The question is, who will replace Kite, and how much are we prepared to spend on him? If Kite is prepared to stay on say 200K, who would say no to that? Pretty reliable, won't get picked for rep footy. Get an origin prop and you lose them for 3 or 4 weeks a year. T Rex is someone who should be given some more time. I think he will be a Dave Taylor type player, big enough to play prop, but fast enough to be a wide running 2nd rower or even centre, just needs more development in defence.
Our problem is definitely in the props. Unless Vic Mauro can pile on another 5 to 10kg of muscle over the next off season, he may just be too small. Quite a polar opposite George Rose who is just too big, but still seems to be able to play with that weight. The only bonus for George is having 2 second rowers and a hooker that all play 80 minutes well. That leaves 3 forwards that need replacing, and 10 interchanges to do it, so none of them are really required to play big minutes. On average, 4 forwards on the bench and 3 on the field, each of those 7 players is required for about 35 minutes, fitness isnt that important, size and mobility is.
Robbo is 28, hardly that old. A 2 year deal on smart money would be great for the club, even if it is to cover injuries. Assuming TRex is in the forwards for good, you need atleast 2 decent covering backs, maybe even 3. Starting would be...
1. Stewart
2. Robertson
3. Lyon
4. Matai
5. Hopoate
As it is now.
Covering = Oldfield, Whare then others like davey, chapman, etc, should we hit dire straights.
Lyon is largely our back up half as well, if one of our current halves go down, lyon moves to 5/8.
