Not a single player who left is the difference between us making the 8 or missing it. I would have been happy to keep Hastings, Luc (not for what the cowboys paid) and Garner, however I’m not batting an eyelid that any of them have left and we’ve replaced all of them with better players.
Certainly wasn’t my claim about the 8 but that Gus has better insight than anyone else here.
We definitely needed a stronger pack and much more go up front and that seems to be sorted.
But whether Klemmer is a good swap for Hastings, depends upon the form of another player. This is not a like-for-like arrangement. It’s got layers of contingencies added.
We should expect our forwards to deliver better field position to the backline in attack, have good game awareness etc and defend to at least factory. Wear down their opponents physically, create the gaps and spoil.
In theory, the objective will be to give Brooksy and co more options, more time and space on the fifth and less distance to the opposition try line. Or otherwise, for the forwards to position themselves and our opposition for the big play.
It is in the execution of these options that Brooksy is a concern.
They must be thinking that the expected improvement forward will make up for his recent errors and lack of finesse.
This would be the best pack he’s had for a long time.
If he can’t get his act together, we may struggle. I think it’s riskier than keeping Hastings who I think is better suited to a big pack and is the better half back. It will play out and be what it is.
I don’t have any sympathy for Brooksy based on his contract. He really needs to step up.
Id swap him for Moses instantly, a business decision.