Nice to get Bud's deal finally settled. This now leaves us 1 spot left on our top 30 roster (Sloan isn't listed as yet, but will be in the next week or 2).
It's becoming very clear, the direction we are going in now sets us up for a long term success, with a good mix of youth and experience. The players signed and retained are done so to suit the current changes to the game itself. It's faster and players need to be able to adapt and grow at the same time. There is also the evidence of definite transition of players and pathways for those following
Interesting breakdown of our squad:
Senior Squad: 28 (their age during next season)
Players aged under 21 = (2)
Amone (20), Sullivan (20)
Players aged 21 - 25 = (10)
Burns (23), Feagai Matt (21), Feagai Max (21), Ford (24), Lawrie (25), Lomax (22), Ramsey (22),
Ravalawa (24), Sua (24), Suli (24)
Players aged 26 - 30 = (10)
Alvaro (29), Bird (27), Burgess (30), Faamausili (26), Fuimaono (26), Gosiewski (28), Kerr (26), Mbye (29), Moga (27), Molo (27)
Players aged over 30 = (6)
De Belin (31), Hunt (32), Maguire (32), McCullough (32), Sims (32), Woods (31)
Transition to top 30 = 1
Sloan (20)
Development Squad: = (2)
Hunt J (24), O'Ofou (?)
Train and Trial Player = (5)
Molo M (25) , Coric (19/20), Shereb (19), Antrobus (21), Muhleisen (20)
Isn't it good to finally see a plan in place and being executed. Far cry than in previous years of ad-hoc recruitment and retention, and the lack of junior development and pathway.