Off Contract 2023

[macavity]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Pryce as a bench forward.

Sasagi as an edge.

I would keep Frizz and Fitz on team-friendly deals.

I don't see how we keep Mann on the dollars he will want. ESL calls.

 

[ryan.a87]

From what I’ve seen so far this year, I’d have Johns ahead of Hetherington on the bench

 

[Old dog]

Shouldnt need Mann in 2024, still have Gamble and Crosslands signed 2024 with the two Poms but like said he is someone’s favourite

 

[Old dog]

We have Hetherington for two more after this, hasn’t shown anything and playing short minutes, team will be much better when JSaf is back

 

[Apey]

Assuming we re-sign a few of those for depth but obviously not all, the squad isn't shaping up too badly for 2024 with the two English players arriving. Pretty clear we'll be in the market for a winger to replace to Dom, perhaps one of Tuala/Hunt will stay as well. And I imagine at least one of Fitz/Frizz will be kept on, possibly even both.

What will be interesting is what we do with the spine, lock position and bench utility / forward rotation. If everyone is fit it's hard to see how it won't be 1. Miller 6. Ponga 7. Hastings 9. Brailey, but then what happens with Gamble, Pryce and (hopefully not) Mann and/or Crossland if retained? I still think Elliot is the ball-playing 13 once he gets fit.

Gamble is hard to leave out of the 17 imo. Pryce isn't coming here to learn in reserves for two years. Even Jack Johns showed yesterday that there could be a future as a mobile middle forward (he's not an edge player from what I've seen). I can't see how Mann gets in the team, but AOB loves him so he will probably still be re-signed before the season ends.

1. Miller
2. New Signing
3. Gagai
4. Best
5. Marzhew
6. Ponga
7. Hastings
8. D Saifiti
9. Brailey
10. Thompson
11. Pearce-Paul
12. Fitgibbon/Frizell
13. Elliot

14. Pryce/Gamble
15. Hetherington
16. Croker
17. J Saifiti

18. Gamble/Pryce
19. Johns
20. Sasagi
21. Tuala/Hunt
22. Cant
23. Lucas
24. Keeley
25. Rivett
26. Mapapalangi
27. Talty

We all know, despite mountains of evidence suggesting otherwise, that Mann will be kept. There are probably two, three, maybe even four better locks than him in the top 30 going forward, but you know. It's Mann.

 

[aqua_duck]

Let’s be honest AOB has his type, the utilities who can’t really lock down a single position with limited natural ability but tries hard eg Mann and Crossland. I think once Elliott and Ponga return and assuming Elliott come in at lock I don’t see a spot for either player in the starting line up and or on the bench ahead of Gamble. As has been mentioned for some insane reason Crossland was handed a 2 year deal so we’re stuck with him so there’s no justifiable reason Mann should be retained with so many other areas that need to be addressed

 

[HarVeeGee]

Phoenix has played pretty well this year overall tbh.

 

[NoSchitSherlock]

Phoenix has played pretty well this year overall tbh.

I agree he has stepped up but nearly everyone else has also.

 

[slotmachine]

Phoenix has played pretty well this year overall tbh.

He's been OK at hooker, awful anywhere else.

 

[Yosh]

Crossland should literally be the 30th man on a 30 man roster. Surely he should never makes our top 17 when everyone is fit.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Phoenix has played pretty well this year overall tbh.

Gonna have to disagree with you here mate

He's been serviceable as a fill in hooker playing short minutes, and I think I'm being generous here. Outside of that he's been somewhere between anonymous and awful

 

[aqua_duck]

Phoenix has played pretty well this year overall tbh.

From what he was last year yeah sure but he’s still well below NRL standards. His defence is fine, plays above his weight, doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff but what else do you see in his game that perhaps others are not?