The early signs seem to be that Fitzgibbon will be staying at 13 next season and Westerman playing at 6 and learning his trade from him before taking over the jersey. On face value it looks like Agar plans to employ a very direct game-plan and not the more expansive one that has been touted.
Does this also mean that Lauiaki will be employed as the 5th prop next season?

Well Agar's direct game plan has ended up with him nominated for coach of the year, god knows how.

It would be plain wrong to use Westerman at 6 and Fitz at 13. If thats how agar wants to go then fair enough but the negatives of that are that we will be short in the back row without Lauaki, short up front without Fitz and boring as hell as we have been through having a prop at 13.

I'm hoping this is all a bit of a joke to keep teams guessing but who knows.

I like the sound of that!

i'd go for...

1. Jordan Tansey / Richard Whiting
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Shaun Berrigan
4. Kirk Yeaman
5. Will Sharp
6. Richard Horne
7. Sean Long
8. Mark O'Meley
9. Danny Houghton
10. Lee Radford
11. Danny Tickle
12. Craig Fitzgibbon
13. Joe Westerman

14. Danny Washbrook
15. Willie Manu
16. Epalhame Lauaki
17. Sam Moa

It's a possibility depending on the opposition, however Horne and Long will be first choice so he would need to do something else with Westerman then. I can see him playing 13 when the halves are fit with Fitz dropping to prop/backrow.

I don't think Westerman at 13 automatically means a more expansive gameplan but a 13 playing at 13 is much better than a prop/backrow playing at 13.

To be fair you will still have plenty of numbers in the backrow with Burnett, Kent, Green and Washbrook able to step up.
Also, if Westerman is to be the extra half back perhaps Agar will turn his attentions to signing another prop instead of a half back.

I wouldnt be much different.

I'd go with

1. Tansey
2. Briscoe
3. Berro
4. Yeamo
5. Sharp
6. Horne
7. Long
8. Radford
9. Washy/Rovelli
10. Fitz
11. Lauaki
12. Tickle
13. Westerman

14. Moa (pr)
15. O'Meley (pr)
16. Manu (2nd row)
17. Houghton

For me, O'Meley, Manu and Houghton are all better off the bench for impact. We lose some of their value by starting them imo.

I'm hearing he's on a Crusade for an aussie prop

I still think its a joke. Wouldnt be best use of our resources.

I dont think Agar has written off Rich Horne quite as quickly as everybody else!!!

In Agars defence, perhaps he thinks that Westerman is a better option at half than any of the players that he has been offered? Not perfect but it does seem to be a hard market this year so a bit of compromise/lateral thinking may be required.

I'd go with:-

1. Tansey
2. Briscoe
3. Berro
4. Yeamo
5. Sharp
6. Horne
7. Long
8. O'Meeley
9. Houghton
10. Fitz
11. Tickle
12. Manu
13. Westerman

14. Moa (pr)
15. Radford (pr)
16. Lauaki (2nd row)
17. Rovelli/Washbrook

I think Houghton has earnt the right to start and I am not certain who is better off the bench between Manu/Lauaki but would probably start with Manu. With Fitz capable of playing 8- mins each week it should mean we are able to rotate Ogre and Moa more effectively. The other option would be to play Whiting off the bench as cover for the backs and dispense with Radford as Fitz will just stay on.

Plenty of options and I certainly don't see the need for another prop as Dowes is not even in this equation as yet but would be used should Westerman have to go to 6.

I was very pleased when we signed Westerman as i thought it meant that we would start to see a change to our play and was actually looking forward to next season and watching a fair few games. If Agar goes and plays him at six and we basically play the same as last year then there is no chance i will be spending my hard earned on watching more of the dire crap weve had for the last few seasons.

He played a prop's role all last season.