Quote: NickyKiss "Hoffman- Hock
Coley- Fielden
O'Carroll- Dudson
Davies- Flower
Gleeson- Joel Tomkins
Deacon- Mellor/Powell/L Tomkins
Thats how it looked but now Joel looks likely to leave so he may be replaced by Goulding or Roberts or according to the League Weekly a new centre from the NRL with any luck.
Overall we're no weaker imo and if guys like Mellor show what they can do we'll be stronger.
'"
I completely disagree with that last sentence.
Although Hock can be great on the day I doubt he will ever show the consistency that Hoffman had and I doubt he will be able to work with Finch as well. He just isn't as smart a player. If Joel were staying and was moving back to the pack then I'd be less concerned because I think people have forgotten how good a back row forward he is. He was outstanding in 2010.
Fielden. He's been out a year and if he can match Coley's work rate and get back up to speed OK but there must be doubts about that.
Dudson - O'Carroll. Well I think everyine says Dudson has potential but needs work and I think O'Carroll was well underrated here. So in the short term I don't think Dudson matches up but he could be there pretty quick.
Flower just look poor.
Gleeson - Tomkins. Even if Joel stays playing at centre again will be the compromise it was last season. He needs to go back to the pack if he stays to make up for Hoffman going. So at centre we are not goods enough either way.
Deacon- Mellor/Powell/L Tomkins. Definitely not on a par at all. Even if it were a good ides to go from zero SL experience to holding down a half back slot full time which it isn't they just have not got the experience of a player like Deacon.
It is simply not credible to lose players of the calibre of Hoffman, Deacon, Joel and Coley form a squad, replace them with Lauaki and the two Crusaders players and say we are no weaker.
You are also making a rod for Wane's back because to say he has a squad no weaker puts the expectation as high as last season. It is not fair to expect Wane to do as well with this squad.