Unfortunately we can't make a lot of decisions until we know how much cap will be available, which we won't know until Brooks and Moses advise whether they're exercising their options for next year.
There's not a lot of quality props coming onto the market for next year. Tamou and Klemmer are going to be way too expensive for us to justify given how much we have locked up in Woods. I think we should just shift Sue back to prop and focus on retaining Woods, Grant, Ava and Sue. That's a solid prop rotation that will continue to improve with experience. We've then got quite a bit of talent coming through at prop for depth so I don't think we need to enter the market there.
Prop stratgey: Focus on retaining.
There is very little available at centre and we are pretty poor in terms of depth there. Kev and Simona are fine as first string choices but next is probably Chee Kam who could do a job there and after that probably Heleta (although Milone would no doubt get picked ahead of him). Maybe someone like Brenko Lee for depth? Or raid the Titans who have some depth at centre with Nene Macdonald, John Olive, Nathan Davis, Josh Hoffman and now Dan Sarginson?
Centre strategy: Primary focus on retaining but invest in some quality depth.
Our second row remains our biggest weakness but fortunately there is quite a bit of quality coming onto the market for next year. Of those:
Matt Gillett - Great player but will cost far too much to unseat from Brisbane. Pass.
Josh Jackson - Will be going at a premium because of his origin experience. I think he'll be overpriced for what he is personally, so pass.
**Ethan Lowe** - 107kg, 194cm and 25 years old with a good fend and a great offload. He has started the season on fire. I think there will be a lot of demand for him and he'll be chasing coin. He only signed a 1 year extension with the Cowboys last year because he backed himself to improve (and he has). I think we should throw our hat in the ring with a solid offer. I see him developing into a marquee player over the next few years. Chase hard.
Robbie Rochow - There was a lot of talk coming into this season that he would really step up at Newcastle and be a leader of their forward pack. He's been a disappointment but there are still a number of clubs chasing him. I don't think he'd be value, so again a pass.
Tariq Sims - Spends far too much time suspended and has too many rookie errors in his game for a 26 year old who should be in his prime. Pass.
**Sia Soliola** - Was fantastic for the Raiders in both attack and defence last year. Can play 80 minutes and hits like a truck. Canberra are going to be feeling a squeeze on their cap next year given the signing of Junior Paulo plus the recent signings of Sezer and Whitehead, so we should be able to prise him off them with a solid offer. Chase hard.
Tony Williams - Has started playing well in a contract year. We are not the sort of club that can afford to take gambles on players like Tony Williams (see the Titans and Dave Taylor). Pass.
**Elijah Taylor** - An 80 minute tackle machine that would really help strengthen our defence in the middle and take some of the tackling load off the hooker. He also has some ball-playing skill in attack, although it has not been evident behind a Penrith pack that has lacked go forward in recent years. Penrith won't be offering him much given they've invested elsewhere so he should be affordable, although I suspect we would have to compete with Cronulla who will also be in the market for second rowers given Gallen and Lewis are about 1,000 years old.
Second row strategy: Make a big play on the market for Elijah Taylor and one of Ethan Lowe or Sia Soliola. Try to retain Lawrence at a reduced price.
good post. i thought Lawrence had approached the WT's himself with his own contact proposal (reduced annual salary, with a two year extension). If so, WT's should jump at it.
I'd be looking at trying to sign Chris Grevsmuhl.
Sue staying at 13 with Sirro on the bench.
if Chris Grevsmuhl is set in with Souths then, Lowe or E Taylor… for mine.
Grevsmuhl has signed with the Panthers starting in 2017.
