They are going to have to use one of the 2024 middles as a second rower in 2025.
Specialist 2nd rowers in 2025
Capewell
Halasema
Laban
That's it
Guys who have plenty of experience there but finished last year as a middle
Barnett
Niukore
Ford
Tohu
To your point Neo one of those guys from that second list needs to go back to Second Row, Especially since Laban has not been convincing yet. Your bet of Niukore sounds smart. He did not move the needle as a middle this year.
According to rugby league project he largely did line up at second row this year anyway
10 games second row
1 Game front row
4 games bench (and played middle?)
Just for fun our complete list of Middles excluding Niukore is long
In Wrighty's priority order
1 JFH
2
Barnett
3 Walker
4 The artist formerly known as
Demitric Vaimauga
5 Clark not Clarke
6
Tohu Harris
7 Ford
8
Ale
9
Zyon Maiu’u
10 Bunty
Pack and Bench by the forum aligning on ideas shaping up to be
8 JFH
9 Egan
10
Barnett
11 Niukore - per Neo and traded notes
12 Capewell
13 The forum has not decided either Tohu or Clark - you would think Tohu gets the nod
14 Walker
15 Halasema
16 Sifakula
17 Lussick (Lock in Freddy of course we are playing a bench hooker as Egan gets concussed every 5th game he plays)
18 Clark - he will be in the side at the first injury.