I know this is realistically no chance of happening, but I think it’s a valid question to ask would Jonah Pezet at 7 and Latu Fainu at 6 be a better halves pairing than Latu and Luai ?
I believe it would certainly be a more balanced better halves pairing and would have the benefit of a natural, confident 7 with a good kicking game, which would free up Latu to do what he does best, running the ball and challenging the opposition similar to how Ethan Strange plays for the Raiders.
Not only would it be a better long term halves pairing, it would also save us money to spend on upgrading other positions as we could surely sign Pezet for 1 million dollars per season if not slightly less ?
As I say it will not happen while Benji is our coach as he will want to show loyalty to Luai, but if we were serious about becoming the best team possible, we would at least consider it.
Are we building culture or a team?
I think we are right to ask if Luai is a 7. He really does seem a 6. Sure he wants to be Batman, well Cam Munster is Batman at 6 for the Storm.
If your saying "lets punt Luai for a better halves pair in Pezet/Fainu" or whatever flash bang Halves come along. Please don't.
We have banked on Luai staying with us. 4 year deal, signed and delivered. Sure if he says he is leaving in 2027 or makes stupid noises... bye bye.
But a top tier player signs with us, we can't look flakey.
After the Shemozle that was Klemmer, Bateman and those signings. We look Super Flakey!
Really Flakey.
We offered Klem 1 year into his 4 year deal. We reneg'd on a bunch of players and I have no idea why Luai signed with us after that performance. If we get seen as that club that signs 4 year deals but breaks them after 6 months...
We look crap
Our culture looks crap!
Seriously not knocking Pezet, and he is a good player. But he is in an excellent team (Storm) with an excellent coach. That said, I would take Jerome Hugues ahead of Pezet because we need an experienced halfback that can deal with a crap team. Not a newbie halfback.
The Fainu's are family and I am glad to have them here. If Latu moves to Lock (or Luai), hey lets do it. If Latu is cool with being 14 and we need a gun halfback. BOOM, sign a 7.
We can't be a flight deck. We are building culture, we will ruin it if we treat players like objects.