IMO
Barney is basically the new AFB, without the drama and suspected dressing room turmoil
We played our best footy with Afoa starting last year, so we could go for
Barney/Afoa, Ford/Laban/Capewell share second row, Walker 13, Marata/Jazz/Ale bench
Tohu can be prop depth with Afoa, 20min spells going hard
Compared to last year
+ve
Barney upgrade -ve AFB
+ Ford reduced errors -
Barney 2023 version moved out
+ Capewell - Marata second row
+ Marata impact - his foot
+ Jazz healthy - Tohu zombie
+ Ale upgrading - Curran
+ Laban/
Zyon Maiu’u depth - Sifakula
So currently slightly in the negative due to Marata and Capewell unable to play at all, if Marata can sort out his injury/weight adaptation, Capewell is basically the replacement for
Barney 2023 version, growth of Ford/
Zyon Maiu’u/Laban probably put us as even as last year, depending on if AFB comes back as a beast, or if he’s gone if we can use him to bargain for a gun this year, both scenarios would put our pack in a plus territory compared to 2023