That's right. It's actually hard to see how we could possibly get through next season without at some stage regretting the White decision.
Injuries happen, especially in the forwards. By my calculations it will only take 2-3 injuries before we see Natusch in first grade. I'm not saying he can't handle it, but that's not a lot of depth.
Exascerbating the problem is that the 2 bench props in Faas and Wicks are genuine impact players rather than starting props. If most other sides lost their starting props, they would bring up the interchange players (if they were in form) and ease some lower graders onto the bench for 20-30 minutes/match.
But we will probably end up promoting Taufua, Natusch, Ciraldo, Ling, and Mika etc straight into the run on side so that Faas and Wicks can stay on the bench.
If Cross was out you could start Simpson in the front row with Tolar, but I tell you what, one or two more injuries after that and things are looking very, very shaky against a quality forward pack.
The beauty of White (never thought I would start a sentence that way) is he's just a genuine, no-nonsense prop forward. He could sit in reserve grade all year, but if you threw him into a grand final he would run out there, tuck the ball under his arm and just keep hitting it up hard and straight until he was exhausted. And he's dirt cheap. Letting him go is just bad business imo.
