We have depth in the outside backs. The rising fullbacks on Millward's white board are not ready for 2018 and none are as good as Dugan right now. So it's a matter of reviewing the list of outside backs and either coming up with Dugan, Tedesco or someone else who can do the job.
If we go for Dugan we should offer 850k for a 1 or 2 year contract. The reason for this is that one or more internal candidates should be ready to fill the slot by then.
If we go for Mann again, then Dugan is a centre and a possible replacement fullback. I believe Mann at fullback would be a very economical decision however, we don't know how well he would go and most importantly he is not on Millward's white board.
Field and possibly Masters ARE in Millward's long term plans. It would be a risk in promoting either of these players to fullback in first grade. In my opinion Field is more suited to five-eighth.
If you don't know already, my preference is to go for Tedesco long term. Offer a similar price and term as Hunt and build our long term plans around these two marquee players.
The Storm have managed to keep three long term marquee player long term - Smith, Cronk and Slater. There is no reason why we can't keep Tedesco, Hunt and Dugan.
My suggestion for our backline is to:
Fullback
Sign Tedesco, and keep Dufty - 2
Wingers
Keep Macdonald, Nightingale and two local juniors - 4
Centres
Keep Dugan, Milne, Lafai and a local junior - 4
Halves
Keep Hunt, Widdop, Mann and Field - 4
14 backs from 30 tier-1 spots. Including 3 marquee players.
My suggestion for our forwards is to:
Props
Vaughan, Packer, Sims, Ah Mau, Kerr. 5
Hookers
Keep McInnes, Robson Havili. 3
Backrow
Keep Thompson, Frizell, De Belin, Host, Leilua, Aitken. 5
14 forwards from 30 tier-1 spots.
Additional Recruitment/retention
Recruit or promote 2 additional players to be included in the top-tier 30 players.
