Squad Depth for Season 2023

[Tucker]

I’ve seen a few comments recently surrounding our depth for the coming year.
Some state it’s stronger whilst others maintained it’s still weak.
Here’s the rundown. Please feel free to correct any mistakes and/or make comments.

PROP
Front liners Klemmer, Twal, Utoikamanu, Pole
Backups Fainu, Seyfarth, Simpkins, Saukuru, Ma’anaima

HOOKER
Front liners Koroisau, Simpkin
Backups Ngatikaura

SECOND ROWER
Front liners Papali’i, Bateman, Blore,
Backups Seyfarth, Kautoga, Mansfield, Tumeth,

LOCK
Front liners Ofahengaue
Backups Papali’i, Matamua, Ngatikaura

HALFBACK
Front liners Brooks
Backups Simpkin, Smith*

FIVE EIGHTH
Front liners Doueihi
Backups Laurie, Smith*

CENTRE
Front liners Naden, Talau
Backups Feledy, To’a, Tupou, Kepaoa, Reilly

WING
Front liners Nofoaluma, Maumalo
Backups Staines, Kepaoa, Tupou, To’a

FULLBACK
Front liners Laurie
Backups Staines

* Smith unavailable for first 3rd of the season

For mine, depth will kill us this year.
Our front row stocks look strong with a great starting 4 however there is a drop off that has to be dealt with afterwards.
Our hookers are strong and is our best position depthwise.
Our backrowers and lock are fine with plenty of talent and depth as long as we keep most players healthy.
Our halves depth is a huge concern. Very light on for options after the starters, who have big question marks over them to begin with.
Our centres are also a big concern. Hopefully it gets stronger as the year moves forward with Feledy and Tupou standing up.
Our wingers aren’t bad with plenty of options
Our fullback stocks are pretty low, mainly due to all, including Laurie being makeshift at NRL level. A few options, but nothing too exciting yet.

I still envision this year seeing certain players playing multiple roles, especially in the backs.
Any thoughts on this?

 

[Demps]

Love these threads @Tucker
I'll sticky it.

Thanks for breaking it down like that.

Halves depth is close to non existent.

 

[Telltails]

The halves appear to be at this point a possibles with one probable. And then there is Will Smith or the infamous plan B if that comes to fruition.

 

[WT2K]

Halves depth or lack thereof...

 

[Tucker]

Love these threads @Tucker
I'll sticky it.

Thanks for breaking it down like that.

Halves depth is close to non existent.

No probs.
Yes halves depth is very concerning. Be good to have a Hastings or Madden floating about…

 

[jadtiger]

No probs.
Yes halves depth is very concerning. Be good to have a Hastings or Madden floating about…

It is time to get the popcorn out

 

[Buttface]

Nice job @Tucker.
I reckon we could add Ngatikaura to the lock depth as I am pretty sure he’s played there a bit in lower grades? Maybe I’m dreaming, someone like @KingRobbie could confirm this he seems to have his finger on the pulse with the lower grades.

 

[Tucker]

It is time to get the popcorn out

It really is serious though Jad.
Brooks is in his 10th year of top grade and is starting to cop some injuries, Doueihi has had a couple of knee ops. If either go down (especially Brooks) for sustained periods, we are bang out of luck.
We’ll see a Rolls Royce pack lay platforms for some Honda Insights.

 

[sleeve]

I think the club is well aware of the weak areas. They have done an excellent job so far, and will be constantly seeking players. Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

[gregjm87]

The forward depth is most worrying to me. It is the forwards who are most frequently injured and suspended. It is not a matter of if, but when the depth will be required there. Outside of Seyfarth, whom himself is limited as a player, there is maybe 10 games of experience between the lot of them. From what we saw of them last season none of the young forwards are ready for first grade. We may be able to get away with one of them playing a role in a game if they have developed over the off season. But, once we have 2 or 3 of the front liners out i think opposition packs will run over the top of us.

 

[KingRobbie]

Nice job @Tucker.
I reckon we could add Ngatikaura to the lock depth as I am pretty sure he’s played there a bit in lower grades? Maybe I’m dreaming, someone like @KingRobbie could confirm this he seems to have his finger on the pulse with the lower grades.

Yeah, correct.

 

[Tucker]

I think the club is well aware of the weak areas. They have done an excellent job so far, and will be constantly seeking players. Rome wasn't built in a day.

This isn’t a club bashing thread and by no means designed to teach them to suck eggs…
More of an informative way of detailing our stocks. @KingRobbie and @Buttface have suggested changes already, feel free to add to that.

 

[Tucker]

The forward depth is most worrying to me. It is the forwards who are most frequently injured and suspended. It is not a matter of if, but when the depth will be required there. Outside of Seyfarth, whom himself is limited as a player, there is maybe 10 games of experience between the lot of them. From what we saw of them last season none of the young forwards are ready for first grade. We may be able to get away with one of them playing a role in a game if they have developed over the off season. But, once we have 2 or 3 of the front liners out i think opposition packs will run over the top of us.

Yes that is very likely. Our forwards look good for the future, but we need these depth guys to collect quite a few more games first. Some pain ahead yet.

 

[Buttface]

This isn’t a club bashing thread and by no means designed to teach them to suck eggs…
More of an informative way of detailing our stocks. @KingRobbie and @Buttface have suggested changes already, feel free to add to that.

I am not tech savvy enough for that but I’m sure the mods on line at the moment are.

 

[jadtiger]

It really is serious though Jad.
Brooks is in his 10th year of top grade and is starting to cop some injuries, Doueihi has had a couple of knee ops. If either go down (especially Brooks) for sustained periods, we are bang out of luck.
We’ll see a Rolls Royce pack lay platforms for some Honda Insights.

I completely agree,i did not agree with releasing Hastings as he was our 2nd best player last year imo and supplied the majority of our creativity.Even though i believe we have far better depth in our pigs we need luck with injuries in our spine

 

[Tucker]

I completely agree,i did not agree with releasing Hastings as he was our 2nd best player last year imo and supplied the majority of our creativity.Even though i believe we have far better depth in our pigs we need luck with injuries in our spine

Centre is currently a weak position as well. That can be asterisked though as guys like Feledy and Tupou could prove excellent if Naden and co drop form. We had a ragtag group play centre for us last year, have to go back through it but surely Garner played half a dozen games there at a minimum?

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Halves depth is a serious concern, Smith isn't even eligible at this point to play the first 10-12 rounds so that's even more concerning.

 

[gregjm87]

I think the club is well aware of the weak areas. They have done an excellent job so far, and will be constantly seeking players. Rome wasn't built in a day.

agreed. Whilst i very much think we are short in the forwards, i also 1) think that the pack is much improved on last season 2) am glad that the young forwards, that i think are not yet ready, are retained for future seasons.
I'm happy with the direction the club is heading but not be overly optimistic about the season coming.

 

[nrlsurvivor]

I believe Tristan Reilly is seen as depth at 5/8. Bula is also a depth option at fullback.

 

[gregjm87]

Halves depth is a serious concern, Smith isn't even eligible at this point to play the first 10-12 rounds so that's even more concerning.

If we had 2 of Brooks, Doueihi and Laurie injured we could apply for permission to play Smith (would be surprised if not granted). Just cant pick him ahead of others in the first 10 weeks.