I tried to leave it alone, but couldnt so here we go.
Your problem isnt with our depth, its with our starters. Lote started, Teo started, McQueen came off the bench. These are not depth guys. You are sick of seeing depth signings and want the big name who will make a difference. Our depth is fine, the guys who are 18th - 30th on our roster shouldnt be very good. If they were, they'd be in the team or requesting a release to go play first grade somewhere else.
Comparing depth players from the 2 years:
18. Luke B - Nicholls
19. Lowe - Turner
20. Api/Cam - Farah
21. Bryson - Graham
Turner is as good or better than Lowe at that point who only played 13 more games in his career. Farah is better than Api/Cam. Nicholls is nearly as good as Luke B, I mean he played 9 games for the most dominant team in a decade just this year. So we are short a Goodwin type in our depth, but who knows what Graham is capable of next year. Would you have thought Some could start in our premiership team at the beginning of 2014? No way. No one had any idea who he was.
As far as balance goes, lets look at games played by some of our premiership winning team before 2014:
AJ - 0
Walker - 16
Some - 0
Keary - 10
Turner - 0
Tom B - 9
Api - 0
Those guys had sweet FA experience before 2014 and won us a premiership.
Its not about lack of depth or lack of experience, its about lack of talent. I agree we aren't a premiership threat next year. We probably won't be a top 4 team and may not make the 8, but this team isn't set up for next year. Its set up for 2020. Then it'll be something like:
1. AJ
2. Burns
3. Inglis
4. Gagai
5. Graham
6. Walker
7. Reyno
8. Musgrove
9. Cook?????
10. Sam
11. Fui
12. Gus
13. Murray
14. Talaki
15. Johnstone
16. Rodwell
17. Tom
Almost everyone on that team has 50+ games experience. Chrichton, Musgrove, Gagai, Murray are all SoO level players. AJ, Reyno and Walker are solid experienced footballers. GI and Sam are the senior statesmen. Johnstone and Graham are the next big things. That is where this team is building.
Alright, I'm done. Hope this might help get that sparkle back in your eye, R20.