I've been looking at our contracted players and I think we currently have 8 who would be on minimum contracts or very close to minimum. Only Kit, Luke and Sol Saukuru are contracted next year.
Sol Faataape
Josh Feledy
Kit Laulilii
Luke Laulilii
Justin Matamua
Sol Saukuru
Brandon Tumeth
Tony Sukkar
Obviously the more minimum contacted players you have the more you can spend on others eg Luai $1.2 million. Most clubs, if not all, would have 4-5 players in their top 30 on minimum or close to it. The trick, it seems, is to make the top 24 0r 25 as strong as possible. Next season we have Kit, Luke, Heamasi Makasini and Sol Saukuru in our top 30 (20 as it stands if Galvin is released). I'd think we might add Heath to that group and perhaps Tony Sukkar so we'll say 5 on mimimum or close to it. If we add KPP and Adam Doueihi extends a year that'd make it 24 players with 6 of them being the young guys already mentioned. So we would need another 5 or 6 players.
So who are some of the possibilities?
Adam Reynolds *
Taylan May *
Tyrone May
Josiah Pahulu *
Harley Smith-Shields
Billy Burns
Ativalu Lisati *
Lazarus Vaalepu
Tui Kamikamica *
Grant Anderson
Viliami Vaelia
Semi Valemei
Harrison Hassett
Wiremu Greig
Asu Kepoa
Corey Allan
Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Jacob Host
Bunty Afoa
There are obviously some others but from what I can gather this list presents some who are off contract or being spoken about as possibilities. I think the May brothers, or just Taylan, is a good chance of signing. If so it'd leave 3 or 4 spots to fill. Ativalu Lisati is from Sydney and his partner is Chris pio. He's also stuck behind some good ones in Melbourne. Reynolds for one year would be great as would Kamakamica or Pahulu for a couple of years.
