Thought you'd stopped going anyway.

Think you're right. If Rovelli will only come on a 2 year deal, I'd go with Westerman and Tansey covering the halves and Whiting to FB. Wouldn't compromise the opportunity to potentially replace both halves in 2012.

We haven't really been able to properly replace one half back in the last 4 years so 2 in one off season is asking a lot.

I still wouldn't be surprised to see one of horne or long (possibly both) with us in 2012

Part of what has put us in difficulty has been previous recruitment of offering the likes of Matt Sing and Todd Byrne deals beyond one year (no disrespect intended). We have a real opportunity to re-shape our halves for 2012 and I'll be dissapointed if that is jeopadised by giving the likes of Rovelli a 2 year deal.

fitzy is a great at what he does which is to gives us graft but quality down the middle of the pitch, the way fitzy played last season was basically a prop but not making as many carries as a prop but obviously playing 80 mins making numerous amounts of tackles. so for me is just makes sense to use fitzy as a prop to replace cusack and then put westy at 13, anyway i think this is how we should line up for next season
1.tansey
2.sharp
3.berrigan
4.yeamen
5.briscoe
6.horne
7.long
8.omeley
9.houghton
10.fitzy
11.tickle
12.manu
13.westy
subs
14.radders
15.lauaki
16.moa
17.whiting

like Mrs Barista said i woundt give rovelli a 2 year deal but woundt mind if he signs a 1 year deal as back up. so if he does come then whiting and rovelli would battle it out for the last bench spot but not sure how i would go because if you have whiting then you can rotate him with the backrowers and hes there for any of the three quaters, but with rovelli it gives him the chance to prove himself for maybe a future deal and he can rotate with houghton which may well benifit danny in the long term. i do feel we have a better squad this coming season then last, will be good if we can a back up half ideally rovelli on a 1 year deal and with another 4-5 young ones given contracts the squad looks alot better i feel.

Exactly. That's why I don't understand the calls for Lauaki to play in the front row instead of Fitzgibbon, it's what Fitzgibbon's already doing. He's a tackling machine down the middle, shifting him out wider would be a waste if anything.

Yup, and a number of seasons before that.

Likewise, playing Lauaki as a prop would be a waste. His tackling technique and defensive workrate can be a little suspect, and he always looks more effective as a wide runner than crashing up the middle.

?? Reported as a simple clean out operation.

I know what you mean.

When it comes to cover for the halves next season then we do have some decent options.

If Long/Horne are out then I would go with:-

1) Rovelli/an other in and Washy to the bench as impact hooker.

2) If no new signing then Tansey to the halves and Whiting to FB.

3) Westerman to 6, move Fitz to 13 and bring in Dowes or bring Whiting/Washy in to 13 to replace Westerman

Plus there is always Berro and Washy, either way we have lots of options but would prefer some proper cover brought in.

there's a big, big difference in playing a "third prop" at loose man and playing the role of a prop imo. Fitz is/was a world class 2nd rower - why not play him there?

That's right. Playing as a third prop at loose man, he was doing 80 minutes every week. If he was moved up to the front row he could be spelled, making him even more effective and less likely to pick up an injury.