What do we know ?
We recently re-signed DWZ long term on fullback money it seems but he's not reliable enough under bombs and he lacks the passing game to be a top fullback so he needs to go back to wing like it or lump it. He shouldn't complain too much if he's getting "the salary" of a fullback.
Lewis - hasn't really improved in attack during the off season it seems. We're never going to be a top team while he's one of our halves. Only worth keeping if he could cut it at centre or hooker but as we've seen with JMK, manufactured hookers don't seem to work too well.
JMK - I know that he missed pre-season but his first 2 games this year were still a worry. No running game at all. Still big doubts about his long term future as our No9. Katoa could be okay but he was only average at the Panthers so we probably need to strengthen here. We probably need to chase Jake Friend who still has a few more years left in him at age 30. Either that or we offer ridiculous money for Tedesco and Keary and when the Roosters pay overs to keep them (which they will) we snatch Verrills.
Will Hopoate and Josh Jackson we recently re-signed long term
Aiden Tolman offers absolutely nothing in attack. Whenever he gets the ball even 1 - 5 metres out from the tryline you immediately know there's absolutely ZERO chance of him scoring a try or getting an offload. From anywhere on the field you know he's ZERO chance of making decent metres or getting a quick play the ball. Every time he touches the ball it's just a wasted opportunity / wasted tackle basically. He's not dominant in defence either. He might clean up a bit in defence but we have Jacko for that. As we saw in the Cowboys game this year we need forwards who can make effective "dominant" tackles. Surely Tolman has to go and it will free up decent coin too.
On the open market there's no standout spine players available unfortunately. Scott Drinkwater may be worth pursuing though - he can play both fullback and in the halves. He was player of the tournament at the Nines remember so he definitely has some attacking spark. I didn't see much of the Nines though so I haven't seen enough of him to think he could be our long term standout fullback so at this stage I'd be happy to see Meaney given a bit more time at fullback. He's very reliable under high kicks and fast. Just needs to get involved more. Unsure about his passing game too. Hopa has a good passing game but a bit too slow for a fullback. Averillo is a potential fullback option also I think.
Reimis - I don't think he's a real centre. That game against the Dragons a couple of years ago showed he was potentially a superstar WINGER but he's been very quiet ever since. Pay was an idiot by splitting him and Holland. Maybe Reimis is just suffering because he doesn't get decent ball and that leads me to worry if we bought JAC he could be wasted just the same (as B. Moz was in many games also). Maybe we're better off going with a centre who can create something like Mitchell ?
Foran we can extend for cheap if we want. He'll definitely take a big pay cut. He's already stated that. He's still a top player IF he can stay on the field that is. Averillo is a potential replacement if he gets injured again and Cogger. Wakeham has a bit more natural flair than Cogger I think and we desperately need points so I'd have him paired with Foran.
So if Meaney is fullback, DWZ one wing, Hopa one centre, Foran and Wakeham in the halves (with Cogger and Averillo as back ups) we need a centre or if we sack Reimis a centre and a winger. Cotric is a decent option but I don't know if he can create tries like we need. I'd still consider Mitchell if we could get him for a bit more than what the Bunnies want to pay him as I think he'd offer a bit more creativity (something from nothing - as we desperately need). Apparently Souths want to pay him less than his option agreed rate next season (was 800K) so he's likely to become a free agent.
Our number one target though as a marquee player and we really do need / deserve one at least one - a player who can create tries from nothing consistently from ANYWHERE on the field - a player who will bring confidence and attract other good players to our club and attract sponsors in future has to be DAVID FIFITA. If we are to become a real contender I believe this guy is a MUST. Potentially the best forward in the game (close to that now). Potentially the best player in the world. Already rated the best young player ever seen by Andrew Voss and Peter Mullholland. Broncos aren't offering him much and even the Titans are reportedly only offering him a little bit more. We seriously need to make him an offer "too good to refuse: whatever that is - I guess 100-200K a year more than the Titans.
Also we need to get CHN back after he's done a 12 month suspension and we should get him on the cheap since he helped cost us a sponsor. He's one of the most creative edge forwards in the game. Him and Fifita together would be amazing.
So the team I would like to see in 2021 would be something like the one below with either Flanagan or Bennett as coach. I feel sorry for Pay as he inherited a shit sandwich but the game against the Cowboys this year demonstrated that he can't even motivate the players in defence obviously - and he can't attract shit (as in good players). Offer him assistant coach. He won't get any better offers anywhere else in Australia anyway.
1 Nick Meaney / Jake Averillo (Scott Drinkwater)
2 DWZ
3 Will Hopoate
4 Latrell Mitchell / Nick Cotric
5 JAC (Reimis Smith)
6 Kieran Foran / Jake Averillo (Scott Drinkwater)
7 Brandon Wakeham
8 Dylan Napa
9 Jake Friend
10 Luke Thompson
11 CHN
12 David Fifita
13 Josh Jackson
14 Renouf Toomaga
15 RFM
16 Dean Britt
17 Adam Elliott / Ofahiki Ogden
