There are three reserves fixtures between the end of Feb and 19th March, so they may well ease French back in via a couple of those. They’d also have the option of him turning out for Newcastle if both clubs wanted to do that.

Cust and Fields in the halves, Tommy on the bench to interchange with the mediocre Powell, Don't think Smith is Wigan standard, If he has not put his mark on the team by the age of 22 then I doubt he will, nothing more than a Rocky mk2, bulled up by the usual suspects

French is a fullback and nothing else for me. The most likely move will be Field playing 6 to accommodate him when he returns.

I like this theory.

1. French
6. Cust (Field)
7. Field (Cust)

Fully fit the above excites me more than Tommy in the halves, absolutely rapid.

Agreed.

If he’s fit he plays fullback and nowhere else.

I can't make my mind up.

On the one hand, I'm desperate for immediate success and want 22 to be a great season. That's a great offering, with plenty of options in attack.

On the other there's two players listed that probably won't be here in 23. That's normally ok, just not when it comes to the spine. Add to that the talk of Powell being on a 12 month deal & the fact we don't have a settled 13 and it's slightly worrying long term imo.

I'd hope that after spending almost as much of his contract not playing for Wigan as he has playing, French will extend for 2023.

What do you mean extend for 2023?

2022 was the additional option year in his contract which he extended. In order to be here in 2023 he will need a completely new contract.

That's what is being suggested. The club have been brilliant to French and because he missed out on the majority of last season due to injury, you'd like to think French would want to stay for another year to repay the club, by signing a new contract.

Glad to see him coming back and as previous posters have said, we need to take time in bringing him back. A few games at Newcastle won’t do any harm.

There’s not half gonna be a selection headache when he is back though (provided Field is going well). A horrible but superb problem to have.

After seeing field in pre-season, there's no rush to get him back at the moment. If Jai continues with his form I can't see how he will be dropped, 40-1 currently for MOS not a bad punt for £5

He's played some very good games for us on the wing to be fair, including his debut.