If you could run the team in 2014

[madunit]

Who would you cut/sign etc to fix the team up?

here's a rough list of who's off contract at the end of the season.

Centre - Mitch Aubusson, Maurice Blair, Rory Brien, Matt Cooper, Jarrod Croker, Geoff Daniela, Dylan Farrell, Danny Galea, Konrad Hurrell, Greg Inglis, Krisnan Inu, Matt King, Tim Lafai, Kane Linnett, Jacob Loko, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Ryan Morgan, Joel Reddy, Jack Reed, Junior Sa'u, Chase Stanley, Timana Tahu, Brent Tate, Taulima Tautai, Elijah Taylor, Bodene Thompson, Joel Thompson, Esi Tonga, Willie Tonga, David Tyrrell, Sisa Waqa, Jack Wighton, Matthew Wright

Fullback - Marmin Barba, Matt Bowen, Dale Copley, Nathan Gardner, Kevin Locke, Peter Mata'utia, Jake Mullaney, James Roberts, David Simmons, Fetuli Talanoa, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck​

Five-Eighth - Travis Burns, Todd Carney, Kieran Foran, Daniel Mortimer, Corey Norman, Ben Roberts, Harry Siejka, Jamie Soward, Ryan Stig, Gareth Widdop​

Halfback - Nathan Fien, Pita Godinet, Trent Hodkinson, Ben Hornby, Ben Hunt, Robert Lui, Alehana Mara, Michael Morgan, Mitchell Pearce, Adam Reynolds, Jeff Robson, Johnathan Thurston, Chad Townsend, Sam Williams​

Hooker - Kurt Baptiste, Shaun Berrigan, Glen Buttriss, Beau Falloon, Robbie Farah, Nathan Friend, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Matt Keating, Cameron King, Kevin Kingston, Rory Kostjasyn, Matt McIlwrick, Nathan Peats, Mitch Rein, Josh Reynolds​

Lock - Greg Bird, Jamie Dowling, Greg Eastwood, Liam Fulton, Ashley Harrison, Daniel Harrison, Matt Hilder, Dallas Johnson, Feleti Mateo, Joel Riethmuller, Nathan Smith, Jack Spencer​

Prop - Leeson Ah Mau, Josh Ailaomai, Mitchell Allgood, Scott Anderson, Chris Armit, Roy Asotasi, Luke Bailey, Jack Bosden, Luke Burgess, Sam Burgess, Keith Galloway, Mitchell Garbutt, James Gavet, Jon Green, Dan Hunt, Brent Kite, Sam Lousi, Dunamis Lui, Josh Miller, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Bryan Norrie, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Frank Pritchard, George Rose, Ben Ross, Matthew Scott, Josh Starling, James Tamou, Mark Taufua, Peni Terepo, Aiden Tolman, Michael Weyman, Brett White​

Second-Row - Tim Browne, Jayson Bukuya, Cameron Ciraldo, Boyd Cordner, Neville Costigan, Ben Creagh, Joe Galuvao, Matt Gillett, Chris Heighington, Justin Horo, Chris Houston, Taniela Lasalo, Jacob Lillyman, Jacob Ling, Sione Lousi, Will Matthews, Ben Matulino, Vic Mauro, Clint Newton, Mark Nicholls, Pat O'Hanlon, Josh Papalii, Cory Paterson, Corey Payne, Joe Picker, Nigel Plum, Matt Prior, Steve Rapira, Ben Ridge, Ryan Simpkins, Nick Slyney, Jeremy Smith, Brad Takairangi, Zane Tetevano, Trevor Thurling​

Wing - Ben Farrar, Bronx Goodwin, James McManus, Chris McQueen, David Mead, Stewart Mills, Peni Tagive, Akuila Uate, Manu Vatuvei, Tony Williams, Antonio Winterstein​

Go nuts people.

