Our pack is a good one, up there with the best in the NRL and provided they stay at least relatively healthy will go a long way to improving our competitiveness. Our halves should be a force. We have the current Aussie test halfback and LG will be hungry to prove he has what it takes.
The problems start in the backs. In all reality only Tom would be a walk up start in any other NRL side, including the Chooks (
Edit: they may have Tedesco, but if you think Robinson wouldn't put Tom straight into his centres or on the wing.....think again). Truth be told, Walker would be too if there wasn't a big legal cloud hanging over his head.
Jorge Taufua may be very hard to stop from close range, and his runs from the back can be quality if he holds on to the ball. But his defence is hit and miss while everyone knows that he is not fast for a winger, his hands in general play are suspect at best and he is woeful under a high kick.
Brad Parker hasn't exactly set the rugby league world alight with his performances in first grade, while his game in the last round of 2018 against Brisbane was nothing short of a total disaster. Last year he didn't improve, in fact, he went backwards IMO.
Suli is only 20 and is at his 3rd club in 2 years, having already gained a reputation for being lazy both in games and with his attitude to training. In all reality, Manly is probably his last chance, at least in the NRL. But like Parker, he hasn't exactly shown a lot that says he should be an automatic selection either at centre or on the wing.
Of the rest, the next choices would probably be Garrick, Elliot and Funa, all relative unknowns who have struggled to crack it for a first grade spot up until now.
I tend to agree with
@Sue . If Dylan Walker doesn't play then our backline is easily the weakest in the NRL, even if Turbo plays his best week in, week out. Walker playing won't solve all of our backline problems, but having him there makes us better than not having him.