pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 5, 2019
- Messages
- 13,510
That is what I am looking forward to next year. Players being able to play to their natural strengths and not look like robots.Release of Musgrove sees the current middle options for ‘23 as - Stefano Utoikamanu, Joe Ofahengaue, Alex Twal, Fonua Pole, Shawn Blore, Tuki Simpkins, Sione Fainu, Alex Seyfarth + Rua Ngatikaura. Teenagers Justin Matamua, Chris Fa’agutu & Jordan Miller also coming through.
Early days but WT have been able to retain the core group of juniors it wanted to build around moving forward (Miller, Da Silva etc) while also hitting on each release so far since the new football department came together.
Adding a Bateman + Klemmer/Brown/Leniu + a fit Blore + Ice would really change the intensity and attitude of the pack. Wouldn’t hurt adding some older, experienced heads with something left in the tank given how young and inexperienced the side is and will continue to get in '23/'24.
Think his best football is behind him and wouldn’t expect any Dally M season repeats, if WT can lower the transfer fee for Bateman, think he could do a lot for this squad for a couple of years. A lot of forwards who are passive in nature and lack an edge and superb experience.
Another one who could come into contention next year is Tuki. Tuki didn’t fit any criteria for what Madge wanted out of his forwards, someone with the ability to offload 2/3/4 times a game would be right up Sheens' alley.