- Jul 28, 2016
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Yeah the depth chart does not look all that good... except at hooker and halves??
Fullback: Walsh... that's it because Perham isn't signed for next year... I guess Gundry gets signed on a dev deal next year?
Wingers: Mariner & Karp... Gagai also a winger, but getting older... after that it's Nio and Coates
Centres: Staggs + Gagai... after that it's Nio?? because Shiba is likely leaving and Anderson and Jesse confirmed (Hoeter is unsigned, but one step from the retirement home and has played 9 game in 5 seasons at broncos)
Halves: Ezra, Pezet, Bhunt, Duffy... Billy currently unsigned, Braithen Scott likely on a Dev Deal next year?... Rogers unsigned but played 11 games in 4 seasons, unless he's permanently shifting to lock at like 32yr old then he's not really needed with how many halves and hookers are already on the books.
Hookers: Mozer, Buk, Paix, Bhunt?... Billy unsigned... we need 2 for every game and we currently have 4 signed with Billy being a 5th if/when signed. They're all tracking to be or are NRL players... so we've got enough. Bhunt and Billy provide increased versatility by playing other positions so they are still representing valuable squad members.
Props: Willison, Barnett, Jensen?, Talty, Semu, Priki, Tawha, BTK (pending Vlando rule changes)... I mean we have a fair few of them, but how many are actually first grade level. Also potentially have Beni Allen and Waqa.... Jhunt unsigned, but no coach seems to want to play him anyway
Backrow: Riki, Piaks... that's basically it as we know... Tawha is meant to be a backrower, but can't... Jhunt isn't trusted... beyond that it's unsigned Gos (please god don't re-sign Gos) and then kids that are already injured in Jared Horne or released to T&T in Jett
Locks: Patty... Francis... that's it as far as actual locks. I wouldn't consider Bhunt as a lock. Rogers has played lock, but would you want to play him at lock week in week out in the 13 jersey for 20 weeks if Patty got injured or moved to prop.
The big things to me are versatility across a squad and getting value out of the depth.
We've got guys like Hoeter who's been at the broncos for 5 seasons and has played 9 games... what value are we getting out of that contract situation... same with Rogers.
Then there's versatility... it's like the old saying of find your best 17 and get them on the field, but we've got 8 halves or hookers signed for next year (assuming Billy signs)... if they're all NRL players how the **** are we getting value out of all of those contracts across a year. Yes you need back ups and depth, but Mozer has been unsighted for like 3 years, so what's the plan? Which 1-2 out of Pezet, Ezra, Bhunt, Duffy and Billy miss out every week next year?
You look at someone like Nat Butcher tonight... he's not a superstar, but he played 80mins at backrow (where he's very good), but he's played most of the year at prop and he could do a job at lock if rorters needed it. That's 1 Top 30 contract that can cover 5 starting positions as well as any spot on the bench... he's an automatic selection in the 17 every week.
Tupouniua for the dogs... he plays prop for them week in and week out, but if needed he can play 80mins at second row where he's a weapon... if he's at the broncos he's probably our number 1 backrower and he doesn't even start in that position at the dogs.
Dogs get 3 injuries to their backrow and what do they do, chuck Curran in at backrow who plays 80min and scores 2 tries... his normal job is playing prop / lock every week... but he'd probably be the best backrower on the broncos as well and he's like 4th stringer at dogs.
Dogs are getting great value across their forward pack in regards to 11-13... they've basically got too many.
I desperately wanted someone like Kobe to learn how to play backrow and increase his squad value (he could've been the same as Butcher/Tupouniua/Curran if he did)... same now with Talty... instead we have to move our 2nd best prop to backrow if there's even one ****ing injury... and he's not even that good out there.
I want to see how Billy goes as a 13... I don't know if he can start there, but we've got literally no one else and have to move Willison there... Willison is currently covering backrow and lock, but he's our starting prop as well... covering other positions should be the guys deeper in the depth chart, not moving your ****ing starters.
Haas was doing the ball playing tonight when Willison was taken out, but he's also gone next year... what even is the plan at lock next year if Patty is ever missing... I'm not sure I've seen Willison pass as a link man... he's just there as a third prop.
Anderson was brilliant depth... he's a starter at wing, but can also play fullback and centre if needed... that kind of versatility basically has him in the team every week when factoring in injuries, HIA's, suspensions, etc. We don't really have an Anderson for next year... I mean it's probably Gagai at this point... at 37 years old!!
There's just too many guys who can only do one job in the team... that can be ok for starters, but depth guys need to be able to bring more than one job to provide value to the squad and actually get them in the team if injuries occur.
