I thought it’d be interesting to guess at how Richo is thinking about the club. It’s obvious to me that his tenure at the Tigers will most likely be his last, it’s basically his last hurrah, a final(s) legacy in some ways. So how is he, & Benji etc, going to go about it? Well, he’s come in last year and looked at the club as a whole, the admin & football side of things. As we were 2 time wooden spooners at that time & followed it with another he must’ve understood how big a task it’d be, it wasn’t going to change overnight but could he change it over the following 3 years of his tenure? Maybe he’s looked back at his Souths days. So he begins, with Benji, at bringing a more positive culture to the playing group, in comes Luai, the “Asitasi” leader of change with Tito of course, winners. They bring in a few others to help that change too & offload some others. They tweak here and there, putting some of the pieces of the puzzle together, in comes KPP to hopefully add impact on the right edge. They build depth at the club, signing guys to strengthen the top 30 as well as bringing through the likes of Makasini, Luke Laulilii, Haywood, Godinet, Tapau-Moors etc whilst also adding Andrews & Roberts. Surrounding those guys with better quality as they come through. But what else is needed? Centres & middles, Taylan May comes in, a risk but potentially a fix as well. But what is the priority now? The Sam Burgess & GI of Souths back in 2014, the class that can provide the success Richo wants before he’s finished. Ok, extend Bula & make sure he’s here 2027 & beyond, he’s the GI. But who is the Burgess? Well, there’s not really that kind out there available for 2026 but there’s a few off contract for 2027 Richo’s final year in charge. He knows he wants a Burgess but it’ll cost so what to do? Let’s take a bit of a hit now, offload a few & front load others with the money freed up. Let’s have a crack at Tino or Haas, a NAS or Koloamatangi or? That’s the Burgess, that’s what will bring success.
Perhaps the Sam Burgess needed is already there, Samuela. Maybe a good, solid middle is needed rather than an elite one. Or do they see Samuela as the middle come 2027 & look at a Kikau? My guess is they’ll look at a middle & keep Samuela on that left edge.
If we have 600ish to spend I feel like with a few tweaks we might be able to jag a NAS perhaps for 2026 but not another marquee prob
Possibly although I think that might be unders given other clubs need middles eg Eels, Knights, Manly.If we have 600ish to spend I feel like with a few tweaks we might be able to jag a NAS perhaps for 2026 but not another marquee prob
Here’s a question, if given the choice between a Kikau for $750,000 a year over 2 seasons and move Samuela to middle OR NSA for the same amount & keep Samuela on the edge what would you do? Kikau is fitter & played 40 games less than NAS but is a year older. Just curious as to which people would go for.
Possibly although I think that might be unders given other clubs need middles eg Eels, Knights, Manly.If we have 600ish to spend I feel like with a few tweaks we might be able to jag a NAS perhaps for 2026 but not another marquee prob
Here’s a question, if given the choice between a Kikau for $750,000 a year over 2 seasons and move Samuela to middle OR NSA for the same amount & keep Samuela on the edge what would you do? Kikau is fitter & played 40 games less than NAS but is a year older. Just curious as to which people would go for.
id take NAS
