I'm gambling a little bit here given there's still a lot to play out in the player market, but I think we can make the 8 next year. my reasons are below.
- our pack is elite. this year there has been some jostling for position but I believe the pack we are rolling out this week is the final product, with Pole eventually back on the bench and Samuela likely in jersey 17.
- halves has been the biggest issue since Round 1. lack of direction, cohesion, footballing smarts, control, x-factor. Sezer is a steady hand who will lead the side around and kick well. his combination with Bateman has also been successful in the past. Latu is truly special and will be a gun for hire out on that left edge. a preseason with those two, plus Bula as first string fullback, Koroisau through the middle and Da Silva on the bench is a very very good spine on its day.
- all of the young brigade that are regular first graders now (Bula, Tupou, To'a, Utoikamanu, Blore, Pole, Da Silva) will all be another year older. I know there are people have their doubts about Starford at the moment, but I think there is a very good player there. he's fallen by the wayside these past couple weeks, but that doesn't mean he's a lost cause at 21. guys like Fa'agutu, the Laulili'i's, Galvin, Feledy, Sukkar and Miller will all be pushing for first grade debuts next year which is only going to lift the bottom line further.
- we're definitely after outside backs, namely centres. if we can keep Staines and sign a first-grade proven centre that will shore up our edges, we will improve. also will ensure that guys like Naden and Kepaoa are one step further back on the depth chart. guys like Brad Parker, Paul Momirovski and Braidon Burns are ideal for what we want.
- it will be year 2 of 'The Marshall Plan'. repetition is everything, and the style of play and development of our identity will be another 12 months down the track. I think that with everything listed above, plus another preseason and an opportunity to further implement the desired style of play will get us to where we need to be.
this is probably stupidly optimistic given our circumstances, but if things pan out the way I think they will in the off season, we will be far closer than we think.
