: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:45 am
It depends what we want - long term success or a good couple of seasons quick.
In our current squad, we have the makings of a very good side. however, the game V saints showed that our starting 13 is very strong when on form, but our 17 is weak.
On 20 minutes, Mcnamara subbed Scruton, the newton, then Burgess and the wheels fell off!! Koppy and Worrincey scored tries, but we looked weaker with them on and the other three off. Worrincey ws almost solely responsible for one of their tries by sprinting out of the line and missing a tackle. with Morrison and Nero added to the 17, I can see us, if everyone is fit, doing something special and getting to the final!
Are Koppy and Worr worth persisting with? they are young and British, son the answer is a resounding yes!
I heard first hand Peter Hood bigging up McNamara and insisting he was the man to do a job. Not to the press mind, but to the Saints directors, before the match!
I just wish the stuff I heard in the directors box on Friday was put out in the media! It was quite frank and inspiring. It was along the lines that all Caisley and Noble were bothered about was the first team squad and that money was spent bringing in players on top money rather than developing our own youngsters and that this was a recipe for disaster! Also that 3 years in the plan was at the point of really bearing fruit and that the aim is to have the bulk of the squad having come through our own youth system.
My opinion on the Deacon/Godwin/Jeffries/Rinaldi/Newton debate is that we have to consider value for money, longevity and who is available. I would lose Deacon! he is fit less than injured and in the last three years that we have built our team around him we have had little success. The options are there. I would keep Rinaldi all season and try to tie Newton up on a long deal, as there are few hookers of his ability around. jeffries is a 7 not a 6 and his partnership with Sykes looked good on Friday. it changed the way we played and saints did not expect that. menzies in the centres looks better than Sykes ever did so that is a no brainer until Nero is fit!
stick with a winning team, get Nero in for Sol and bin him like we did Tupou! that would free a massive amount of cap space to bring in a robotic type second rower/prop, who would complemenet what we already have.
