Not even Saint Benny can polish that many turds. The forward pack stinks (with a few young exceptions), the only club with a worst hooker rotation than the Raiders, Mullen has never and will never be more than a solid NRL footballer, and is not capable of dragging his side to any great heights without significant help, the backline is good but what is the point of that if your pack and halves cant give them enough chances to shine?
They need at least 2 more front rowers, a half to pair with Mullen, a hooker, 2 quality back rowers. TBH Boyd could do with an upgrade, Princess Darius just doesnt put in every game
Our backline is pretty damn impressive to keep the likes of Kevin Naiqama out when he'd get a run at a fair few other sides. The service they get from Mullen can't be faulted (did you see his cross-field chip today?) and I am not ready to say Gower's presence is an out and out failure.
He didn't get a chance to play at first receiver tonight. Roberts really needs to go and Gower needs his opportunity to organise.
Mullen has been playing absolutely fantastic football these past few weeks. I'm glad Daley isn't aware, because he's so far ahead of Pearce in both form and quality that he'd be a far better option for us in the NSW side even if he were out of his preferred position.
As for the pack - Mason and Smith are older, but they're far from slow or useless. Cuthbertson, Snowden, Sims, and Rochow can't be faulted either.
I'll grant that House and Costigan are awful and that we really do need at least one more mongrel forward in the pack. Beau Scott hasn't produced anything.
Hooker = utter ratshit. Bennett is afraid to blood Clydesdale too early, but with Buderus and Gidley still out, we need a better option than Waddell. Buderus was in cracking form prior to his injury. Gidley less so. He should be fullback anyway. Boyd is more miss than hit.
