Re: Bevan French : Sat Jul 27, 2019 9:41 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

And were all those other players injured again when he got that second chance?

No Moors, Sene-Lafeo or Holmes when Clark came back into the team.

Re: Bevan French : Sat Jul 27, 2019 9:43 pm  

As an Eels fan it will be interesting to see how Bevan goes with you guys. He was amazing to watch in 2016 and probably the quickest winger at the time. Last year though he became a bit of a liability due to his size and was rag dolled far too much and rarely made decent metres on kick returns. His confidence was clearly down, hence not seeing any first grade time this year (plus we have Ferguson and Sivo who are monsters). He’s been going well and scoring regularly for Wentworthville, so he might be on the up again. He prefers to play fullback, so will be interesting where he fits in. I don’t think he has the defensive game to play 6, but who knows in your formation. Anyways, I hope the move is successful for him as he has talent to burn.

Re: Bevan French : Sat Jul 27, 2019 9:44 pm  

Bet Zaks glad you've stopped stalking him now Nottingham Tiger.....

Re: Bevan French : Sat Jul 27, 2019 10:41 pm  

Fax Missionary wrote:

As an Eels fan it will be interesting to see how Bevan goes with you guys. He was amazing to watch in 2016 and probably the quickest winger at the time. Last year though he became a bit of a liability due to his size and was rag dolled far too much and rarely made decent metres on kick returns. His confidence was clearly down, hence not seeing any first grade time this year (plus we have Ferguson and Sivo who are monsters). He’s been going well and scoring regularly for Wentworthville, so he might be on the up again. He prefers to play fullback, so will be interesting where he fits in. I don’t think he has the defensive game to play 6, but who knows in your formation. Anyways, I hope the move is successful for him as he has talent to burn.

Agreed it looks like he's a bit of an unknown. Is he as much of a gamble as say Gelling was? I don't think so (and Gelling was successful for us in the end).

I'm excited. I will repeat my post from around a week ago.....

For only the 2nd time in the IL reign (so over a decade) are we looking away from the Wigan Borough for genuine talent. The first time being the Melbourne trio (who came here under different circumstances).


Hastings - Quality. Signed.
French - Quality. Signed.

Burgess - Quality. Rumoured.

Without YouTube highlights undoubtedly most of us would be questioning the French signing, who is he? Any good?

Reminds me a little of 1984 when we signed a certain John Ferguson. He did alright for us.... You never know!

Re: Bevan French : Sun Jul 28, 2019 3:07 pm  

I've hyped up players before they've kicked a ball for us to then only turn out to be garbage so I prefice this post with that acknowledgement, BUT

Christ this kid looks good. There is a cracker where he makes a break, kicks the ball over the top of the fullback, skins Brett Morris and regathers/collects and scores. Brilliant. Another cracking clip of him playing out from fullback with a no look pass to setup a score. Appreciate these are anecdotal highlight clips, but I am genuinely so excited to see this guy play. In this league, raw pace, balance and footwork is devastating.

On social media people are debating where he would play and getting het up over who might drop out - who cares? Isn't this the way it should be? Competition for places.

Personally, I would see him introduced on the wing and ease him in.

I have definitely been quick to jump down IL/KR throats before when things havent been great, but top marks on this one. If we have got George Burgess too I'd get a season ticket again. No shame in admitting it.

Re: Bevan French : Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:10 pm  

I wonder.

If Wigan played French at fullback,Joe Burgess and one of the other three wingers, with Hardaker and Gildart in the centres would it be the quickest backline in Super league and probably the fastest since the days of Paul, Offiah, Robinson, Connolly and Inga?

Re: Bevan French : Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:17 pm  

I'm similar in regards a season ticket. I go 95% of games home and away anyway but don’t bother with a season ticket due to missing the odd game for holidays but if we pull of a signing like Burgess on top of getting players like Hastings and French I’d feel compelled to back the club and buy one. I wouldn’t make much of a difference to the coffers as I go anyway (and it probably costs me more over the year) but you get excited by big players and exciting teams to watch and I have mates I’m sure would go more, I’d take my daughter more, my nephew etc.

If we manage to get Burgess over the line then there’s going to be one hell of a buzz going in to 2020.

Re: Bevan French : Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:56 pm  

Glad I don't sit next to you Mr Happy

Re: Bevan French : Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:39 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

A back line of French, Manfredi, Hardaker, Gildart, Joe Burgess, with Hastings in the halves looks very quick to me.

Playing off a pack of Burgess, Powell, Flower, Greenwood, Faz, Lockers

Re: Bevan French : Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:55 pm  

Hardaker is the best defensive fullback out there and I'd be sad to see him movex to another position. But maybe Lam thinks we need someone who's better chiming into the line in attack.