Quote: Rocknrolla69er "I Think Hodgson sees their flaws, but doesn't have many options to drop them especially with the covid situations and injury. Might get away with dropping one or two but the youngsters clearly arnt ready Jude Ferriera/Cameron Scott are the only current backups to Fonua.
The same arguably with Sneyd at times, Houghton, Bowden, I think Hodgson feels Mcnamara, Johnstone and Brown either arnt ready or arnt good enough, time will tell. I feel we have a good team when all are fit as proven early season, but get injurys to 4 or 5 first teamers were pretty screwed as there's no quality depth.
Don't get me wrong I think Brown and Mcnamara will get there but I think Hodgson thinks the senior out of form players will play themselves into form, rather than give a young lad a run in the team
Only my opinion of course.
I'm starting to think for Fonua/Mau/Bowdens wages you could probably get about 5 solid players in who would offer more and add depth, shrewd cap management, we haven't done it in recent years and it's upto Hodgson to correct it.'"
Cant see Johnstone making it but the coach has to make a statement with senior players that that if their form dips for several weeks they will be replaced.
I know its difficult and i agree with you that he is expecting them to play themselves back into form but its not happening to Sneyd,Fonua Houghton,and particularly Bowden.
It would take a strong coach to drop Sneyd and Fonua but he could do by playing McNamara in his place and Scott for Fonua.
Playing Scott in his natural centre position for several weeks we may see the potential the club obviously sees in him.
Houghton needs to be benched once again and the obvious front row change is Brown for Bowden.