vs Castleford

[nathan_rugby]

Time will tell, as surely French must be fit enough by now. We were told repeatedly that he was keeping very fit when in Oz, so he should be in the mix in the next couple of weeks. We will see soon enough what works and what doesn’t work. My concern is to deploy our squad in a way that gives us the widest range of attacking options, while playing players in positions they are comfortable in.

French at 1, Field at 6, Leuluai/Smith at 7 and Cust at 9. All of these players have played in these positions at NRL level. With Mago and KPP’s offload games, we can be exciting to watch. And it has been a long long time since we could argue we had a very entertaining team.

i think the club are playing this one bang on

He's been out the game for over 12 months, plus the emotional effect of his mothers death.

He was rushed back last year, and as a club we paid for it, so i have no issue with taking their time this year, as we are 5 wins from 6, and having him back fully fit (hopefully with a couple of reserve games under his belt), should hopefully help us see the best of him again

His mothers death should have no bearing on when he plays again now he’s back here. Most people get two weeks bereavement leave and then are expected back at work. The club has been very accommodating and now he’s back I am sure he himself would rather be playing. Why he isn’t is a bit of a mystery.

It’s a bit of a mystery why French hasn’t played yet?

Give over Dave0.

He’s clearly not fit enough and ready, there isn’t a mystery.

[Caboosegg]

Most people get two week bereavement.... must depend on sectors alot of people then stay off ill or take holidays until they are in a state to actualy work which varies from person to person as everyone is different.

I could imagine it now.

Player is rushed back early because he's had two weeks.
Unfit and emotionally damaged player is forced to play too early makes multiple errors in game knocking players confidence
Fickle fans start shouting abuse at emotionally damaged player because of said mistakes.

[the pieman]

Time will tell, as surely French must be fit enough by now. We were told repeatedly that he was keeping very fit when in Oz, so he should be in the mix in the next couple of weeks. We will see soon enough what works and what doesn’t work. My concern is to deploy our squad in a way that gives us the widest range of attacking options, while playing players in positions they are comfortable in.

French at 1, Field at 6, Leuluai/Smith at 7 and Cust at 9. All of these players have played in these positions at NRL level. With Mago and KPP’s offload games, we can be exciting to watch. And it has been a long long time since we could argue we had a very entertaining team.

i think the club are playing this one bang on

He's been out the game for over 12 months, plus the emotional effect of his mothers death.

He was rushed back last year, and as a club we paid for it, so i have no issue with taking their time this year, as we are 5 wins from 6, and having him back fully fit (hopefully with a couple of reserve games under his belt), should hopefully help us see the best of him again

His mothers death should have no bearing on when he plays again now he’s back here. Most people get two weeks bereavement leave and then are expected back at work. The club has been very accommodating and now he’s back I am sure he himself would rather be playing. Why he isn’t is a bit of a mystery.

sort of true, but equally you may also get less / longer depending upon the relationship / company that you work for. The company i work for has recently changed the bereavement policy, and it is far more employee compassionate at times of death, and it factors in the relationship, whilst not putting a specific time window on it

the other factor is we dont know how each individual will respond to the loss of a parent husband or wife / sibling / son or daughter etc, so you cant just put a window of 2 weeks and you'll be reet onto bereavement. I just need to think back to Stuart Fielden, who clearly was affected by the loss of his mother and the impact it had on his performances, but equally other players (think its Rhyse Martin at Leeds has performed well despite being on the other side of the world)

The other thing i would take into account is that i could take it easy in my line of work, so if i was having a bad day, i could walk away from my laptop etc, but a professional sportsman just cant walk off the pitch if its going badly

as to why he isnt playing, i would therefore suggest clearly not 100% fit (certainly not match fit), and the club are right in not rushing him back and writing off his season again with injury. I am pretty sure some of the keyboard warriors on here would be right onto it if he played the week he came back and then got injured and season over

[southportcdm]

I seem to remember that Bevan was not fully fit and completing extra training sessions last season when he got injured. He's got a slight body type for a rugby player and wouldn't look unfit to the casual observer if he hadn't played for a season. I'm sure we'll ease him back in when the time is right. Playing on the wing would seem the most sensible option.

[Charriots Offiah]

He'll play on Friday.

[EagleEyePie]

His mothers death should have no bearing on when he plays again now he’s back here. Most people get two weeks bereavement leave and then are expected back at work. The club has been very accommodating and now he’s back I am sure he himself would rather be playing. Why he isn’t is a bit of a mystery.

How on earth is it a mystery why he's not playing? The club have been pretty clear about what has been happening and his stated return date was our first challenge cup game, which would be this Friday, or the next reserve game (although that was said to be less likely).

He's not played sooner because he's essentially being given a 'pre-season' since he returned to the country to ensure he's fully fit before he plays, as the club admitted he was rushed back too soon last season. I'm sure he maintained a good level of fitness while he was away but probably not anything close to what players go through in pre-season. I don't see any mystery here at all. I'm surprised anybody expected him back any sooner given what the coaches have said.

[widdenoldboy]

French and Field can play full back and wing with their pace and evasion, I'm not sure if either could play centre? We know French can play at 6 but he has been hit and miss there.

I think if we can dominate in the forwards then they can play halfback but we won't allways have that dominance.

French and Field categorically cannot play centre.

Let’s not start this one.

Only asking!

[DaveO]

i think the club are playing this one bang on

He's been out the game for over 12 months, plus the emotional effect of his mothers death.

He was rushed back last year, and as a club we paid for it, so i have no issue with taking their time this year, as we are 5 wins from 6, and having him back fully fit (hopefully with a couple of reserve games under his belt), should hopefully help us see the best of him again

His mothers death should have no bearing on when he plays again now he’s back here. Most people get two weeks bereavement leave and then are expected back at work. The club has been very accommodating and now he’s back I am sure he himself would rather be playing. Why he isn’t is a bit of a mystery.

It’s a bit of a mystery why French hasn’t played yet?

Give over Dave0.

He’s clearly not fit enough and ready, there isn’t a mystery.

Someone earlier in the thread said he was supposed to be fit when he got back.

[nathan_rugby]

His mothers death should have no bearing on when he plays again now he’s back here. Most people get two weeks bereavement leave and then are expected back at work. The club has been very accommodating and now he’s back I am sure he himself would rather be playing. Why he isn’t is a bit of a mystery.

It’s a bit of a mystery why French hasn’t played yet?

Give over Dave0.

He’s clearly not fit enough and ready, there isn’t a mystery.

Someone earlier in the thread said he was supposed to be fit when he got back.

You really think French doing some fitness training out in Australia is the equivalent of a pre season with the team?

The club said he was doing some work out there but have always said:
- he won’t be rushed back
- he will play when he’s ready
- last year he got played too soon

[moto748]

Thoughts after watching the game back:

Impressed with Partington. And Smithies too, although he was rightly penalised in the first half for boring into the marker. I hate that; much too much of it goes unpunished, or worse, rewarded..

The Fonua card was ridiculous.

I don't think you can expect McGuire and JJB and Jon Wilkin to be totally objective about Wigan, but they are all probably fairer than Carney! McGuire is generally pretty good value, to be fair.

Vale Willie Isa.

And yes, Matty Peet spoke well.