I think our first move would be to convince Ben Ikin we need to hit the market to fix the 1 and the 9.
Hookers:
Berrell
Parcell
Simpkin
Liddle
Mamouzelos
Fullbacks:
CNK
Drinkwater
Turuva
I like Arthars but I think we let him stay at the Warriors. Kennedy goes, Turps goes. Oates contract needs to be reduced to let’s say 300. I think it’s time we cut our losses with Flegler and let him walk. You have to be disciplined in today’s era and he is not. I don’t want to pay 600k for front rower who is barely in the field, plays bench most of the time and has the same/less output on a game than someone like Palasia does who is on about 1/3 of the money. That way we can finance a fullback and hopefully a serviceable hooker at a young age who can deter our need to rush Mozer but also allow us to win games and start pushing for finals.
Im starting to agree about Flegler. I think he will be a very good player in time, but he's almost 50 games in and still working on the same issues. It could be worth looking at Taupau coming off the bench instead if he has anything left in him.
I'm not sure if buying a hooker to pretty much cover until Mozer is ready is that good of an idea though personally. I think it they think the kids are good enough, put them in the NRL as soon as possible. And let them learn from their mistakes in the first 5-10 games.
Then you have to factor in NRL playing experience for those younger guys. Talent plays a part as well, but experience does come into it.
When you look at the amount of games Penrith's team had that lined up for the 2021 Grand Final, there spine was roughly:
1. Edwards 78 games
6. Luai 64 games
7. Cleary 116 games
9. Korisau 143 games
13. Yeo 171 games
With most of the rest of the their pack were around the 100 game mark. Capewell was around 98.
If you compare that to where we are after losing to them in Round 6, 2022 we are:
1. Nui 27 games
6. Walters 18 games
7. Reynolds 236 games
9. Turpin 51 games
13. Hetherington 19 games.
If anything, it shows that there is to much of a reliance on Reynolds at the moment.
Even if you threw Mozer or Mam in now, they are at least 2 injury free NRL seasons away from a premiership with luck going their way based off that.
I think they need to role the dice on it. Everybody can recognise talent straight away. But after a season they should see improvement as well, when there isn't any that's when fans will start getting pissed.
Nikorima or Drinkwater would be good guys to look at. Maybe even Moylan too. Just to see if we can do that Melbourne thing where they put guys in spine positions too.
