Players off contract
Greg Eastwood - dont re-sign
Brett Morris - ??
Josh Morris - ??
Clay Priest - dont re-sign
Players off contract (other clubs this year)
Felise Kaufusi - high priority
Josh Mansour - high priority (cost less than BMoz?)
RTS - Depending on Mbye's development as a FB?
IMO our forward pack is missing 1 additional quality backrower, ie. Felise Kaufusi. If Tolman was to be released as mentioned it would give further salary cap relief. If we could nab Kaufusi we would have a bloody good pack on our hands. Kaufusi & RFM are weapons in attack, better than Jackson, but Jackson would be great at lock, better than anyone at our club. Jackson was great for the Blues at 13 last year!
8.Woods
9.Lichaa
10.Klemmer
11.Kaufusi
12.RFM
13.Jackson
Halves - Only Michael Morgan is available and you can bet your bottom dollar he will take JT's money. We have Cogger coming across, Wakeham with big wraps on him, Foran (hopefully does not break down) and Mbye as a last resort. I think we just have to persist with what we have and hopefully the flowers blossom.
Backline - Big question mark is with Mbye at FB and to be honest he needs atleast a full season at FB to make any decisions if FB is where his future lies. You have guys like RTS and Coote off contract and its bloody hard to make a play at them when Mbye needs time? What do you do?
Morris boys are getting on with age and is their anything better off contract? Mansour is off contract and a winger who consistently makes big metres and breaks tackles with ease. He would defintely be a suitable replacement for BMoz and a winger we need as Montoya & Hoppa are not known for breaking tackles and making big metres on kick returns and coming out of our redzone.
Will Suli blossom? Who the fark knows!
Our recruitment for 2019 and beyond, should begin right now and its a bloody hard decision to put the puzzle together as there are so many question marks on positions and players getting on with age and recovering from years of Des Ball
We definitely have to start looking at life after Morris Bros, but the thing is we have to start targeting replacements immediately.
I agree with you in regards to Mansour, as we desperately need a winger who brings the ball back with gusto and can break tackles with ease.
I would bite the bullet and go all out for RTS and Mansour, and if successful you have your backline sorted out and have Mbye as our stop gap FB for 2018. You would also think Morris Bros salaries would cover RTS and Mansour.
1. RTS
2. Mansour
3. Mbye
4. Hopoate
5. Montoya
With Eastwood off contract and reportedly on a back ended contract of 800k that would surely be the bickies to nab Kaufusi. I agree that Tolman would not be required and with a part of his salary which would become available along with Graham & Kasianos part we are forking out we would have additonal funds to strengthen our bench if required and add depth.
Another player off contract who "could" add something at the right price would be Jackson Hastings? Would he compliment Foran? He is also a goalkicker, not the greatest but better than what we have. Will Cogger be ready? So many questions!
We would look pretty good with a team consisting of
1. RTS
2. Mansour
3. Mbye
4. Hoppa
5. Montoya
6. Cogger/Hastings
7. Foran
8. Woods
9. Lichaa
10. Klemmer
11. RFM
12. Kaufusi
13. Jackson
14. Tualau
15. Ofgen kid (looks very promising)
16. Fualalo
17. Hastings? Backrower?
God knows what Hasler and Dib were thinking with Brown