McKinnon is close to the best if not the best support fullback in the game. The problem as I see it is that he doesn't have the same playmaking ability as Webb. Right now Ropati doesn't have to create much because of the combinations of Fien/Gatis, Rovelli and Webb. It allows Ropati to play as a running five eight which is where he's at his best. Losing Webb means there's going to be extra pressure on Rovelli and Fien/Gatis to create that bit extra which is here we could reach a hurdle.
Either Ropati steps up and creates a bit more in 2007 or we'll see Witt be given a chance to press his claims. That's where I see next year heading.
As for our forward pack, Guttenbeil is a way bigger loss than Faumuina. Not only has Awen's ball playing been exceptional but he's being doing it without taking too many risks and is largely mistake free. I'm not too worried about our pack to be honest. Tuimavavae has shown some nice off loading skills, and Price aside from doing his usual work has become quite adept at popping the ball before the line. Luck has surprised me with some of his skills as well. If Lauaki continues to improve he'll fill the void left by Faumuina.
For me though forward play is about breaking the line first and then worrying about the off load. That's where I've been impressed with Anderson over the last month. He hasn't produced the off loads but he's been very hard to stop when he's had the ball in hand. Any player is capable of an off load, but they only come after the line is bent back and momentum has been created. I'd rather see 8 players with 1 off load each a game rather than a single player with 4-5 of them and nothing from anyone else. It's a team game and I think the way league goes round in circles with its progress, the next couple of seasons at least it's going to be the best teams that get the results rather than the teams that rely on brilliant individuals.