Over the next two years off the top of my head, Burton, Hastings and Munster will be off contract. Probably a few more as it doesn't include anyone who comes onto the scene in that time or others I am not thinking of.
Having money to pursue any of the three of them is a good enough reason not to over pay Milford.
EDIT: Dylan Brown, Mitch Moses and to a lesser extent Brad Schneider also off contract in that period.
First two it goes without saying would be an upgrade on anyone at the club. Schneider did enough early in the year to interest me. Plays straight, good kick, great defence, strong runner. More upside than Clune and stuck behind Wighton and Fogarty.
And this is something Milford never has been and is unlikely to become imo.
I don’t think anyone wants to “over pay” Milford. We need to see what figures are being talked about for context. But I don’t think the Dolphins will be throwing him marquee money or anything given he’s coming off the scrap heap. If not for the Dolphins I think we’d be getting him cheap…now it’s whether he’s still value.
I agree I would prefer to have Munster/Burton/Moses in that order. But I don’t see us realistically landing any of those three. They will already get top dollar from much more appealing and stronger clubs. We would have to have a new Ben Hunt to the Dragons moment with them, re-defining the pay bracket. I don’t think we can do that either with so much $ in Ponga.
Moses is apparently already being offered $1m a year to extend at Parra…and the Tigers are going to bid hard for him too. What would it take to get him here then? $1.2mn+ ? For Mitch Moses, who is second-tier, and has never won anything.
Munster will be offered $1.2mn+ by the top clubs in an area he wants to live in. Burton I also think is a pipe dream.
Dylan Brown is in no way a 7 so no I wouldn’t chase him. Then we are talking about a reserve grader in Schneider who I agree looks ok but is a very different conversation.
Hastings I think could be gettable. Because the Knights is not a downgrade from the Tigers, and he is not going to chased as hard by other clubs.
I generally of course agree it’s best to be patient with your money and wait for the right player to pop up. I just want to be realistic about who is on the menu.