Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 21, 2024 4:51 pm  

I thought he’d be a huge risk when we were being linked in 2022, so to think a team is getting him in 2025 has shocked me tbh. The new rules, his disciplinary record and his age wouldn’t fill me with much confidence. Interested to see how it goes mind.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:13 pm  

I'd have loved him this time last year and certainly instead of the pudding that was Singleton.

Now, we're pretty covered and it's 12 months down the line. I'd have made an argument that, if he'd have come in 23, I'd have him over Thompson. Likewise I'd have had Tom Burgess over both of them.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:20 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

I'd have loved him this time last year and certainly instead of the pudding that was Singleton.

Now, we're pretty covered and it's 12 months down the line. I'd have made an argument that, if he'd have come in 23, I'd have him over Thompson. Likewise I'd have had Tom Burgess over both of them.

Fair assessment of their playing abilities, but JWH is a quota player, while Thompson and Burgess are both English.

Wigan would have needed to unload a quota player in order to have signed JWH.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Feb 21, 2024 5:35 pm  

Love JWH, spoke to him at the Maguire night a couple of years ago. Top bloke and has a massive respect for SL and Wigan.

Will enjoy him in SL but he wasn’t the right signing for us at this time.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:26 pm  

dh13 wrote:

I feel like French has a really good opportunity to prolong his career over here as a stand off. If he goes back he’s really limiting his playing opportunities and potentially cutting short his career by a few years.

From a professional point of view, staying here would seem to be the best option, but if it’s a personal decision to go back then fair play to him.

One thing is for certain, he’s been absolute magic to watch and we have been lucky to have had him! Really hope he stays as most of our key players are on fairly long contracts now…it would be the cherry on top keeping him!

Feel the same, but he's on the other side of the world from home; he may just want to get back to Oz. But he's been brilliant for Wigan, and every good wish to him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 25, 2024 12:25 pm  

moto748 wrote:

Feel the same, but he's on the other side of the world from home; he may just want to get back to Oz. But he's been brilliant for Wigan, and every good wish to him.

Let's enjoy him while he is here.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 25, 2024 12:37 pm  

French will leave at the end of the year and I'll honestly be happy for him - I think it will be the right move for him now he's won everything and given Wigan almost 6 years of great service. Hope to see him in a prominent role for an NRL side so he can prove what kind of player he is over there.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Feb 25, 2024 1:41 pm  

He's a better player than the one that left Parramatta, that's for sure.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:44 am  

Bevan French will be one of those players we talk a out for a long time to come. He's given excellent service to Wigan, created some amazing memories, and owes us nothing. If the time is right for him to go home then good luck to him, I hope he goes to a good club and enjoys more success.

I'm sure he has a healthy salary and we are well placed to search for a replacement if we need to. We are the premier team in the SL, any big name Aussie looking for a change of scenery would have us as No1 option. I thought Mr Cleary suited red and white hoops on Saturday

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:57 am  

--[ WW ]-- wrote:

Bevan French will be one of those players we talk a out for a long time to come. He's given excellent service to Wigan, created some amazing memories, and owes us nothing. If the time is right for him to go home then good luck to him, I hope he goes to a good club and enjoys more success.

I'm sure he has a healthy salary and we are well placed to search for a replacement if we need to. We are the premier team in the SL, any big name Aussie looking for a change of scenery would have us as No1 option. I thought Mr Cleary suited red and white hoops on Saturday

If the club decided to go with a similar explosive player, at a good age and maybe in need of a change of scene, a Penrith player who travelled but didn’t play might be a shout in Dane Laurie. He has a 12 month deal at Penrith so we’d have to see how the year plays out.