First grade:
1. Walsh
2. Arthars
3. Staggs
4. Mariner
5. Cobbo
6. Mam
7. Reynolds
8. Jensen
9. Walters
10. Haas
11. Riki
12. Piakura
13. Carrigan
14. Smoothy
15. Hetherington
16. Baker
17. Willison
Reggies:
1. Sailor
2. Oates
3. Hoeter
4. Leota
5. Oates
6. Rogers
7. Madden
8. Taupau
9. Mozer
10. Te Kura
11. Hunt
12. Patson (T&T)
13. Ferguson (T&T)
14. Paix
15. Saitua (T&T)
16. Page-Wilson (T&T)
17. Butler (T&T)
I think this is pretty indicative of the need for some back rowers. No team is going to be able to have 12 middle spots covered so that isn’t the worst ever. Rory Ferguson on a devs deal wouldn’t be the worst as just a tertiary specialist lock option as well as the ability to play SR. Otherwise we really just need to get ourselves a specialist SR.
We currently have 27 players. I’d be going 1 spot free, SR and EQW.
An extra utility back with size, reliability, nrl experience (not much but some) and is well versed in how shit runs up here can never hurt especially with slight depth concerns specifically in centre. EQW is all of that at minimum cap spend
Leave 1 spot free for some cap relief and/or for the ability to go after someone/promote within if someone knocks the door down.
Second rower… Without going into Super League territory:
- Dominic Sifakula
- Brodie Jones
- Joe Stimson
- Klese Haas
- Dylan Lucas
- Faitala-Mariner (cut price/unlikely)
- Jackson Topine
- Joe Chan
- Luke Garner
- Bryce Cartwright
- Jacob Host
*Really the only ones remotely pryable at this stage
If Paix leaves I’d promote Rogers.
Heaps to get done still. I’d try and front load a fair bit of contracts next year but it can be quite risky running short of depth quality to do it. I just don’t agree with the Capewell release this early IMO at all.
Relatively injury free our 17 can win the comp. Love the bench. The left edge will need to find a new combination but there is just as much potency there as ever. Needs to be premiership level in defence which I’m a bit concerned about. I’m a bit worried about the size and metreage of our outside backs with Herbie gone and Oates not in the starting side anymore. Arthars definitely improved in that regard but Mariner will have to do a fair bit of work as well plus Kotoni and Selwyn going up a gear again. Spine I have no issues at all depth included. Middle forwards I’m happy with, its still very good but it would be awesome if by finals time either Baker or Willison have cemented themselves in the starting side and a high quality prop. Second row as already said is an issue in the fact we need a formidable 3rd option. Outside of that there is a million options in our squad with the ability to play there but we most definitely need a 3rd specialist. Sifakula, Jones or Host would be my options. After that Chan, Topine, Stimson wouldn’t be bad either. I think the others are either unrealistic or just not quite good enough to rely on time and time again. Interested to see others thoughts on who we could realistically snag at SR.