 

[madunit]

Aiden Tolman in for Galloway
Brett White in for Blair
Greg Bird for Heighington
Jack Wighton for Tuqiri
Luke Kelly for Tom Humble
Nigel Plum for Utai
Jason Bukuya for Moltzen & Ansata

1 - Tedesco
2 - Ryan
3 - Lawrence
4 - Ayshford
5 - Wighton
6 - Marshall
7 - Kelly
8 - White
9 - Farah
10 - Tolman
11 - Murdoch Masila
12 - Bukuya
13 - Bird

14 - Fulton
15 - Bell
16 - Plum
17 - Moors
18 - Groat
19 - Miller
20 - Chisholm
21 - Sironen
22 - Politoni
23 - Reddy
24 - NYC Forward
25 - NYC Forward

 

[N.C.]

We applying any kind of salary cap here?

 

[madunit]

I applied a roughly assumed 'like for like' value for all changes

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Where's Tedesco?!

 

[N.C.]

First order of business - Reddy, Fulton, Heighington can go but Galloway, Murdoch-Masila and Farah should be retained.

Reddy is nothing flash and we have no real attachment to him as a player, Fulton and Heighington are getting old and need to make room. Fulton is in good form right now, but is he worth a punt on a contract extension for another two years?

Farah might also be getting on a bit but I think the example of Hodgson shows that you can't just discard your captain and expect to be able continue as per the program. Galloway is a bit injury prone but I can't see any reason to move him on. Murdoch-Masila is coming along nicely and should be seen as part of our long term plans.

Next question - what new players do we want from that list? Clearly we need to concentrate on the 1 and 7, but also the back row with the loss of Fulton and Heighinton (and the earlier departure of Ellis). Assume by 2014 that Blair will be a star again...

1 - Kevin Locke will do nicely. Tedesco and he can fight it out for dibs.

7 - I'd take Mitchell Pearce for his Tiger pedigree, and his experience. But I'd also take Adam Reynolds as a bit of a gamble if he came cheap enough.

Back row - a lot of those listed as 'lock' are looking a bit long in the tooth, so I'd be inclined to go for a mobile prop and put them at lock. Let's say Sam Burgess as first choice, or maybe even Michael Weyman if money's an issue. Then I'd be looking at someone like Neville Costigan to add a bit of starch from the bench, and leave the rest to Blair, Moors and Murdoch-Masila.

There are two other positions that want suring up - prop and centre.

Prop - let's throw Aiden Tolman in there for good measure.

Centre - can we get Greg Inglis running off Marshall please?

Okay, having done all that, here's what we're looking at.

1. Locke
2. Ryan
3. Inglis
4. Lawrence
5. Ayshford
6. Marshall
7. Pearce
8. Woods
9. Farah
10. Galloway
11. Blair
12. Murdoch-Masila
13. Burgess
14. Tolman
15. Moors
16. Groat
17. Costigan

Then the rest can state their claims as/when injuries/form issues crop up meaning starting spots come up for grabs.

 

[madunit]

Where's Tedesco?!

ooops, i meant him at fullback, not Mullaney.

Changed!

 

[hybrid_tiger]

Realistically we can't get rid of everyone so I will try and be very realistic.

We don't need a mass cleanout like some are suggesting. The things we need are:

- A half with a kicking game and the ability to overcall Marshall/Farah
- Two props who will run hard and straight and play with aggression
- Two second rowers with IMPACT who can replace the ineffective Fulton and Heighington
- Some speed in the backline

I would be moving on Moltzen, Heighington, Fulton, Lote and promoting some juniors. We don't need to go and spend money on a winger, for example. Give someone in the 20s a go. (Koroibete). We have some gun kids coming through and while they aren't all ready they certainly look like a great batch. Sironen, Koroibete, Nofaoluma, Santi, Vela, Lovett etc.

Anasta has clearly been bought to partner Benji in the halves. Miller for backup.

Out of those names off contract, I would look at the following if we could fit them in.

