I have to say I am underwhelmed about his re-signing (for 3 more seasons!!!!). Dont particularly care either way but I cant figure out what structure Sheens is trying to build / keep at WT.
We have a back up hooker in Politini who gets no game time and Sheens puts every man and their dog in front of him for a game when Farah goes down.
The halfback and five eigth postions look to be congested and lacking in proper thought for 2012. Will MArshall go to 1/2? will Sironen go to 5/8? What will happen with Anasta? If he doesnt play there what was the point of signing him? Similarly we need to make a decision quickly and re-sign either Humble, Chisholm or Miller as an alternate backup as their contracts end too this season- and they're looking around now for a 2013 home.
The backrow looks to be unsettled wiht Ellis leaving and Blair not showing any signs of leadership and doing the hard yards. Heighington has become a waste and its all falling on Fultons shoulders.
Props- They need another prop - either Cashmere gets an extension or they need to sign someone soon.
Wingers are in flux- 2 of the 3 wingers used this year have contracts expiring at seasons end. WT have not made any attempt to blood up and comers such as Koribete for next year. What is the plan? I dont think Tuqiri should be extended but have an open mind on Utai for next year. Sounds like Grant is not on the radar for next season and Reddy is a liability. We look to remain slow on the wings for 2013.
Fullback- Presume Tedesco is still in the running for the role next season but similar injuries have shown it often takes more than 1 seaosn to become match fit again.
Centres- Ayshford seems to be shifted from pillar to post over the field so maybe SHeens is looking for someone else.
I'm trying to be positive but geez, they dont seem to have a structure or plan they're working to in terms of recruitment and retention.
I fully agree.
It seems we're just grabbing anyone available with no actual plan as to what we want to do next year.
Anasta has to be playing as Lock next year, there's no way he's good enough to unseat Sironen from the halves.
That will give us two overrated bludging hacks in the forwards, with Fulton carrying the pair of them.
Ayshford and Lawrence as centres are more than capable.
Sironen and Marshall, with a full off season working together, will turn out to be a combination that will work better than every other halves pairing we've had since Prince left.
Our starting props are great, BMM is coming along nicely, we need 2 more on the bench.
Fulton needs help in the backrow. He gets none from Blair, and Hino, although he tries bloody hard all the time, just doesn't have the impact anymore.
The Backrow appears to be a major concern. We can't rely on Woods and Galloway to do all the work in attack for the forwards and for Fulton, Farah and Woods to do all the defence.
Fulton runs good lines too. Maybe its time to consider Ayshford as a second rower? He'd be better than Blair, knows how to run good lines and isn't a softcock when hitting the ball up either.
Notice how our biggest concerns in the pack seem to all surround trying to accommodate the f**king myth Blair?
I'd rather see Fitzy back at the club than see Blair playing.
Hell I'd take a halves combo of John Morris and Fitzy anyday over Blair bludging away. At least those two gave their all. They were limited in skill set, but not in ticker.
Blair is the other way around and imo, thats far worse.
