I'm sure they want to keep him but where does he fit in? Our probable backline next year=
1. Capewell
2. Merritt
3. Champion
4. Best
5. Talanoa
and then you have Simpson, Hegarty, Gordon (if he re-signs) who have all played first grade. He is too old for NYC next year and can't play fullback. I would rate all the guys in the backline above as better than him and probably Simpson as well. He is better than Heg's but Hegarty still has a year to run. Sam will be a gun next year and the Dogs need a winger. There are a few with more runs than him on the board at South's.
Talanoa should be developed into a backrower for starters but you need depth even if Huihahau isnt starting right away
Gordon is a backrower too Thats where you need to make decisions about how you spend your money
Unless the Dogs are dumping a number of players they have more wingers and outside backs than Souths Dogs supporters are calling for everyone on and off the market but they have plenty of players under contract
You also have the option of playing Huihahau at the back of the scrum in a few years Even if Jason Clark has a mortgage on that spot Huihahaus utility value starting or off the bench will be invaluable
You have to keep your options open for example using Wing and Luke in tandem at hooker or having Capewell and Sandow in the halves You can do it if you lose your depth
You cant go chasing results with average experience and releasing local or developed talent who will be better for longer and especially not to the Dogs who have feed off you in the past You are only promoting that further and they will come back for more
Huihahau is the perfect left winger and runner to start your sets of six They have Utai injury plagued why would you want to give them that advantage for another series of years
