Just looking at players that we have signed for next season & those still available:
Fullbacks:
Bula
Wing/Centre:
Luke Lualili'i
To'a
Turuva
Skelton
TAYLAN MAY
DANE GAGAI
ISREAL LEOTA
CHARLIE STAINES
Halves:
Luai
Latu Fainu
Heath Mason
Jayden Sullivan
Second Row:
Sukkar
Pearce-Paul
Samuela Fainu
Bird
Saukuru
Prop/Lock:
Terrell May
Twal
Sione Fainu
Pole
Hunt
Seyfarth
Kit Laulili'i
ADAM ELLIOTT
Hooker:
Koroisau
Hope
JOEY LUSSICK
I count 23 players signed (I think Hope is signed...let's assume he is)
Development Squad- 6 Players
Haywood
Makasini
Godinet (I think)
Murray (I think??)
ZYON MAIU'U
VILIAME FIFITA
I think that's all- so 4 of 6?
That leaves 7 Top 30 & 2 Development from our off contract guys, or from outside the club before we look at T&T contracts.
I'm going to go ahead & assume that Taylan May gets a Top 30 spot. Quite likely Doueihi's spot, if signing with Isaac Moses is an indication.
That leaves 6 spots.
Richo has talked up the need of a strike centre & backrower. KPP fills the back rower spot. There's not exactly a huge selection of available options ay centre. Which leaves us with a few question marks. I wouldn't be surprised if the club doubles down on the wing/centre spot & actually does add a guy like Gagai for the short term. But then adding a younger option to challenge (remembering Makasini is on the cusp). I still think someone like Isreal Leota, playing Q Cup but a Broncos junior, fits. Big & fast with big wraps on him. While on the position- someone with the versatility of Charlie Staines can certainly be returned at a reasonable cost & low risk
If Sullivan returns, there's no real point to investing beyond a T&T type contract or KOE contracted player like Kurt Falls etc.
With 3 additions in the outside backs, that leaves 3 spots for the forwards. KPP is already added. I would assume another backrower/lock might be required as well as another dummy half.
Given the real lack of options, I think Adam Elliott probably makes the most sense for that #13 role. Trey Mooney would be great- but I'm only looking at guys off contract at this point.
The club is still down to 2 dummy half options, so I think this opens up an opportunity for Joey Lussick to make a short trip from Parra to the Tigers.
That still leaves 1 available Top 30 spot (the club tends to leave 1 open) and a couple of development spots.
Canterbury's Zyon Maiu'u could take one of those comfortably & then a guy like Viliami Fifita or Lazerus Vaalepu- big middles that offer something different. Given that he's a Tartak client, let's go with Fifita.
I don't know. If you told me our team next season was going to add Gagai, Taylan May, KPP & Adam Elliott to the starting 17...I'd feel pretty good about it.
DempsModerator