The lack of qcup this year really hurt us.
If qcup was played we'd know:
- if Niu was a legitimate fullback option moving forward
- if Dearden was a legitimate halfback moving forward
- Best position for Bullemor (prop, lock, 2nd row)
- Best position for Riki (prop, 2nd row)
- if Paix had it in him as a hooker moving forward
- Coates as a winger or center
I have absolutely no doubt that 2020 was meant to be a bit of a holding pattern with all the young guys intended to play ISC to get some experience under their belt and figure out who was ready for NRL and slowly introduce them into the team whilst moving out the others.
There's complaints about how the storm seem to have a production line of talent and in the next line seeing calls to give up on Niu and whether Walsh can come into the team.
The young guys who did well over the last few years served an apprenticeship in ISC (Haas, Carrigan, Staggs, Herbie, Fifita, Isaako, etc.)... some may not have been a very long apprenticeship, but at least you had enough confidence in them being able to compete against men instead of being the biggest kid in high school.
I think the desperation for a fullback and other positions at the moment is basing the talent of Niu and anyone else on what they have shown in limited NRL games this year whilst ignoring that most of these guys haven't served an apprenticeship in qcup and their first taste of serious football is in the NRL against seasoned vets.
The trouble now is that recruitment have to make a decision on a whole bunch of guys off contract. Staggs is a proven talent so it's easier to put a value on him, but how do you put a value on Dearden, Coates, Niu, Piakura, Bullemor, etc. without knowing how they will adapt, but making sure the offer is reasonable enough to compete with other teams who are willing to take a gamble.
It's ok to gamble 1 or 2 positions, but gambling on half of a potential starting 13 is a huge risk and resulted in a wooden spoon this year.
We've also sold off any guys with NRL experience that could've acted as a placeholder in the 17 until the young guys were ready for NRL... so now some of these young guys will have to learn in the NRL or because they've had NRL experience they'll see a demotion to qcup as a negative and potentially look elsewhere (communication from the coach is key here).
I'm not sure who's at fault for the total shitshow that has been the transition of young guys into the team, but I feel they're still at the club. I don't think Seibold necessarily wanted to field the youngest most inexperienced team in the comp, but I doubt he stood up in meetings and demanded a stop to the exodus.
The unfortunate thing is the exodus is still going on... what experienced players we did have are slowly leaving as well (Bird, Offa potentially, Lodge if you believe rumours, on top of Kahu, Darius, etc.). Most will be happy, but we were also happy when Kniko, etc. were moved on.
Unfortunately we are in a position where we either decide that 2021 is a holding pattern and allow the young guys to go back to qcup with a war chest for 2022 to fill the holes OR we look to sign potentially less than ideal players that are available and lose guys who after serving an apprenticeship may become better than the guys we sign.
The calls for Allan is banking on what he's shown so far (in limited games at fullback but also a season on the wing in 2019) as being better than what Niu may become, but if we sign Allan then Niu has no pathway and would likely look elsewhere. Whereas if we play Isaako at fullback (as a capable placeholder), whilst Niu plays qcup we can see if he's a legitimate option heading into the future or if we need to make serious investment in 2022.
Personally I'm not sold on Allan as a long term fullback... but I'm not sold on Niu either. It would be good business if we could lock him down on a 12 month extension and reevaluate his value after a year in ISC, but he just signed a 12 month extension and may not want to wait around for a payday
