It has taken a long time but finally BA and DA have assembled a quality team that can withstand injuries and suspensions throughout next year. This is something I thought impossible, particularly with all the bad publicity Parra copped throughout the year. Listed below is all the players contracted to Parra next year in their positions as listed on their profiles.
Position Expected Team Replacements
Fullback Gordon Gutherson, Hiku(?), Moss, French
Wing Radradra Gutherson, Hiku(?), Morgan, Faraimo, Toutai
Gutherson, Hiku(?)
Centre Taka Schulte, Morgan, Folau, Toutai, Fuimaono
Gutherson, Hiku(?)
Halves Norman/Foran Cornish, Kelly
Lock Watmough Edwards, Woods, Ualesi
Second Row Mau/Scott Edwards, Moeroa, Pauli, Gower, Nelson, Wicks,
Falou, Ualesi, Pauli, Moeroa, Tanginoa, Woods
Prop Mannah/Paulo Wicks, Alvero, Moeroa, Pauli, O'Brien, Hasson
Terepo, Twal, Tanginoa, Gower
Hooker Peats IDG, King, Pritchard, Nelson
What pleases me is that most of the replacements are quality which was not the case this year. The halves look a bit skinny with only one quality replacement, Cornish, a good attacking player but poor defensively. Other positions a bit weak are centre and winger, if we don't get Hiku, we do not have real quality backups to cover these positions.
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That's a nice breakdown of our squad depth there Glenn. And this is precisely what our recruitment team has been doing over the past two seasons. We've been recruiting depth players to ensure that in the future an injury crisis means we can still draw on NRL level players rather than untested juniors or players that simply don't belong in the NRL.
The coaching staff have been working to a multi-tiered recruitment and retention strategy. They want a team that is competitive every season but also want a squad that still has future potential. The recruitment of older players such as Scott, Choc and Gordon are to give the side a tough edge now, whilst players like Foran and Norman are seen as future leaders of the side. Throw in talented juniors like Tepai, French and Schulte and you have youngsters who will develop into strong NRL players. This is a squad geared towards short and long term success.
Let us never forget the game this year where we had Seffa and Kelly in the halves... it's games like that where it feels like we're just making up the numbers.
I agree, without Hiku our right edge looks rank. Couldn't bare the thought of Toutai lacing up the boots at either wing or centre again.
How pleasing not see the name Sefo Paulo as a replacement anywhere?
I agree our depth looks much stronger across all positions. In previous seasons due to injury and suspensions we have been hampered by who we could bring into the side, having to play players who were clearly not better than some younger NYC or Wenty players. Whilst the list looks good, my limited understanding tells me we don't quite have all the options that this lists suggests due to 2nd tier constraints.
Can someone more informed than me explain the Top 25 and 2nd tier and how this may play out for us in 2016?
Not a sand dune to be seen?
BA has done a wonderful job since arriving in guaranteeing that we have competition for every position and some great big name signings as well.
You are right in that the squad is the strongest we have had in many, many years. You may have to go back to when we bought the Canterbury Big 4 to have had a better all round squad?
On paper centre does look like our weakness. I'm guessing though if we do sign Hiku we would have to lose a top 25 player to fit Hiku under the cap such as Morgan, which would leave us with limited backup. If Toutai's new contract is top 25 I would move him on before Morgan or a fringe top 25 forward.
If Jr Paulo loses his criminal case it is highly likely he will be suspended by the NRL and it wouldn't surprise me if he is suspended for a full season due to the nature of the offences, which would free up cap space and a top 25 position. This would be very disappointing if this occurred but it would assist with having more outside back depth.
I agree Big Dave, the situation with Junior is very concerning and for mine was the most disappointing thing to happen in 2015 because along with the salary dramas could jeopardise our chances in 2016 before the season even starts.
Does anyone know of any precedents where an NRL player has been convicted of a violent crime (not domestic violence related) and how has the NRL dealt with that conviction (fine, suspension etc.)? A full season suspension sounds excessive but in this day and age probably not out of the realms of possibility.
Its up to the club to provide the suspension with input from the Nrl.
They will only suspend Paulo if he is found guilty and with how little noise his case has made that is seeming more unlikely.
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