Mugwump wrote:
Are you QUITE sure about this. For each Bradley Clyde there is a Paul Anderson? It's a one-to-one relationship? Or are you playing word games and obfuscating the truth that for every Paul Anderson there are two Bradley Clydes or three, or four?
I haven't got time to reel off a full list of players and compare those who have suffered badly at 30+ to those that haven't, but there are plenty of players who have given plenty of value in their 30's. Some examples at Saints - Kevin Ward, Keiron Cunningham, Darren Smith, Darren Britt, David Fairleigh, Sean Long. At other clubs - Menzies, Hodgson, Carmont, Barrett, Lam etc.
Mugwump wrote:
And Manu is the ONLY option we could pursue? We couldn't, say, save money on him and invest it in a half-back? I think our pack is pretty decent right now. What value can Manu provide that a creative half-back couldn't outweigh?
I didn't say he was the only option, I said he is the type of player we need. Our pack is decent, but it doesn't have a great deal of impact apart from Soliola and sometimes Puletua when he's played in the back row. The rest are all grafters really, none are gamebreaking players. Manu brings that ability to a side. Manu is certainly superior to Flannery.
Regarding half backs, well we've just signed Hohaia to play there and should Nathan Brown want a half back, I'm sure he'll be on the lookout for one, but without any quota places who do you bring in? We'd have to release someone (paying out their contract) to even entertain the idea. Look at the OOC list from non quota players and I'd say Manu is arguably the best player on the list who would add to our squad.
