Way I see it.
Tago leaves early for a first grade spot. That’s $600-700k freed up. Give it to McLean.
Alamoti & Jenkins will be replaced with a couple kids.
Biz and Kenny extend on similar coin.
Clarke replaces Martin, he will be a beast. Another $500k freed up, give it to Talagi.
Leota moves on or maybe goes one more year on the bench on a sweetheart deal. Yeo moves to starting prop and maybe eventually bench prop so takes a slightly reduced deal. Philips gets some coin and we continue to see Smith/Yeo/Philips offering a more dynamic middle ball playing magazine than we previously utilised.
Papali’i has been our best forward for the last half a season. If we need his coin to upgrade Cleary, it is what it is, Wigmore/Armstrong will also be beasts. If we can we keep him, great.
Edwards is the first of the big 3 to go after 2028, Yeo goes the following year after a few years transitioning into a lesser role. Get those right and we’re a contender until Cleary is 36 if he holds together
2028: Edwards, Edgar, McLean, Patea, To’o, Talagi, Cleary, Yeo, Kenny, Philips, Clarke, Wigmore/Armstrong, Smith, Cogger/Scott/Lussick, Patea/Crosby/Lemoto/Leota, Garner