Re: FIELD : Tue Jun 18, 2024 3:12 pm  

I could see us going with Hampshire and Farrimond in the halves on Friday and then you can have a look at them side by side and see how you feel going forward. If we do go with Farrimond after Friday, It's a tough ask for such a young kid to play 6 or 7 consecutive games, including games against the likes of Leigh, Saints and Wire but there's no doubting his talent and Hampshire has really struggled in his opportunities this year.

Adam Keighran coming back in for Leigh will open some options up. You could put him in at fullback or move Eckersley in there, with Keighran going back in to the centre or you could just put Keighran in at stand off himself. He was very much a utility player prior to settling in to the centre spot at Catalans. To me those sort of options feel like they could be the best for the team in this short spell without Field.

Re: FIELD : Tue Jun 18, 2024 3:14 pm  

NSW wrote:

Will make finishing top a hard task but at least he should be back and firing for the playoffs.

.

Come off it, its only one player! I know you have Isa injured too but would he make your first choice 17? You've got the strongest squad and barely any injuries plus you have more home games left than anyone. I'd be staggered if you don't finish top

Remember that we are still without Walmsley, Batchelor, Whitley, Knowles, Lomax and now Makinson. That's not even counting Wingfield.

Re: FIELD : Tue Jun 18, 2024 3:16 pm  

NSW wrote:

Will make finishing top a hard task but at least he should be back and firing for the playoffs.

Last year when he missed a similar length of time we opted for French at fullback, with Shorrocks/Hampshire in the halves.

French continues at full back for me.

He’s had a couple of bad performances and everyone’s getting on his back but I feel with a run a games Hampshire would improve and be a steady option.

Farrimond is also an option but seems like a Smith type player, kicker/general rather than a runner.

I would mind see Keighran playing 6, he played there a lot for Catalan last year and could be a running threat in that position. Eckersley’s pace and athleticism could benefit us in the centres.

Leeming in the halves is another option but can’t really recall how he played there for Leeds.

If Hampshire is carrying an injury and there is another option in Farrimond i would like to see us explore it, from what i have seen of Farrimond he doesn't seem too slow and has a bit of a step on him. Not saying that instantly means that somebody can make the switch to Stand Off, but giving it a shot against London isn't exactly throwing him to the dogs either. If Hampshire is injured that could be a factor in his poorer performances and if we feel he would benefit from a couple of weeks rest then leaving him out of London gives him the international break also to recover from whatever is niggling him.

Keighran or Leeming could be interesting choices, though in Leemings case it would be a shame to lose him out of the Hooker rotation as it has been really potent for us this year.

Re: FIELD : Tue Jun 18, 2024 3:17 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Come off it, its only one player! I know you have Isa injured too but would he make your first choice 17? You've got the strongest squad and barely any injuries plus you have more home games left than anyone. I'd be staggered if you don't finish top

Remember that we are still without Walmsley, Batchelor, Whitley, Knowles, Lomax and now Makinson. That's not even counting Wingfield.

I do agree with you on this Stu, i don't see it de-railing our season and we should have enough for 90% of the league still, it is just about finding that right combination in the spine for us now.

Re: FIELD : Tue Jun 18, 2024 10:39 pm  

As Field is not out for months then I guess there was no need to look too far for a replacement?
Maybe throwing Eckersley/Sumner in may have knocked their confidence if it went badly.
However, Farrimond looks to have the confidence and ability to step up into the halves now and his kicking is a bonus.

Re: FIELD : Tue Jun 18, 2024 10:57 pm  

Just bring out the next one off the Wigan R.L.F.C. production line.

Re: FIELD : Wed Jun 19, 2024 10:10 am  

I personally don’t like the idea of shifting French back there now.

French is a 6 and still learning the position I want him to stay there and we need in my opinion to look at options for 1.

I’d quite like to see Kerighan have a run there with Eckersley taking the centre spot.

Rocky for me has struggled so far when given a chance, obviously there are reasons for that, but I’d like to explore other options with Ricky being the fallback option

Smith and Farrimond for me doesn’t work at this stage in the halves. They have similar strengths and we lose a lot of strike if we go down that route.

Re: FIELD : Wed Jun 19, 2024 11:55 am  

Bin off Isa and bring in a loan player from Ozz, It worked out great with that Nick Graham fellow

Re: FIELD : Wed Jun 19, 2024 12:23 pm  

jonh wrote:

I personally don’t like the idea of shifting French back there now.

French is a 6 and still learning the position I want him to stay there and we need in my opinion to look at options for 1.

I’d quite like to see Kerighan have a run there with Eckersley taking the centre spot.

Rocky for me has struggled so far when given a chance, obviously there are reasons for that, but I’d like to explore other options with Ricky being the fallback option

Smith and Farrimond for me doesn’t work at this stage in the halves. They have similar strengths and we lose a lot of strike if we go down that route.

I agree with much of that but the bit in bold is a little strange. How do you know it doesn't work? As far as I'm aware they haven't even played together. I'm guessing that the coaching staff will have tried this combination in training and would only put it into practice if they thought it could work. Besides which, we have won a title with Deacon and Leuluai, neither of whom were really a running threat. The combination may well not work but we simply don't know until we see it in action.

Re: FIELD : Wed Jun 19, 2024 12:35 pm  

I can't say I'm an expert on Farrimond but I've seen a decent amount of him now between the academy, reserves and first team and I do think there is enough differences between him and Smith to make a partnership possible. He's got more of a running game then Smith for one but I also see him as a bit more of an off the cuff player than Smith. He can organise and kick a side around the field but he comes up with some outrageous bits of individual skill and he looks inventive with his kicking close to the opposition line, which is something I think Smith can struggle with at times. It's probably a conversation for a year or two down the line anyway but they could form a good partnership for me.