Huge wrap on Parramatta Eels' 17-year-old Bevan French

[Gary Gutful]

Not to me. I reckon in the smaller guys the size is more noticeable. French would be pushing 90 by now whereas Tedesco couldn't be over 95.

All the websites list French as 83kg and Tedesco as 93kg. I agree that French would have to be bigger than that these days.

 

[Gronk]

He's a fullback, cos he's not a winger in the modern game.

So he'll need to find a way to adapt his body shape and his new weakness in his knee and become a first choice fullback.

Will be an interesting few years. He could either become one of the greatest we've seen or Alex Johnston V2.0.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He's a lot smarter than Johnston.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Although Johnston did score high in his HSC.

 

[IFR33K]

Although Johnston did score high in his HSC.

High sexual conjunctivitis?

 

[emjaycee]

A winger should normally be making more than11m in a game. He did well not bagging the kid but he's a fullback and even Ba said as much.

Except Djay said he is a winger and who would you think knows better?
BA or Djay?

 

[Happy MEel]

I reckon they're both fullbacks. However, Guth is the better option at this stage. The other thing we have to consider is that other teams have seen how good Guth is at the back so he will be attracting fullback interest and money from other teams. Keep in mind he's off contract at the end of next year. If all we can offer him is a centre position on centre money there's a good chance we'll lose him.

If it's a question of how valuable both Guth and French are to our team, Guth wins hands down.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Gutherson is contracted for 2019 and has utility value. As Arthur's said yesterday, he's unsure of Gutherson's best position.

 

[Forty20]

I think as much as Gutherson has taken the tag to a new level this year, Bevan is also a pure footballer. He doesn't possess prototypical modern back size but he does own elite acceleration, agility and speed along with a preternatural sense of where to be in key moments. As such he will have plenty of quality games on the wing purely because he is a kid that puts in his all regardless of the circumstances surrounding his selection.

However there will games where he is exposed in defence - especially if teams can isolate him in the red zone and there will be times where his lack of go forward coming out of our half will hurt us. Fans just need to know that there will be a bit of bad with all the good if we continue to play him on the wing.

When all is said and done we are lucky to have two of the best up and coming backs in the game in Gutherson and French regardless of where they play each week. It is all a far cry from the dark days of Chris Walker, Chris Hicks, Paul Whatuira et al.

 

[Eelementary]

French is a fullback, if it weren't for his injury he would have retained the no.1 jersey. He has the skill and speed and vision to be a great no.1 or 5/8. But You can tell that the injury had affected his confidence in the last few games. Anyway, just like Hayne when he first played first grade it would not do bevan any harm to play on the wing for the immediate future. He's a freak.

I agree.

Everything French does has class about it.

I absolutely love Gutherson, but I honestly believe in the long term, French will be our 1.

However, right now, it does is no harm to have Gutherson killing it at 1, and French regaining form and confidence on the wing.

 

[Eelementary]

Really impressed with Bevan's defence yesterday - forced two errors.

He may be smaller, but he has great technique, and a big heart.

He's a special player.

But so is King Gutherson.

 

[strider]

French's kick chase and quick defense basically secured us the game yesterday ... i dont give a f**k if he only made one run for 11m, he attacked via defense .... until we get flogged a few times with the current lineup, he stays on the wing where he has shown unorthodox ability

 

[Happy MEel]

French's kick chase and quick defense basically secured us the game yesterday ... i dont give a f**k if he only made one run for 11m, he attacked via defense .... until we get flogged a few times with the current lineup, he stays on the wing where he has shown unorthodox ability

You're right, his kick chase was exceptional...something that we have generally been poor at. Another reason to keep him on the wing.

 

[Chipmunk]

So we have Gutherson, Takairangi, French, Hoffman, Jennings, Norman and Moses all contracted until 2019 and we're looking at probably bringing Semi back mid-season next year.

Something has to give here...

 

[Happy MEel]

So we have Gutherson, Takairangi, French, Hoffman, Jennings, Norman and Moses all contracted until 2019 and we're looking at probably bringing Semi back mid-season next year.

Something has to give here...

Hoffman can play wing until June when Semi returns and then we can try to offload him before June 30 or drop him to Wenty. I think we can cop his salary playing in NSW Cup

1. Guth
2. Hoff/Semi
3. Taka
4. Jennings
5. French
6. Norman
7. Moses

Alternatively, we try and offload Taka before June 30 and go with this...

1. French
2. Semi
3. Jennings
4. Guth
5. Hoff
6. Norman
7. Moses

Personally, I'd go the first option.

 

[Djay]

Except Djay said he is a winger and who would you think knows better?
BA or Djay?

Typical response from a know it all.

Never claimed to know more then BA, what i do know which is facts right now is we are a better team with Gutho at fullback so many things suggest that.

French maybe a good fullback but his size is gonna become an issue, and he has never struggled at winger but yet everyone keeps saying it's an issue. It was last year and wasn't yesterday.

Long term he will be our fullback i'm sure but as for now he will be fine on the wing.

 

[Djay]

So we either waste French on the wing or waste Gutho in the centres

That's pretty much what it's gonna come down to.

 

[strider]

Two fullbacks

We all know its the only option

 

[Happy MEel]

Two fullbacks

We all know its the only option

It will be the league version of cricket's back stop position.

Genius!!

 

[Gronk]

Two fullbacks

We all know its the only option

Wow you're a genius like Ben Lexcen. Two FBs idea is like the winged keel.