Knowing the Tigers we will buy a whole bunch of fringe players and pay overs for them. I doubt we'll spend it all on one marquee signing.
IMO the club has decent depth across the park, however maybe one outside back, someone who plays wing and centre would be handy.
Let's say the starting line up is
1\. Moltzen
2\. Tuiaki
3\. Ayshford
4\. Lawrence
5\. Ryan
That still leave Hanbury and Gallant and for next year, Lazarus who can fill in those positions.
The depth in the halves is okay in regards to 5/8's if we shuffle players around. Eg Benji, Moltzen, Ayshford, Hanbury to an extent plus the likes of Lui. However we do struggle with a decent halfback at the club. From the reports from the State Cup, Lewis and Dunley aren't setting the world on fire.
For the front row, well, there's only 2 guys who are pulling their weight this season and that's Galloway and Skando. Gibbs and Payten have been average at best however Gibbs showed form early on, but no idea where it's gone. Shirnack has had limited opportunity and Daine Laurie will get better with time. After a full year of First Grade I have faith his best footy will come next year. And from what Royce said on WTV the other week, Aaron Woods is likely to get a top 25 contract for 2010\. The back row we're pretty sorted with Ellis, Heighno, Payten, Payne (staying? going?), Galea (staying? going?) and then juniors like Mataka, Dwyer, Shirnack and Gower.
Then with all the guys mentioned above, we can manufacture a bench of some sort.
So far I'm pretty happy with how the clean out is going, but I never would have thought Collis would go so early. I thought the Tigers had huge faith in him and were still holding onto that "potential" tagline we've been fed so much lately. Obviously they see greater and quicker potential in Ayshford.
A little off topic, but seeing as Morris has gone already and Halatau is rumoured to go, who will play a utility role next year? Will we have a utility on the bench? Personally I prefer a utility who plays mainly in the forwards (eg Halatau or Morris at lock etc) rather than a back like Hanbury.