Hiku is getting half paid by Manly and is off contract in 18'. His money will be used to prop up Cleary etc.
Browne would be on hardly anything and would not impact the type of salaries those guys would want.
You couldn't handle losing those guys but you couldn't handle losing guys like Dylan Edwards either because DWZ is in front of him. So either way Gus is in a lose/lose position.
Out of the ones above the most likely to leave is DWZ who wants to play fullback. Peach I reckon stays but depends on progress of May. Blake it depends if Western Force throw huge money at him to go to Perth. I certainly think they want to keep him and would be willing to move a couple of guys to do it.
Id rather keep the proven NRL player over the unproven one. DWZ is still only a kid and could have another 10 years left easily.
Edwards looks quality. But he's no certainty.
1. DWZ
2. Mansour
3. Peachey
4. Blake
5. Hiku
If we could keep that together until Hiku is off contract. Then replace him with a young gun I would be happy. Even if we lost Dylan Edwards as a result.
But if we lost anyone of DWZ, Blake or Peachey ontop of Whare. I will be filthy. Hiku wasn't necessary in the first place. Since we signed him we have let go of promising depth which sucks but can be accepted as they are just depth and ideally wouldn't figure into our game day 17 much if at all. We can't lose better players then him though.
Robert Jennings
George Jennings
Braidon Burns
Will Smith
Pretty much let go of our reserve grade and Under 20s centres. Which is fine if we keep those other guys. If we dont then the reason I was deadset against Hiku to begin with will necome a reality.
We can release Whare to make it happen. Our best centre without doubt. But god knows what sort of player he will be when he returns... his career could be headed down the same path as the Stanley brothers.