Yeah I know, but I’d like to think our recruitment team has enough forethought to have taken that into account in our off season decisions and have left at least some coin available for a solid back line purchase given the Jenko situation may not be resolved either way for many months.
It kind of hit pretty late notice, though... I, too, would feel better with a more solid back-up to Jennings, over Oldfield, or Opacic, but I just don't think it's feasible...
Considering we already have Fergo , Jennings , Blake, Sivo signed for 2021, I am not sure why anyone wouId think we wouId have the ability to sign a top line back.....the best we can hope for until Mennings case is finalised, is probably a rookie with potential or an experienced journey player like Oldfield/ Opacic.
What year are you basing this back line off? JAC is with Melbourne in 2021. And Hopoate is off contract at the end of 2021.
MJ wouldn't of been signed for more then 250k imo. So even when we get his cash I doubt it is going to be much more then that to spend on a centre. My guess is someone around the 300k mark.
I mentioned this in another thread, but for $300k I would have considered signing Widdop to play 5/8 and moved Drown to centre. I think at centre Drown uses his best assets (running and defence)
My bad. Thought JAC was signed for next season. Oh well hopefully Barrett is dumb enough to resign Hoppa
I reckon it could be a bit more maybe between $300 to $400k. it’s not so much getting his cash, it’s about not wanting 3 centres in the squad on $300k to $500k or so ( Mennings, Blake and a replacement for Mennings), it will distort the squad structure. Or What happens if we did that and Mennings is cleared ?
Fergo is on a reported $500k/year, Penrith could still be topping up Blake wage, sivo could still be on a modest wage as he was signed before anyone knew of him, and most of the forum were claiming MJ’s two year extension was a master stroke as it would of been a contract below his worth. I think we should of pursued a quality back and maybe not signed 1 or 2 of the players we did.
while no fan of the Drown to centre idea, I suspect there is some “not reported in the media” issue that is stopping clubs from signing Widdop on $300k. Maybe injuries? He is a fair player and that’s cheap for a half, gee Green can still get a contract at 34 (he goes ok).
so the club should have signed a top 13 back, just in case one of our players is suspended for 2021? If Mennings hadn’t been suspended, I reckon our depth and future options were looking good. Fergo / Sivo off contract so ability to go to the market for 2022, a rookie with some potential in Haze. Two depth players added to the squad in Oldfield / Opacic (not superstars but can provide cover) plus 2 very promising juniors training with the NRL squad.
Any Menko replacement we sign from when he got suspended was going to be a Waqa style pickup. And in our situation, it’d be a sellers market. I think we stop gap with Opacic/Dunster at least to start season. Then hope, perhaps fast track, the Penisini is capable sooner than expected
Precisely. Just cause he’s a decent runner doesn’t mean it’d work in any position. He could play there but I don’t think it’s his best position nor what’s best for the team
There's no reason it should've been below his worth in 2020-21, just below his worth when we signed him (while cheating the cap) in 2016 probably on overs. The way salaries at the top end are so much more than the ones at the bottom end, a couple of backup players' salaries don't come close to matching the salary of an 80 minute top 17 player such as a centre. You need to remove the minimum salary from each player's amount when judging their actual cost, because the squad positions all need to be filled. So a top 17 player on $300k (for example) is $185k above minimum. Two quality backups on $150k (again, for example) are only $35k over minimum each. You would need to sack five such players (replacing them with actual minimum contract players) to free up $175k to buy a top 17 player on $290k.
You only have to compare the time and space Gutherson is afforded on the left as opposed to the right to see what Dylan Brown brings to the table.
