support his confidence.
Maybe he just thinks that he better than Williams and Smith therefore, why should he play out of position.
I hope he plays out of skin at Cas and tells SW where to shuff it when his loan expires.

if backed 100 per cent and not slaughtered and dropped for every mistake when others were far worse then he might of done better at full back. He's probably the most natural half the country has produced in years and wane decides to play him full back when the country is crying out for fast halves with vision and who can pass. Ryan needs his hands on the ball and will make things happen hes not Sam and Sam is not ryan bearing this in mind Ryan's running game was completely taken away and he didn't have the power to run through people. He's blistering pace great hands and awareness use it. Wigan completely missed a trick not bringing George and ryan through together and building a big pack behind them to help them they knew each other inside out. He's never demanded nothing from anyone or any team but promised them and been let down. A new contract was offered to keep him away from sts Leeds or wire even though wigan don't want him. He's finished at wigan with wane there that's the bottom line he could lose both halves and bookers and he's play a fan before recall ryan. Final thought in the academy ryan sniffed around and was scoring 20 or 30 tries per season when he went to full back it dropped to bout 5 it might be cause it's the wrong position or style of play

Thanks mr/mrs ryan

hes not wrong though

I'd say it's pretty much spot.

SW would love to see 13 Wilie Isa's playing for us. SWs inability to let players express themselves and using three quarters as additional forwards is stinking the place out at the moment. Not a popular view but I can't see anything changing this unless ST comes back as good as new which isn't guaranteed.
Last season was bad and we've continued playing the most unattractive style of play for many many seasons. Hampshire on his own wouldn't change it entirely but he would at least give us a strike player with pace.

Reading that interview i think Hampshire's time with Wigan is all but over,though i suspect if he doesnt set Cas's world on fire he'll be back saying all the right things next season,at his age he should be chomping at the bit to play anywhere not dictate (it seems) where he will or wont play,rightly he was sent off as he clearly doesnt see eye to eye with someone in the backroom.

Any young lad who comes in is potential very few are the finished article i keep hearing how great Hampshire is,but to me is far and away just potential,a pot load sure but far from the finished thing,perhaps if he'd have kept his head down he would have come in for Williams who does look very tired this season so far to me,but thats another story.

I think Wigan played it right with the contract as it protects their investment in him i suspect though his time may well be over as Wigan

He's sending SW a message? Hardly. More like the team has injuries and Ryan can cover in the halves. If the FB would have bee injured I'm sure Powell would have played him there.

Do you really think Rocky has the power to pick hi positions al of a sudden?

How does anyone know if he's comfortable not playing FB?

he said so

he wanted to leave but wigan wouldnt let him had offers from Leeds and Saints and a few more, they only allowed him to go to Cas if he signed a new contract. Not rated by Wane.