manly al
First Grader
Also revolves around having Shu in the backrow [ or intended ] on pretty decent coin naturally and in regard to trying to retain Sam Fainu .Keppie and Tuilagi were both on decent coin and really needed to be walk up starts each week to justify their salaries. Instead, they were both dropped at different stages throughout the year or sat on the bench. As you suggest, the logic being that we can find cheaper options to fill the same role.
I still have concerns over the Fainu move. I get that they were both on the kinda money that demands they start each week and maybe they’re not ready but maybe they are?! I recall DCE winning a comp in his debut season in the NRL (he certainly had great players around him but still, it can be done).
If we don’t have success in the next couple of years, we could be looking back at who we cut loose. I hope not!
Sure that there would have been some preference to keeping Sam as he could probably manage 13 to prop but again the restrictions with other high contract value forwards and also naturally including Jake and Haumole, even Paseka .
Personally would prefer Sam over Alioia but then the problem of being able to off lead him .
Interesting if hypothetically Sam could have still be induced to stay with sufficient cap space and better money even if Latu chose to leave separately but very unlikely realistically .