It's a fair and reasonable question. Are you suggesting we don't extend a contract for another season for
SJ? If so, we would be going with TMM and my preference would be CHT at 6. Which basically leaves us Metcalf as back up. Or we play TMM 7, Metcalf 6 and CHT at 14 which leaves us a bit bare as well for backups. We would need to sign a minimum of one but ideally two reserve grade halves in my opinion. We are a bit stuck at the moment with an aging but still serviceable
SJ and no juniors coming through. A bit like the Tohu situation but we have a number of players now pushing for that spot.
The alternative is to surround
SJ and TMM with youthful, energetic players so that they can just direct and control the game. Reynolds at the broncos is a great example of this. Which means some tough calls on players like Tohu, Jazz, Bunty, Etc
Either way works for me. I don't think we can do this again next year with the same sort of selections and expect to compete. We may win a majority of the game stats but will likely continue to lose the main game stat that matters.
If you could, I would go with TMM and CHT in the halves with Metcalf backup, sign an up and comer 7 to play NSW cup and cover injury, medically retire Tohu, promote the youthful forwards more and have jazz and bunty on lowest contracts we can to play and mentor in NSW cup. Look towards MGT and Ali as centres going forward. RTS on one wing, maybe Taine on the other?
It's a fine line between developing and moving forward, and stagnating.