sergeant pepper wrote:I'm still torn when it comes to French leaving.

On the one hand, he's entertaining and the very definition of "on the edge of your seat" when he gets the ball. He also scores tries that very few people in world rugby could. I'm also worried that, if he leaves, those scores dry up + the ones he fashions out of nothing do too. We can't just replace like for like, so does our whole style and approach to the game need to change?

On the other hand, I'm not a big believer in paying marquee money for a winger (no matter how good they are). Granted French is slightly different, as he swaps in at 1, but he can be nullified out there sometimes.

Interesting that he's picked Newcastle too. He's not getting in regularly at 1 there.

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:Ffs that’s Saints and Wigan both in the market for a winger next season. I was hoping we would be the only top club looking for one!

Do you have any ready replacements in your academy who can step up?

NickyKiss wrote:It’s a shame but we’ll be fine. If the last few seasons have taught us anything, it’s that the coach is the most important man. It frees up a quota spot, so we can now use that to either try and replace French or on another position (probably centre).

I can’t knock the lad for going back. He’s had a rough time of it. He’s fulfilled his deal and been a joy to watch. There’s not much more you can ask for.

TheWarringtonWolve69 wrote:Ffs that’s Saints and Wigan both in the market for a winger next season. I was hoping we would be the only top club looking for one!

Do you have any ready replacements in your academy who can step up?

jonh wrote:As others have said I don’t think we will be going for a winger. We have secured Wardle and could probably cope without bringing in another centre next year so I think we may make a hard play for Thompson and run with Thornley/KPP/Halsall as centre options alongside Miski/Thornley/Halsall as wing options.

If we are unsuccessful with Thompson I’d suggest then we would go for a specialist Centre not a winger.

Stranger wrote:Shame if he’s off but happy for him if it’s what he wants,as for Thompson so the club need him with Cooper here now?

jonh wrote:You’ve got to look long term though.

We may not need Thompson next year but if he is available he needs to be signed as he would probably be with whoever he comes back to for the next 6-8 years.

This is the reason I think Wardle is such a great signing too.

He probably solves a problem for the next 8-10 years I don’t think he has much of a desire to go to the NRL.

Wardle signing for us is a bit like when Senior signed with Leeds.