So ASSUMING we lose both. Since end 2009 the last 5 seasons we have lost
JWH, Whare, T Rex, Hoppa Jr, Lussick, Gift, Choc, Rose, Rodney, Gower, Kite, Fa'aoso, King, Hodkinson, Galuvao, Robbo, Mauro. That is a ridiculous turnover in players for a topline club. Yes some have retired but Ballin and Buhrer are the only 2 forwards left from the 2011 GF squad. IF DCE and Foz go then someone needs to ask why we can't retain players especially since Toovey took over.
JWH - huge potential, loose cannon -
went for the dosh
,Whare - showed potential - had Lyon & Matai in front of him ( and they are still there ), Penrith in rebuild phase promise of 1st grade
She-Rex -
went for the dosh and the back rubs from Des, even the Dogs fans are luke warm on him.
Hoppa Jnr - real talent -
went for the dosh - parra paid overs + 2 years out with mission work
Lussick - some potential that he's never reached - Parra paid overs -
went for the dosh
Hodko -
went for the dosh - and we had DCE ready to step up
Robbo - would never have been on big coin - went to England for his payday & good luck to him
Kite - Penrith in rebuild phase, marquee signing for them, yes should have finished with us.
Joe G - retired
King - retired
Rose, Rodney, Gower, Richie, Mauro - with all due respect were just fillers
Choc - wasn't happy so we cut out the cancer
Gift - an average of only 15 games over the past 3 years, a decision was made and whether it's right or wrong time will tell.
As I wrote in another thead, pretty much all players leave for more money.
No team near the top of the tree could have kept these guys.
Yeah it sucks to see these guys playing for other teams but we've got Gutho and the Turbo's plus some other as yet unknowns coming through that need to be shown a first grade carrot and $$. We recruited Hiku from NZ u20's and within two years he's a walk up start for the Kiwis so there's an automatic contract upgrade.
Having a shot at Tooves regarding retention is low in my opinion, the first 7 on the list went went Des was in charge and he was the messiah apparently.
The salary cap, back ended contracts and our success is catching up with us, most top line players go for more money