Yeah agree Rev, we also cant have OB's with zero defensive skills. I know the game is now built around speed but having some defensive capability would be beneficial. I would still consider Sloan if we are up for a cheap option and it looks like we may have TPH coming along nicely in KOE, worth a thought.
Now that Flanno is gone there is a chance.
Was just going to say after I read this. I think his biggest issue was with Flanno. But maybe it's time to invest in youth. Heidke and Buchanan. If no wingers currently in the lower grades will be ready anytime soon, raid other clubs for young wingers yet to play first grade. Newcastle for example must have severe salary cap stress. Canberra looted us for young wingers. I wonder who they have coming through. Melbourne have two wingers from NZ rugby now? Both of them good and they have Coats out injured as well. There must be options.
There lays the biggest problem , the board the ex players still there , Doust , thats why we need a coach that had nothing to do with the club and wont be influenced by them .........
He is better but we still need to do better. Most fringe first grade backs are probably better than our present backs but they are still only fringe first grade. It's be ok to sign a couple for not more than 2 years.
He's the kind of player that will be good for us, shame we didnt sign him before... we can probably shoot for 1 more marquee back, esp if we can move Val on (which is no sure thing mind you), but if we can get some value for money maybe we can get 2 more OB's in.. honestly if we had the chance I'd buy 3, 4 even if you want a backup fullback.... rly dislike our outside back situation currently.. but we wont have the money or opportunity to buy our way out of everything.. and it does depend if Suli/Val are moved on and whether Gutho retiring is 100%.
All I can say is that I hope he has matured. I know he had a problem with Flanno but in all fairness Flanno put him on the wing and he became a SOO and AUS player. Also when he went to Parra he ended up on the wing. So really what was the issue ? Anyway if he comes back lets hope he comes back all in, because thats what we need out of him.
Love him or loathe him, we have missed his presence in the backline and in the air