Re: Realistic Targets For Next Season : Sun Mar 24, 2019 12:50 pm
If it’s just a hypothetical scenario I’d respond as follows.If Lockers feels up to another season, we simply have to keep him.
Minkin? I fail to see any improvement on what we already have and I’d rather keep Sarginson than bring him in.
Burgess? No wonder you say contentious. Releasing Burgess would be crazy not just contentious. He’s by far one of our best attacking threats and is our best winger.
If it’s blank canvas time I’d say we need to tie Lam down to at least 3 years and give him the time and freedom to bring in players that suit his philosophy.
Personally, I’d release Powell first, then Clubb and Tautai. If TL retires and Williams moves on we have some cap space to spend.
We simply have to prioritise halfbacks and we need to go marquee. If Williams goes then that’s where the biggest investment needs to be. 2 top class imports would be my preference as there is genuinely nobody in SL I’d want us to get. Snyed is just not for me (debated in rumours thread). Gale perhaps if he’s over his injury issues. Trueman or Richardson maybe but by no means the ready made and finished products.Only one out of those three.
If we nail down 2 good half backs with Shorrocks, Woods and Smith in reserve, then we need 2 proven props. With the reduction is subs, Saints mobile props are having a field day. I like Bullock and Flower and they’d be my starters next season. We need to add mobility and size which is not easy. A Luke Thompson type would be perfect.
A centre would be my 3rd priority. I’ve said before (not everyone agrees) but with some good coaching and a full preseason I think Joe Burgess has all the attributes I’d want in a centre. He’s fast, big, strong, athletic and can pass to the right and tackle. It’s just his positional sense that needs to improve, hence the coaching and Pre-season needed. If we are to replace Sarginson then someone like Branden Williame or Bill Toupu would be good but hard to see them being released.
Our squad is very left side biased and in an ideal world we’d balance it out with some naturally right sided players.
As you say though mate, all pie in the sky but nailing down the long term coach has to come first. If not Lammy, Trent Barrat yesterday said he wants to coach in Superleague!
