5/8th has to be Hiku. Not just because he is potentially well suited to job, but because of how it would other affect players. Consider if the following players were made 5/8:
1. Tom T: It's a huge ask for a rookie to play out of position as 5/8th and be in front line of defence while his body is still growing. Let him get used to NRL on wing. Plus he gives us badly-need speed/height on wing and back-up for snake during games.
2. Lyon: Why disrupt one of our real strengths (centre) when there is already so much disruption with next hooker/ 5/8th. Also, Lyon acts as a play-maker foil for DCE when DCE under pressure.
3. Parcell: Great potential, but barely any NRL experience. Let him get used to NRL off the bench as back up to API.
4. Mateo: We need a ball-playing option in forwards. He is it.
5. Issac Johns: A back-up who should be encouraged to put as much pressure on Hiku as possible for the job and fill in during injuries/rep season
6. Moltzen: Best used as cover for outside backs.
7. Wright: Too raw.. years off regular first-grade spot.
8. Stewart: again why weaken a strength by moving Snake to 5/8th. He acts as second 5/8th anyway (better ball player than Foran ever was) and body too frail for front-line tackling.
1. Tom T: It's a huge ask for a rookie to play out of position as 5/8th and be in front line of defence while his body is still growing. Let him get used to NRL on wing. Plus he gives us badly-need speed/height on wing and back-up for snake during games.
2. Lyon: Why disrupt one of our real strengths (centre) when there is already so much disruption with next hooker/ 5/8th. Also, Lyon acts as a play-maker foil for DCE when DCE under pressure.
3. Parcell: Great potential, but barely any NRL experience. Let him get used to NRL off the bench as back up to API.
4. Mateo: We need a ball-playing option in forwards. He is it.
5. Issac Johns: A back-up who should be encouraged to put as much pressure on Hiku as possible for the job and fill in during injuries/rep season
6. Moltzen: Best used as cover for outside backs.
7. Wright: Too raw.. years off regular first-grade spot.
8. Stewart: again why weaken a strength by moving Snake to 5/8th. He acts as second 5/8th anyway (better ball player than Foran ever was) and body too frail for front-line tackling.