PUT SIMPLY - WE NEED TO REBUILD................... (yeah, no shit right).
I would replace all 6 off contract players for 2020. There is also a rumor that we got a spare 600k (triple M).
I looked at all off contract players for the next 2 years according to "Zero Tackle" and tried to create a plan for our squad to improve without knowing their exact salaries.
We can’t buy every superstar under the cap & I have only nominated off contract players or those free to negotiate. I would have liked someone such as Kyle Flanagan but he can’t move until 2022.
I think we are too small & ineffective in our middle forwards, not creative from dummy half, weak in the centres & lack that strike back you need to be the difference in the halves or at fullback. (basically we r f'd)
My nominated new players are based on Age, Size, Potential (IMO) & within the budget. I avoided players over the age of 27 to build a long-term squad & have given all available options that I thought are worth consideration in my opinion. You will all have & be entitled to yours.
OUR OFF-CONTRACT PLAYERS & THEIR REPLACEMENTS For 2020 (NB: Age is 2020 season start)
1. Michael Liccha - Replaced By - Jayden Brailey 23yrs Hooker 5ft.10 88kg “2020 KEY Signing” (free to negotiate). Other options - Jake Turpin 22yrs - Reece Robson 20yrs, Jacob Liddle 22 yrs
2. Rhyse Martin – (gone) Replaced By - Joe Stimpson 6ft2, 104kg.
3. John Olive - Replaced By - Jed Cartwright 22yrs 6ft4, 104kg. Other options - Jesse Arthars 21yrs 6ft2, 88kg. OR promote a junior.
4. Fa'amanu Brown - Replaced By - Connor Tracey 22yrs 6ft, 87kg. Other options - Cade Cust 21 yrs 5ft11, 87kg. Jai Field - 22yrs, 5ft11, 85kg. OR promote a junior.
5. Danny Fualalo - Replaced By - Christian Welch 25yrs Prop 6ft5, 110kg "2020 KEY Signing" (1yr option at Storm) he is even worth taking the salary of 2 current players (IMO) & promote a junior.
6. Francis Tualau (gone) - Replaced By - promote a junior.
If Welch decides to take up his 1-year Storm option for 2020 then I would chase him for 2021.
MY 2020 TEAM
1. Nick Meany
2. Remis Smith
3. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
4. Will Hopoate
5. Jayden Okunbor
6. Kieran Foran
7. Jack Cogger
8. Aiden Tolman
9. Jayden Brailey
10. Christian Welch OR If we can’t get him then – Ogden
11. Corey Harawira-Naera
12. Joe Stimpson
13. Josh Jackson
14. Lachlan Lewis OR JMK
15. Ofahiki Ogden
16. Dylan Napa
17. Renouf Tooamaga
Reserves
Jed Cartwright
Connor Tracey
PLUS other current contracted players
18 OFF CONTRACT PLAYERS FOR 2021 (NB: Age is at the start of season 2021)
My Must Keep Off Contract Players To Resign are – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Remis Smith, Brandon Wakeham, Renouf To’omaga.
My Maybe Keep Off Contract Players are – Josh Jackson (will be 30yrs old & on around 700k ish, can no longer handle the edge – so maybe not), Jack Cogger (IMO he will make a great utility/9 – reminds me of Polla-Mounter), Lachlan Lewis, Jeremy Marshall-King, Jarred Anderson (I don’t know him).
My Off-Contract Players To Let Go are – Kieran Foran 30yrs. Aiden Tolman 32yrs. Will Hopoate 28yrs. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 27yrs, Adam Elliott 26yrs, Kerrod Holland 28yrs, Marcelo Montoya 25yrs, Chris Smith 27yrs, Sauaso Sue 28yrs.
With so many off contract, rather than individually swapping players I just tried to start from scratch.
MY 2021 TEAM
1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25yrs 6ft1, 97kg. Other Options –Tom Trbojevic 24yrs 6ft4, 102kg. Latrell Mitchell 23 yrs 6ft4, 102kg (big bucks = must play 1). Ryan Papenhuyzen 21 yrs 5ft11, 80kg. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 25yrs 5ft11, 94kg
2. Remis Smith 23yrs 6ft5, 97kg.
3. Zac Lomax 21yrs 6ft3, 94kg (Goal Kicker) “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options (include below) – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Latrell Mitchell 23 yrs 6ft4, 102kg.
4. Nick Cotric 22yrs 6ft1, 98kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options (include above) – Joseph Manu Centre 24yr 6ft4, 98kg. Jesse Ramien 24yrs 6ft, 98kg. Kotoni Staggs 22 yrs 6ft1, 92kg.
5. Jayden Okunbor – 24yrs 6ft5, 108kg.
6. Jake Clifford 23yrs 6ft, 95kg (Goal Kicker) “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Lachlan Lewis 24yrs 6ft3, 90kg. Jaemon Salmon 22yrs 6ft2, 98kg.
7. Brodie Croft 23yrs 5ft10, 86kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Jake Clifford. Jack Cogger. Brandon Wakeham.
8. Thomas Flegler 21yrs 6ft3, 108kg. Other Options – Ofahiki Ogden 24yrs 6ft4, 106kg. Jake Trbojevic 27yrs 6ft1, 107kg. Hermen Ese’ese 26yrs Prop 6ft1, 107kg. Alex Twal 24yrs 6ft3, 104kg. Corey Horsburgh 23yrs 6ft2, 100kg.
9. Jayden Brailey 24yrs 5ft10 88kg.
10. Christian Welch – 26yrs 6ft5, 110kg. Other Options (see props listed above).
11. Corey Harawira-Naera 24yrs 6ft2, 96kg.
12. Joe Stimpson 23yrs 6ft2, 104kg.
13. David Fafita 21 yrs 6ft1, 107kg “2021 KEY Signing”. Other Options – Josh Jackson 30yrs 5ft11, 99kg. Jai Arrow 25yrs 6ft2 101kg. Renouf Tooamaga 26yrs 6ft3, 110kg.
14. Jack Cogger 23yrs 5ft9, 83kg. Other Options – Connor Tracey 22yrs 6ft, 87kg. Jed Cartwright 23yrs 6ft4, 104kg. Jeremy Marshall King 25yrs 6ft1, 83kg. Brandon Wakeham 22yrs 5ft8, 78kg
15. Ofahiki Ogden 24yrs 6ft4 106kg.
16. Dylan Napa 28yrs 6ft6 113kg.
17. Renouf Tooamaga 26yrs 6ft3, 110kg.
Reserves
Jed Cartwright
Connor Tracey
Brandon Wakeham
Pus other contracted & Promoted Juniors
Conclusion
After winning the spoon in 2008, in 2009 we made 5 major Key Signings which immediately turned us around. David Stagg, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Brett Kimmorley & Josh Morris. With 24 players off contract in the next 2 seasons, I believe we have the ability to be even more pro-active in buying. I have nominated 2 major “KEY Signings” for 2020 & 5 major “KEY Signings for 2021.
Rather than pour 1 million bucks into each of a few players I’ve gone for a more balanced squad. At this stage of their careers, I wouldn’t see any of these players exceed around the 8 to 900k mark.
I think you can see that there will be some good options for us to build a decent team to challenge for the top 4 moving forward from 2021. To me, it makes more sense to go harder for the limited good halves available rather than throw everything at the Trbojevic boys or Latrell Mitchell. We all got opinions on who we should target moving forward, this was mine – now for yours.