Given we are largely replacing fringe first graders and depth signings I am happy with some of the signings made. Papali'i should be great and Opacic is solid. We also now have cover for Mahoney which was a real weakness in the roster last year (Stone does not have a first grade level of service and killed our attack when forced to cover at hooker). I know we have only signed 28 players to cover the 1st grade squad and development players to date so there will be more to come. My main concern at the moment is that we seem to have over-invested in edge forwards and tha balance of our squad doesn't look great. We only really lost Davey but we have signed Hippgrave, Papali'i (who is reported to want to play edge) and potentially Cartright and we still have Lane, Matterson and Niukore. With Jennings suspension we look extremely short in the outside backs. We also have very little cover for the halves - even less than this year when Jai Field was called upon. It seems to me we have over-invested in the pack (a strenth this year) and under-invested in our outside backs and halves cover ( a weakness this year).
It seems many other of the top teams have good young half/fullback/wing/centre prospects that have been able to provide cover even with the loss of a marquee player (e.g., Mitchell at Souths). If we lost Gutho or Moses for the year our season would be over. And at the moment we will struggle to have a competitive backline. Have we invested in the wrong areas?
FB: 1. Gutherson 2. Rankin
Wing: 1. Ferguson 2. Sivo 3. Dunster 4. Oldfield
Centre: 1. W. Blake 2. Opacic
Halves: 1. Moses 2. D. Brown
Utility: 1. Will Smith
Hooker: 1. Mahoney 2. Lussick 3. Roache (D)
Lock: 1. Nathan Brown 2. Stone
Prop: 1. Junior 2. RCG. 3. Kaufusi 4. Alvaro 5. Hughes 6. Hollis
Second Row: 1. Matterson 2. Lane 3. Niukore 4. Papali’i 5. Hippgrave 6. Cartright (?)
Replies
Jiver some decent points made; I can only assume we will need another centre as per M Jennings case. Like any club if your main Half or fullback goes you need others to step up; no doubt W Smith and Brown would takeover for us if Moses went; and Gutho? who knows.
He's 25 and played 1 first grade game, i hate Smith with a passion but he's done a servicable job at dummy half when he hasn't tried anything fancy. I can only seeing Lussick getting a run if Mahoney is down, Roache if he can stay on the field after June would be a better option IMO.
Agreed on that MacGyver. Smith has been solid. Who knows.
Not really it's all tied in with the 5 year plan
Oldfiled and Fergo can both play centres.
Hipgrave can play Front row, 2nd row or lock.
Nuikore plays predominantly lock off the bench for N Brown.
Rankin is FB or 5/8 so could possibly cover centre in an emergency (perhaps, sorta kinda like)
Lane can play front or 2nd row.
We actually have a mix and match squad imo - with at least 2 more to come.
Not as dire as you make out imo.
I wouldn't say "not to be" Poppa, just looking unlikely at this stage.
Let's see what happens once Origin is over and certain players can talk again.
We have over invested in Bea Arthur.
Got a tip at Doomben tomozz Pops, race 4 number number 6.
I got 9 bucks it's already into 8's. Ran a nice 3rd last start from a mile back make of it from what you will.
Who's Bea Arthur? Never heard of that person.
Great in Golden Girls, not so good coach of the Parramatta Eels.
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