Most people would agree that Gutho has been better then French at the back, He should be a walk up start at 1, But we are very skinny in the centre position Guth can play well and French simply would be to small there, French looked in good nick in the all stars game and has been training the house down, He is Finally injury free and and would have a lot help from Ferguson and Sivo i’n early Meters i’m thinking it could be a better option atm due to a lack of centres.
French
Sivo
Jennings
Gutherson
Ferguson
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Yeah I'm sort of half expecting French to be named at fullback given Salmon is out for 2 weeks, moving Gutho to centre. It could also be Taka as a fill-in at centre.
George Jennings will probably get the wing spot ahead of Sivo.
I hope not Sivo is a gun.
I've been on the Bevan for fullback bandwagon, but I have to say Gutho looked pretty damn fine back there in the trial. I think his time in the halves has probably really developed his passing game, and he certainly looked a yard sharper I thought. I think the fact that we have one of the best in the NRL in terms of getting early metres in Blake Ferguson probably means Bevan is not such a liability on the wing as he was without that big metre eater on the other side.
If French plays on one wing the other side will just kick at him all game. French has to play fullback to make the side in my view. It seems unlikely barring injury
My thoughts exactly ME, I said the same in another blog the other day. French is done as far as I'm concerned, I can't find a spot for him in the Top 30 let alone the Top 17. I'd even suggest if we needed to strengthen the centres that Fergo might get a go, I don't want to see it, but think he'd handle it well, but it then weakens our kick returns, unless Sivo works out OK on the wing so Fergo centre, Sivo and Jennings as wings. I'm hoping Salmon transitions into the centres. It's a big ask, I think defensively it's probably the most difficult position to defend in.
Well that wasn't a problem when Semi was on the other wing. It's not like they kicked it to Semi either. I know Fergo is not Semi, but in terms of kick returns there isn't much difference.
It was a problem at times but Semi lestened the issue. In the modern game you need strong kick returners on both flanks. To be honest French was a big reason we lost arm wrestles in a couple of games and I just can’t imagine Arthur would even contemplate playing him on the wing this year.
100% Gutho.
I wouldn't be surprised if Fergo ends up playing centre, whilst i would like to have him on the wing we might have to play him at centre. We need some strike power on the right edge and Fergo looked pretty good there in the All Stars game and you could still use him for first hit up after kicks. It's easier to find a winger that can do a job for you than it is to find a stike centre and i'm starting to lean that way now.
I think its too early to write French off, from all reports I have read he performed well in the all stars match, certainly he was surrounded by quality players with ALL doing their jobs, if that happens with the eels who could not shine?
Gutho has time to get his knee right, and a bit more experience overall than French, who was very tentative last year after coming back from injury, a full off season now, and he can show his worth working with the team, its a team effort overall. I am not sold at this point on Salmon as a centre, and unless we make one out of ex centres, Gutho would be my main choice in that spot, its up to the coaching staff to convince him of that and he is ready to take the challenge.
French with regained confidence, can make a huge difference on the wing or from the back, he has likely the next trial and however long Salmon is out for to show he can handle the spot. Its also up to the other 16 players to show they are up to the task as well, and support the play.
He did nothing in the all stars match. He turned up and ran excellently next to other players who had the ball.
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