I can't be too disappointed with the overall season since I never expected the Warriors to finish top four, but that was certainly an awful ending to it. The biggest problem is that I can't see how we can get near a premiership title with Rovelli as our halfback. He just never seems to have any composure in pressure situations and when the games get tight he rarely seems to know what to do. How many times have we seen him get the ball on the last, shuffle around a bit, then throw a desperate pass off to someone in a worse position in the hope that they'll do something? He might well be a useful player as part of the hooker rotation, but unless something drastically changes I don't think he belongs in the halves.
Of course just what to do with the halves is a rather thorny issue even if we decide Rovelli can't be there. I've always wanted to see Hohaia as 7, but I can't see it happening and to be fair apart from a few flashes of brilliance he hasn't really grabbed his opportunities after getting a few games there for the Lions. I suppose Fein could be moved to the halves, but I've never been very impressed with him there and it seems like a backwards step.On the plus side I think that Witt has been much better for us than I expected and it's great to have confidence in a Warriors kicker for once. Not to mention a main kicker who actually has a big boot on him.
I think I'd like to see Witt as halfback next year partnered by someone playing more of a running game, almost like a third centre. My top choice would probably be Ropati with Mannering and Tate in 3 & 4, but given how often Ropati seems to get injured Hohaia might need to play that role too. We won't have all that much depth, but I think that a backline of McKinnon, Crockett (or another winger as I'm not really sold on him), Tate, Mannering, Vatuvei, Ropati and Witt would be a pretty decent attacking unit. Especially backed up by a couple of Fein/Henderson/Hohaia/Rovelli in the hooker position.
