You can make that argument for pretty much every position on the field.
Besides the 3 players being released have already been replaced. Rapana has replaced Walker, Cust has replaced Smith and Tindall was effectively replaced by Briscoe last year.

Can't keep someone on Walkers wage as 3rd choice, even as backup its not worth it, we have to do better with our cap management.

Last year, we did give up, but Pele was righly released, poor attitude, had to move those type of people out of the club.

Also isn't it still the case that if a player plays 1minute they count on the cap. I seem to remember we got stung years ago for Andy Last playing a game and then his coaching wage counted on the cap and took us over.

So paying some to be backup is pointless if you then can't actually play them in an emergency.

Just seen an article on how we nearly signed Zach Dockar Clay (played for KR in the championship) for the 2024 season, but he decided to stay at Roosters. I presume it was instead of Nu Brown. Just shows how clueless our recruitment was, another utility pivot. When we crying out for a scrum half to replace Clifford, we ended up with Walker and Brown.

Saw that and thought the same, it was one of them clickbait articles but seemed like a direct quote from him that he was about to join Hull and and changed his mind. I suppose in the clubs defence it’s pretty clear that there was very little quality 7s that would have been willing to come and play SL.

We went for Clune as the first target and got blown out the water by Hudds. He’d have been a lot better but he’s on a big 3 year contract at Hudds. He hardly set the world alright and had very little first grade experience anyway they’ve probably got buyers remorse now. Shows just how tough a market it was, in hindsight maybe not letting Clifford go until we had something sorted might have been a better move, that would have been risky though.