Scott Anderson
Dan Hunt
Jayson Bukuya
Matt Gillett
Ben Matulino
Josh Papalii

There is alot of garbage on that list, not much quality there.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

The name on that list that I like most is Jamie Lyon. A goal kicking centre with a good football brain. He'd replace Ayshford for mine. I'd bring in someone like Robson at half. Anasta can play lock or get stuffed. I'm not sure about a prop, but someone like Weyman if he's in form. I've been saying for years that we need a brick shithouse line busting prop like Civoneciva, Webme etc.

 

[macnaz]

1 - Tedesco
2 - Koriebete
3 - Lawrence
4 - Aubusson
5 - Uate
6 - Marshall
7 - Pearce
8 - Sam Burgess
9 - Farah
10 -Gibbs
11 - Gillett
12 - Bukuya
13 - Fulton

14- Woods
15-Mason
16- Heinington
17-Galloway

I didnt realise that Burgess was off contract. HE SHOULD BE NUMBER 1 ON OUR LIST TO REPLACE ELLIS .. we should have snared him b4 $ouffs got him.

 

[madunit]

I think given our cap, Bukuya would be a great buy with the money freed up by Tuqiri and Ellis, hopefully Anasta hasn't taken too much of that.

 

[Radical Rat]

I'd be very happy to buy Sam Williams. He looked very promising at the Raiders last year. Awesome kicking game and decent running game. Very level headed. Would suit us perfectly. Wouldn't cost the earth either.

 

[Radical Rat]

I'd love T-Rex as well. We've never had anyone like him.

 

[macnaz]

I'd love T-Rex as well. We've never had anyone like him.

TNT ? was like him but better

 

[Radical Rat]

TNT ? was like him but better

Those memories are too painful to recall.

 

[simmo1]

Johnathan Thurston

:sarcasm:

Maybe have to sign Waldron first.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

MU you've had a hard on for Plum since God knows when - I'm starting to think you're related!

Bukuya has been impressive - he plays on the right and we're lacking serious impact on that side yet again.

Fulton has been solid but he does this for periods - plays well but then plays ordinary. Hino is past it. Tuqiri will move on.

Trying to think of fair replacements with our potential salary cap space:

1. Ryan (f**k it, he's no worse than any off contract option that won't cost a fortune, i.e. Locke)
2. Koroibete
3. Lawrence
4. Inu (his mind is never 100% into it but f**k me if he isn't 5 million times more talented than Ayshford)
5. Reddy (believe it was a 2 year deal unfortunately)
6. Anasta (it'll happen)
7. Marshall (ditto)
8. Galloway
9. Farah
10. Woods
11. BMM
12. Bukuya
13. Blair

14. Ayshford
15. Groat
16. Bell
17. Costigan / Hunt

There's plenty of good off contract players the question is fitting them in. I have to believe that Anasta wouldn't have come that cheap - I don't think we broke the bank for him but he'd be on decent coin. We can take a punt on the next TV deal increasing the salary cap significantly and try back-loading contracts but that's got us into trouble before. It's going to be interesting to see which direction we go - re-signing our off-contract players (more likely) or letting the majority walk and starting over (highly unlikely without a change of coach).

For me the club has no more than about 4 weeks to make a decision on Sheens. If we go much longer past that time and then change coaches, we won't give any incoming coach a decent opportunity to rebuild the team and sign players he wants. And if we stick with Sheens, I can almost guarantee that most of our off-contract players will be re-signed.

 

[madunit]

:sarcasm:

Maybe have to sign Waldron first.

huh?

 

[simmo1]

huh?

Then maybe we could fit him in under the cap.

 

[glockers]

The news that Jared Hargreaves has signed again with the Roosters was annoying. I would have used Lote's money on him no questions asked. I guess the best available forward now is Burgess?

Also, I know people are mentioning Pearce, but even Hodkinson from the Dogs would be a good pick up. I don't think Des will keep him. I think either would partner Benji well. Unfortunately, that idea is unlikely with Anasta signing on.