Magic Burton
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2023
- Messages
- 1,497
- Reaction score
- 1,266
@dawso047 you provide a good assessment you are right about the two most important aspects of spine and front row. This is something @04 Dreaming has been consistent about. We do need to make that big purchase for those two areas. We missed out on Luai in a two horse race. We had offers and they went astray for a beverage of front rowers. I think we lack a genuine leader.Lets face it. The two most important aspects of an NRL team are its spine and middle forwards, on paper the Dogs are close to dead last. Who will play fullback neither Tracey or Taffe look like rhey're capable of challenging the best fullbacks and Crighton looks way better in the centres. Hutchison or Sexton to partner an under achieving Burton in the halves, Hutchison is a career utility or NSW Cup half and Sexton does not have any outstanding qualities in his game to match the best. Middle forwards are bare, King and Curran will start, King is a standard no thrills NRL level prop and Curran has yet to prove that he deserves a regular starting soot. Knight and Sutton are now experienced but mainly played NSW Cup at their previous clubs.
Papali'i might be an option at fullback late this season but not before, there are no other options in the halves unless Rajab suddenly becomes a far better defender or unless Taffe transitions seemlessly back into the 6 or 7 roll. Hughes and Patolo are not boom youngsters, Edwards and Morrin are yet to even earn a top 30 deal and Marshall, Todd, Hayes are yet to enter any serious consideration. Bottom 4 finish, I am pessimistic.
My best hope for this year is that Papali'i shows he could handle NRL, Rajab kearns to tackle and against all odds Hughes and Morrin earn new deals. Plus the NSW Cup side to flourish on the back of Kautoga, Hayes, Todd, Samrani, Rajab, Papali'i and one of Edwards or Morrin.
A team is made up of a lot of balance you mention the spine and props. You also need a mix of workers, juniors and pure club people. We've ripped our club apart and haven't got the balance right.
I hope I'm wrong.
I rate Sexton for the record. The pursuit of Luai means to me there is some doubt about him.