FearTheVee wrote:
Jammer is great, but he's not irreplaceable. There's nothing to suggest that sharing the workload around Puletua/LMS/Perry/Laffranchi/Clough won't be more effective than flogging Jammer to death every week. Those are 5 very high quality props. With Roby at hooker and the likes of Soliola and Wilkin in the back row, I don't share the Jammer doom and gloom. Our pack looks very good for 2012, even without Jammer.
Graham was impossible to replace. He is a leader, he is a talisman of our team, a one off. Laffranchi is a good player, but he's a back rower and we're still short in the front row. Thank god Puletua re-signed otherwise we'd have been in huge trouble. Let's just hope Perry gets fit, but when he's played this year he's been garbage. He has alot to live upto next year - he could well be key for us next year due to his size. LMS is a good player and so is Clough, although he's another converted back rower.
FearTheVee wrote:
We then have lots of pace around the backs, something we've whinged about for years. There's nothing to suggest that Lance won't offer as much, probably much more, than 2011 Leon for us. He certainly doesn't shy away from getting involved and I've seen him break down the best defences in the NRL over the years.
We don't really have any out an out speedsters do we? Foster isn't rapid, neither is Meli, Gardner or Shenton. Shenton has done OK, but like recruitment in other areas he hasn't been upto the standard of previous incumbents such as Lyon and Gidley and that's why our standards have dipped over the last 5 years. There's nothing to suggest Lance will offer as much either. We'll have to see on that one. He is talented, but I'm concerned he'll be our only experienced half back when he's not played there for 5 years. His career was made when he switched to full back and he's not looked back since. Playing alongside Pryce would've made his job far easier and he could've focussed on playing the more supporting role in the halves and playing a running game allowing Pryce to organise. There's alot of pressure on Hohaia next year especially with regards to the organising and kicking, which I've never really noted him for, certainly when I've watched him for NZ and NZ Warriors.
FearTheeVee wrote:
Eastmond of 2010 leaving is a blow. Eastmond of 2011 isn't.
If Eastmond had signed a new deal with us, it would never have been an issue. He would've been playing at 7 for us without the media and fans circus that came with the way he conducted himself.
FearTheVee wrote:
...and Meli is proving to be a very damaging centre.
I agree on that. An absolute revelation and I rate him as our best back player.
FearTheVee wrote:
Lomax (or Lance) at full back would add a dimension to our game we haven't had for years and years.
But neither will play there. Hohaia will play at 7 and Lomax will probably play at 6, with Wellens at full back. That makes us weaker as Pryce is better than them as half backs. Pryce and Lomax in the halves with Hohaia at 1 is a more dangerous combination and would've been exciting and quite well balanced.
FearTheVee wrote:
I think our 2012 squad could very well prove to be better than any of the last few years.
We've lost our best prop, we've lost our best strike player and we've lost one of the most talented young players in the game, despite his problems. We've replaced them with 2 back rowers (one who will play prop) and a full back (who will play in the halves). Don't get me wrong Flanagan, Laffranchi and Hohaia are good players but they're not as good as the three leaving. I reckon we're two or three quality players short certainly at prop and full back.
