You just can't rely on juniors, St George would not have won the 2010GF without, Jeremy Smith, Beau Scott, Neville Costigan and Mick Weyman.
Flanno Needs at least Atkinson or Wishart + 2 Beasts up Front to have any chance of being a heavy weight.
I don't think Atkinson is the answer for us, not for 2025 anyway, he's too young and inexperienced to take control of a team especially given he won't have a confident, fully competent halves partner. I like Kyle but he's a follower not a leader or creator. Atkinson needs support still and someone to share the kicking duties with. I wouldn't be signing him long term either if he's the one Flanno really wants.
We should double our efforts to get Brodie Croft over from England for 2025 and then go hard for a star half for 2026 and beyond.
Ilias would be ok is he's physically up to it.
Has anyone been watching Super League, in particular Hull ? Their halfback, Mikey Lewis is a real standout - 27 games, 19 tries, 19 line breaks, 24 try assists, 148 tackle busts, loves to dart out of dummy half, and a good kicking game. He's only 23. We could get him a cosy flat overlooking the Wollongong Ocean and teach him to tackle a bit better. Why not, I'll try anything at this stage.