You would think though, that he would learn from all the success he had at Roosters - which was achieved by keeping a core group together then bringing in some hired 'guns'. Maloney, Carney, Cronk, etc - He spent 90% of his career at a club that had success because of smart recruitment.
On what experience is he basing his current plan on? Not saying I disagree, but would be nice to have someone new to be excited about next year.
Like Kaufusi last year?
Need to have the right marquee blokes available to take a swing at them. Can't get a Hynes every year. Even the roosters can't, having struggled to replace Cronk despite all the spending power in the world.
I 100% agree with the bolded bit, that would be great, I just don't think it was really there.
Most of the possible signings for next year either weren't realistic (too pricey, don't suit needs) or aren't actually that much to get excited about.
2024 gaines, per Zero Tackle
Baker, Sasagi, Smithies, Weekes, Crichton, Curran, Salmon, Taaffe, Xerri, Averillo, Farnworth, Flegler, Keeley, Palasia, Brooks, A James, Jax Paulo, Talau, Waddell, Harris-Tevita, Tuivasa-Sheck, J Cartwright, Cogger, Jenkins, Pearce-Paul, Pryce, Clifford, Lahrs, Vailea, Harper, Tuilagi, Alomoti, Laurie, Price, Schneider, Keppie, Wighton, Flanagan, Sele, Leniu, Murphy, Young, Fainu, Fainu, Sezer, Sullivan
Sharks and Storm both none
How many of those are actually legit exciting?
Most of the good ones are outside backs which, realistically, are surplus to requirements, Crichton, Farnworth, even Averillo, Talau, RTS or KPP - I think between Ramien, Talakai, Iro, Tracey and maybe Dykes we just don't need to splash big on a centre.
Curran or Tuilagai could have been good from a depth perspective although both available due to deficiencies.
Flegler would have been
great, Leniu yes also, although I think Tommy Hazelton and Hunt can bring plenty of grunt off the bench for combined longer minutes at probably combined similar or less cost. A Keppie, or Sele, or Waddell? Maybe useful, hardly exciting.
Obviously squeezing in Wighton somewhere would be great, but no prospect of that happening.
Our core is extremely promising, like you and CHOGM said. Need to keep advancing that so when the marquee blokes becomes available we are an attractive destination. Grab those couple of vets being squeezed out of their clubs to complete a grand final side.
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