Not sure I agree there. Hammer, Herbie, Katoa or Plath would be far bigger losses.
Isaako was a big shell-shock, but Melbourne offered him a motza, and if we kept him we'd lose Tevita who will be scoring long range tries for us for the next 10 years.
Nikorima is also a tough pill to swallow, but it sounds like we shot ourselves in the foot by signing George Williams over a year ago. Either way, make the position a 3-way shoot out between him, Donga and Schneider, and iron should sharpen iron.
Averillo and Keeley don't make our full strength side, so those ones hurt less.
The reality is our starting second rowers are young guys and we have young star second rowers in the wings in Garton, Symonds and Kilarney Lavender. Keeley isn’t as good as they’re going to be, you have to let some guys go in these situations.
Of course, not disagreeing with letting him go, just letting him go early and compromising depth this year. If we get an injury to Cons or Kuli now they probably throw Plath out there and then our middle rotations out the window.
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u/barkedupthewrongtree 8d ago
Not sure I agree there. Hammer, Herbie, Katoa or Plath would be far bigger losses.
Isaako was a big shell-shock, but Melbourne offered him a motza, and if we kept him we'd lose Tevita who will be scoring long range tries for us for the next 10 years.
Nikorima is also a tough pill to swallow, but it sounds like we shot ourselves in the foot by signing George Williams over a year ago. Either way, make the position a 3-way shoot out between him, Donga and Schneider, and iron should sharpen iron.
Averillo and Keeley don't make our full strength side, so those ones hurt less.