He is not a $1 mill player but he is a very good instinctive player and would be an improvement to our squad and could do a better job than most of our team in multiple positions
He is better thank Kyle F for starters and would do an admirable job at 6 as a defensive running half setting up outside backs.
You have to remember this final series he has been filling in at roving middle forward (like a 13?) which is not his strength but he played well last night..Efforts and tackle busts galore
We do need a 7 with a long and deft kicking game who can also defend to support Wishy at 6
We are currently bringing LKT into the 5/8 position. Do we no longer have any faith in him for the intermediate or long term? If we give Wishart $1m a year for five years, what happens if he can't lead the team? It is Corey Norman and Hunt all over again. In the meantime, we block and frustrate youngsters.(I do not know anything about LKT. Just an example.)
We need a 100% proven, guaranteed, gold-plated organizing halfback who can kick and game manage. We can pay big bucks and give a long contract for such an individual.
To get such a player, we have to aim for him. We have to stop with the wishful thinking and the hoping and praying that someone might develop into something else. Whether we are buying experienced players or bringing along youngsters, if it isn't what we want, don't buy it!. We have to buy and promote only those who HAVE ALREADY SHOWN - measurably and objectively - that they can do it.
This wishful thinking mindset has a long and frustrating pedigree at Sajnts. I have mentioned Drew Hutchinson in previous posts. I have never understood the investment we made in him. Just his sprint times could have told us he would never be a star halfback. He lumbered. There are no lumbering star halfbacks. But everyone persisted with him as a junior in that position. Sloane. I know he is playing NRL only bcs Cody Ramsay got sick, but people insist on overlooking his issues. Maybe one day....well, maybe, but what are we, a development club? A shelter for late blooming players?
How did Amone - slow as a wet weekend, uncreative and ill-tempered, ever get anywhere hear NRL? How did we ignore the measurable FACTS about Bostock? Tall, fast, good hands, leap, evasive, brave, coachable. No, we don't want him. He ticks too many boxes. Let Bennett have him.
Leluia. No, he will never be lean and fit and give long minutes. Laurie, no he will never bend the line and intimidate opponents. The Feagais...were they ever going to become speedsters? No. That is not WHO THESE GUYS ARE. I often wonder what the develpment guys are looking at.
When we buy or bring through players we have to look at WHAT THEY ALREADY ARE and then build on that bcs they can improve (what they already are) but they are not going change into something else. If you have a girlfriend who is a nag or a spendthrift, do you think that is going to change after you marry her? Guaranteed not.
People have to stop hoping. We have to develop, promote and buy according to the best fit we can get for clear, relevant, objective, measurable metrics. Anything else and our recruitment and retention approach is just a game of pin the tail on the donkey.