All of them are in a better place than they would have been if they’d stayed.
And how can you defend the development of the others? Lomax and Host are textbook examples of f**king up the development of potential.
Perhaps they are in a better place - but for perspective..
Marsters - Moved to Souths and Yet to play First Grade. Is Wayne Bennett holding him back?
Robson - a hooker playing behind Cameron McInnes. Barring injury/retirement - would he ever have gotten into first grade above McInnes? More chance of Mary growing hair. To keep him would have been holding him back. Still competing with Granville for Hooker position at Cowboys and yet to establish himself.
Bird - Sharks bought him from our Juniors. Since established as a first grader and made SOO at the Sharks - playing his best football. Since moved to the Broncos and played only 17 games in 2 seasons while on a big pay packet and will miss this season also - so will be 17 games in 3 seasons. Fine player if fit but next to no return on investment. While not through insight or strategy, we've dodged a huge bullet with him.
Garrick - Established First Grade Winger at Manly since 2019. At Dragons was/would be competing with any number of other players including Nightingale, Ravalawa, Lomax, Periera, Pearson, Saab, Sailor for a first grade spot. Very reasonable argument we should have kept him in hindsight but who should we have let go instead??
Herbert - He isn't a Dragons junior, we bought him over from NZ at 17 and returned home in 2018. Regardless, he's a centre who was playing behind Lafai and Aitken at the time (who was pressing for Origin selection in 2018). Lomax was also a centre coming through then. Arguable either way to keep or allow to leave in hindsight so possibly best for him to let him go back home.
As for the "Butchered Bunch" ..
Dufty - has had more chances than Shaun Marsh and proven just as inconsistent. Fantastic player when he's on, but all too often he's been off. Is Mary at fault for that? What would you do differently?
Lomax - Given an opportunity originally on the wing then centre. He wanted to crack fullback (his own words, and with limited / no experience) and made an absolute pigs ear of his first game at #1 against the Tigers, mainly against attacking kicks. Back into a centre position now - I reckon Mary saved him from himself, and further humiliation by bringing back into centre. Has maintained a first grade position, all-be-it in a highly underwhelming side. Has been re-signed in a long term deal. What would you do differently?
Host - had been given opportunities in 2019. Can be argued he was solid at best. Competing with other backrowers in Frizell, Sims x 2, Lawrie, Fuimaono, Merrin, Ford for a first grade spot. Only my opinion - but all these are individually better than Ford has shown in his time (understanding Merrin's absence from the NRL for a while now). What would you do differently?
