[Gareth] wrote:
thats what i thought. not sure what the problem is with having a NZ international playing at 9 for his club and country
Exactly. The bigger issue for me is what we call our club by.
Halfback and centre are the two areas I'm most concerned by. We never replaced Martin Gleeson and his temporary replacement is leaving for Union. Marsh and Goulding are more squad players IMO and don't look like cutting it at centre for me. Josh Charnley definitely has the potential to make a brilliant centre IMO, but that could leave us short of fire power on the wing.
The other issue at centre is that we will need to replace George Carmont next year. He is on borrowed time and did Wigan a massive favour IMO when he extended his contract. I think we'll have to recruit externally because I can't think of any exciting prospects at centre in our academy.
At halfback you have Sam Tomkins at fullback and Tommy Leuluai at hooker and both are far more suited to those positions and should stay there. Paul Deacon needs replacing. Joe Mellor is the next in line, but he has yet to make a Super League appearance so it will take him time to adapt and adjust to the pace of Super League. You also don't want to put too much pressure on the lad. And next year we face a similar problem as we do in the centres with Brett Finch likely to leave. Sam Powell looks a useful player, but will he be ready? George Williams and Ryan Hampshire both have potential, but are a good three/four years off yet IMO.
Personally at centre I would give Josh Charnley a shot this year (as and when Joel departs). I'd try to mould him into a centre. Sure, you'd like to see him stay on the wing for another season, but I think the market forces our hand a bit. I'd be looking at Amos Roberts on the other wing once fully fit and firing. Stefan Marsh and Darrell Goulding cover both positions. When George Carmont leaves we'll have to find a replacement from either Super League or the NRL. There's just no-one else I can think of coming through who is good enough.
At halfback Joe Mellor is going to have to get some games. He will have to be spelled though at certain points in the season with either Leuluai, Tomkins or Lockers. My intention though would be to establish Josh Charnley as a first choice centre and Joe Mellor as a first choice halfback for 2013. I'd then do everything in my power to keep Brett Finch at the club for another two/three years, as well as Tommy Leuluai.
