I understand the point but hard to judge off the back of 1 performance especially when you consider how dominant our pack was.

I don’t think we’ve signed a dudd in Keighran just because he was outplayed by King yesterday.

FYI I’d love to keep King but I’m happy with Keighran as his replacement if that is not possible.

I don't think it is off the back of one performance Jon. He's been improving every game bar Hull, where everyone on both sides was poor, and not just in small increments but exponentially. Last night, after less than a dozen games in the position, he outplayed Tyrone May. I doubt anyone is suggesting "May is not a 6" but it seems fair game for the man who outperformed him! Do I think French is the finished article? No if course not! It would border on the miraculous if he was after so few games. Do I think he is showing he has the tools to succeed in the position? Absolutely in spades!

I'm not suggesting Keighran is a dud btw. Just rubbishing the idea that he would somehow be a better option than French at 6 as some have suggested. French has all the tools to be an exceptional 6 in this competition. All he lacks is the experience and he's even making that look like it isn't the hinderence it ought to be.

I was in the French isn’t a half camp but I’m starting to be swayed.

I would prefer a specialist quality half but given the lack of them available I’m starting to go with him as a 6 option and as you say he is only going to get better for the experience.

I wouldn’t want May over him but then again I see him more as a utility than a speciality half, he had a stinker yesterday though it has to be said.

No I did not say that,I haven't seen enough of May to make that relevant nor Keighran who has been playing centre anyway, talk about putting words in peoples mouth - you really need to back off a bit sometimes, you come across as the very thing (supercoach/expert) you accuse other of.Opinions vary - that doesn't makes yours any more relevant or better than anyone elses.

I am not convinced by French as he is still learning and we have yet to see how he performs in the toughest games under pressure, will he make it as a 6? Possibly, but it is early days. He did a few eye catching things in the first half but faded quite a bit whereas Smith was gong all game - that 40/20 near the end was amazing . I hope he makes it as it would solve a lot of issues for us but he is far from a finished article as a 6 for now (and by his own admission he has little experience there) - can we rely on him in the play-offs or a GF?

There are areas of his game that show he is not a 6 by trade but he is learning but time will tell. That is my OPINION.

I would love us to sign a top quality 6 as it would improve us massively but that looks unlikely as there are few available - French may be the answer but there are still areas he can improve.

I said "I'm guessing" and "if so" so I wasn't putting words in anyone's mouth. I also never mentioned Keighran in relation to you at all, unless you actually said you thought he was a better option there, which you're saying you didn't. How come I need to back off for giving an opinion but you don't for giving yours?

Anyway on to the actual thing we're discussing. You're entitled to your opinion. Of course you are. But equally it shouldn't be unmovable. If you're one of the ones saying French isn't a 6 (I don't know if you are) then could you tell me which areas of his game, experience excluded, where you feel he doesn't have the necessary tools to become a top 6?

Btw, didn't French move to full back in the 2nd half?

French has all the skills for a number 6,that little kick through for the try a number 6 would be proud of.
His willingness to learn and the talent he already has will make him a brilliant number 6 I have no doubts.

Only my opinion though.

Mine too. He has the best feet in superleague, defends as well as any half (and better than most), has an excellent short kicking game and his passing ability, as his try assists attest, is top draw.

He needs to work on pass selection, although that has improved massively in relatively few games and needs to refine the balance between run and pass options which also has improved and was excellent last night. Both of those things are experience rather than ability related though so, as I say, I think with more games under his belt and after a full pre season we'll have a quality stand off next year.

He took on the line for his try also. I think he’ll do fine and hopefully in the pre season he’ll develop as a 6 and the partnership with him and Harry will grow.

I saw a comment on the other forum saying he looked rubbish and they didn’t know why we’d bothered signing him. You can’t make it up sometimes! One iffy game doesn’t alter him having a very good season. I looked at combined try and assist stats for centres the other day and Keighran (on 1icon_cool.gif was the only player above King and Wardle (both on 16 at the time but now on 17). He’ll be more Wardle in style than King but that’s fine, as long as what looks a better pack fires.

Brilliant performance.
The pack was superb, over ran their forwards and out played them.
Byrne was outstanding, French showed what he can do at 6 behind a winning pack. KPP, Smithies and Nsemba put in some big hits but the pick of the big hit tackles was Liam Byrne's at the end of the game on Navarette. Absolutely smashed him.

Great win with a great performance, the hard bit will be backing it up!
Can they do it? Too right they can!

The forwards ran the show and we were 2 forwards down arguably our two best. We’ve still got to finish strong this year but next year with a fully fit forward pack I can’t wait to see it

I am not saying he hasn't got the tools to make it as a half (many full backs move to half later in their careers) - just that at the moment he is some way off being a reliable half and would he be able to handle the position in a tight play off game? His pass selection is some what erratic (and his no look pass is sometimes dangerous and liable to interception) and his choosing when to run or pass is still some way off but getting better - obviously more experience will help that.He also will need to get more involved in organising and I would like to see him at first receiver a bit more to take some pressure off Smith.

Much of what he does well is pretty much what a good full back linking into the line does - Matty Bowen used to do similar things when he was here. I hope French can make it as a 6 as it would solve a lot of issues for us given the lack of possible other options, you cannot fault his effort at all.

One worry I do have is that we are so reliant on Harry Smith - if we lose him to injury or suspension then we would really be struggling, we need to keep him fit to have any chance in the play-offs.

I am not sure if French went to full back in the second half as there seemded to be a few changes - Field seemed to be operating at dummy half a lot even when Powell came on for O'Neil so there may have been a swap around.

Smith is our pivotal player without him we would be rudderless. If he got injured we would be in the brown smelly stuff with nobody else in the squad being remotely capable of covering him. I love watching French and Field but neither of them could hold a candle against him in terms of running a team.

Spot on Itchy. Couldn't agree more.

1 match ban for Ellis. Not a single sighting for Naverette. Fine for Tomkins