This is actually a very good point. If rumours of Hunt being on the outer are true (who even knows what's happening these days) Maybe using Benji as Utilitity for a lot of the season and letting Kodi play halves in ISC could be good, and he might be worth using as a half in 2018. There is definitely a lot of uncertainty for a lot of clubs at the moment with most clubs having more than half their team off contract at years end. I understand it is a business but I wish there were more salary cap exemptions for players who have been at a club for like 5, 10, 15 years (including under 20s etc). I'm a bit young to remember but I always hear my dad and his friends talk about how in the old days there seemed to be more passion in the jersey as a lot of players would play for same club their whole life. I think if they did an exemption type thing it would promote development further, and also make fans happier. I know I hate seeing a favourite player leave. Who knows, if proper exemptions were in place, perhaps players like Karmichael Hunt and Israel Folau would never have left.
If he is told that getting 80 minutes in the halves for a while will mean he is likely to be starting half the following year he would stay. I don't see him being a starting half anywhere else anytime soon, especially if he doesn't play a few ISC games in the halves first. I'm really hoping Benji isn't in the centres, purely because I think then our backline would be too small. Mead, Roberts, Benji and Kahu would probably be the smallest 2-5 combo in the comp. Would much rather Kahu be in the centres with Oates or Pearson on the wing, purely for some size.
Wait, so if you don't think Kahu would take left wing spot, where do you think he will be? Don't think Mead will make the team? The only way Benji will be in the centres is if Oates moves to second row. Which would mean a spare wing spot, which Kahu would take. Thus for size matters, it would be Benji taking Oates spot in the backline (obviously Benji would be centre not wing, I just mean the change in those 4 positions would be Oates out, Benji in).
I think Mead has far more chance of being in the side round 1 than Benji does. Kahu needs to be in the centres, he is wasted on the wing. He has a very good passing game and would be perfect inside Oates. Mead is also a perfect partner for Roberts as he has the pace to keep up with him. Benji will be on the bench or in reserve grade unless Oates moves to the second row. I have no doubt at all.
Opacic played in the centres because it was too late in the season to change combinations on both sides of the field, plus Opacic was a more reliable option than young Pearson was. I feel like there is some chance oates will move to the second row, purely due to his inability to catch bombs / bend over for grubbers. If Mead and Kahu are our wingers, them, along with Boyd, we would have arguably the safest back 3 in the comp in terms of bomb and grubber defusal.
I agree. Only player in the backs i'm unsure of is Oates.
