Let's be realistic. We wouldn't get Papenhauzen back, let alone Tedesco and Papenhauzen is behind Hughes and Drinkwater at the Storm. We have Moses taking up big dollars until 2022, which the Dogs won't be paying freight for after next year. We have Reynolds on big dollars too until 2021, but that's ok because I think he's the type of 5/8 we need outside of Brooks, who is on contract until the end of 2022. Other than that, the only certain starter in the backline is Marsters because of his goal kicking.
So even if we did sign a gun fullback, that would mean would lose both Momo and Gamble, because there is no path to first grade for either of them and we would have to spend more than their salaries combined to attract a gun fullback. That being said, we still have Jennings, Fonua, Thompson, Nofoaluma all battling for spots in the backline as well. We also need to make sure we keep our forwards in mind as well, especially Twal who comes off contract soon too.
Our cap isn't completely f**ked, but it's in bad shape and it certainly can't accommodate any gun backline signings unless we can shed some players on big packets. I would be giving up on signing someone for the backline for the next two years and just see what the lower grades can produce. Beyond that, I would also ban contract longer that three years, unless the years beyond that are an option in the clubs favour so we don't end up in this situation again.
