Our biggest player issue for 2019 is the number 9
1. Cameron King: easy decision, has not been good enough and not needed as backup anymore
2. Kaysa: He has improved a lot with his delivery since taking a few steps forward before passing but still don’t think ha has a strong enough passing game or the footy smarts to be our leading 9. Definitely would keep as backup
3. Mahoney: Thrown in the deep end against monster packs. Do not envy him tackling Tomololo on his first game. He seems a step up already but no idea if he has the capability to be the elite starting 9 we need
4. Schneider: Still a way off but hear he has the potential if fulfilled
5. Someone else: Cronulla, St George and Manly have 2-3 very good hookers each - if you count the young ones coming through. They may not be able to keep them all and will have to choose one. Segeyaro obviously will be pushed with the Bailey brothers coming through. St George and Manly will probably be able to hold onto both their options until 2020 unless Ww can entice Korysau with an offer but he seems to be following Barrett. So our only choice seems to be Segeyaro, who we have apparently made more than a decent offer for. Not sure how Norman’s future will effect our chances.
6. Retry Brown as hooker. Not sure he would be happy and did not work out before. But could really work well for us if he can put his mind to it for part game.
I would go for a Brown/ Mahoney hooker pairing with Kaysa as backup - assuming Brown can be convinced and it works out better than last time
Replies
If Segeyaro does not come we do not have a lot of options
Options will get a lot better in a few years
Pritchard / Mahoney or Brown / Mahoney sounds like our only realistic options for next year
Hooefully as a good batch of hookers come through we can be in a good position to get one
But thats 20s big step up to 1st grade
It was Tonise not Stone who started.
Exactly right David.
the newcastle hooker was lots better then cam king , and he wants to be released from hes club.
we need a hooker bad , and taka no backrower and playing bad m jennings is way out of form.
Don't think we need to rush into this .
Mahoney is a guy I want too see more of before splashing into spending.
Options are out there as mentioned but I'd want too see more of the above mentioned.
lol FMD.
Well we are being proactive by seeing more from Mahoney aren't we is that not proactive enough.
Yes I agree Coryn we really need to see more of King and Kaysa. So just in case we should give them 3 year upgraded deals so no one can pinch them off us.