With the club announcing four players departing and there will no doubt be some recruitments and upgrades to come over the off-season, here's what the club's depth chart looks like at the moment.
Fullback: Clint Gutherson, Hayze Perham, Sean Russell
Wing: Haze Dunster, Maika Sivo, Sean Russell, Samuel Loizou, Solomone Naiduki
Centre: Will Penisini, Tom Opacic, Waqa Blake, Marata Niukore
Halves: Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown, Jakob Arthur, Jordan Rankin, Will Smith
Props: Junior Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Makahesi Makatoa, Oregon Kaufusi, Wiremu Greig, David Hollis, Isaiah Papali'i
Hooker: Reed Mahoney, Nathaniel Roache, Ray Stone, Will Smith
Second Row: Marata Niukore, Isaiah Papali'i, Shaun Lane, Bryce Cartwright, Ryan Matterson
Lock: Nathan Brown, Ky Rodwell, Marata Niukore, Ray Stone, Ryan Matterson
Perhaps the positions most needed for further reinforcement will be in the backline. With Blake Ferguson leaving and Maika Sivo injured, we are short an NRL level winger. Dunster's late season performances means he has snared himself a starting position. However the question will be whether Sean Russell or Solomone Naiduki get the nod at the start of next year, or whether the club recruits an experienced outside back to plug the gap.
Interestingly Josh Mansour is off contract next year and he's clearly down the pecking order at Souths. Given the Eels could theoretically offer him a starting spot for half a season next year, he could be a solid option.
Centre also appears to be of some concern given we only have three recognised NRL centres with Tom Opacic likely to begin 2022 in reserve grade due to Will Penisini's form.
Obviously hooker remains an issue with Joey Lussick departing for the ESL while Reed and Nathaniel will be rehabbing during the off field. Kyle Schneider remains at the club at could be an option having previously been on a development contract.
The Eels are well stocked in the forwards with extensive depth and versatility.
Replies
We need a superstar centre
Which superstar centre is on the market and available?
Will Penisini has the potential to be that player for us.
Bronson Xeri
Lol, you're having a lend Chief.
You want to sign Xerri now, when he can't play until the end of 2023? His contract can't even be registered.
Spry is the one. Very good player although he is a centre.
Wong, Xeri is going to be the next super player. I'd be in contact with him now. 4 years is way too long when in the NFL it's one or two seasons. He was only a kid out of school and made an error in judgment
How do you know whether PEDs were the only reason he played well? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNmmyR7wYpI Watch from 3:55. Look at Xerri's face.
You can argue about the seriousness of his suspension, but he's failed his appeal. He's not coming back any earlier. We're talking about players for next year and Xerri won't be available to play until 2024. His suspension ends at the end of 2023.
Remember when we recruited Will Hopoate while on his Mormon mission? How'd that work out?
Surely not Chief, can you imagine the moral dilemna this would create lol
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