Just a recap of our contracted player position into next season:
ON CONTRACT -
25 players from 20 players currently in top 30 + 5 players currently on Dev or T&T deals (Faagutu, Kit Laulilii, Saukuru, Sukkar & Luke Laulilii)
OFF CONTRACT - Utoikamanu & Sezer (mutual options for 25), Tumeth (player option for 25), Kepaoa, Simpkin, Tupou, Sione Fainu, Doueihi, Alaimalo, Faataape (dev deal)
Out of those off contract, Utoikamanu, Sezer, Fainu & Faataape (upgrade), have the best chance of staying. If Sezer was to go around for another season as a back-up half, it would have to mean Bud Sullivan is let go.
That would take our stocks to
28 players.
Given the positions of the off contract players departing, upgraded dev guys and our current weaknesses in the roster, it is most likely we'd look to an:
It still leaves us short in the hooker ranks with only Api & TDS as out-and-out hookers with Sezer possibly a utility option. Or we add a Bailey Hodges as a development player.
What this doesn't factor in are those on-contract players that are tapped on the shoulder & given the opportunity to explore other options. Aside from Bud, I'm thinking one of T'oa or Naden could be in the firing line (most likely T'oa as another club would snap him up & Naden does bring experience & versatility).