I think Fitz also has to continue to show the same ruthless streak which saw him tap SJ, Dugan, Woods etc on the shoulder at end of last yr.
Imo were still 4-5 players off a premiership (but dont bite my head off - just my opinion).
Including a prop, right sided 2nd rower, 5/8.
And for me that starts with tapping bif money players like Wade & Fifita on the shoulder this season, plus letting likes of Nikora, Williams & Hiroti go as well
Im also still not sure on Hanney - even as an assistant.
Think.we need to continually strive for improvement off the field - and if we cant get Ciraldo id be targeting Adam O'Brian once he get the inevitable flick from Newcastle. Been assistant at both Chooks and Storm - and some coaches make better assistants than head coaches. (Pricey being a great example).
No headbiting, just extending the conversation, what I say doesn't make anything you say wrong it's just my thoughts
I don't know if we are 4 or 5 off unless you are considering that players we already have look like they could come up to that level.
I think they can. If you put 5 better players into our first choice 17 that would be fantastic but I'm not sure that would be an affordable option.
BHU Rudolf Hunt Tolman Williams Finucane is a
very solid front row basis. Even allowing for say Williams and Tolman to leave too there is a very good core there, with a few having growth in them still.
2nd row is definitely a question at the moment. I think Teig and Nikora is about the bare minimum of what we want there, an upgrade on Nikora would be nice. If you had Teig and Nikora ideally that would mean you had some money to upgrade...
...Moylan. He is only good enough if he is a Chad... ie cheap enough that our strength in other areas makes up for it. With our current team makeup 5/8 is def a position that we should be looking at improving (such limited kicking and injury concern still issues for me) but I also think no point chasing him off
just in case Trindall does better, or some other random pleb does better.
Fitz will know if he thinks Trindall can do better or not. Obviously I'm open to go the pleb route if Moylans contract is looking like being too much but they need to either be a placeholder until we can get who we want or someone we really like the potential of.
I think our back 5 is heading towards being good enough, our middle is heading towards being good enough, our halves are good enough (provided Moylan at right price).
I know it is fun to pick on Hiroti but singling him out as someone who needs to leave seems like it's probably not going to be very impactful. I can't imagine he is on much if anything above minimum wage. There are perhaps some youngins like Dykes, Lualua, Iro who can come into his spot in the 30 and be adequate winger 5, centre 4s but they are going to be approx same price and like Hiroti the hope is not to play them.
If you think one of those guys or some other min wager can fill the squad spot better then no worries, just I don't think he really fits in with the needs a tap on the shoulder like Dugan, SJ, Woods comment.
Which leads me onto my next point... most premierships come with some injury luck too. Look how well cowboys are going. They have one injury currently (Dunn). Panthers are a powerhouse regardless but they have To'o due back next week and Leoto the week after as their only injuries. Certainly helping both teams do well.
