In response to a couple of queries, the below are the strengths and weaknesses of my squad as I see it.
The strengths are where I believe trades could be done to assist another side to improve, the weaknesses where I would generally be looking to focus my trades.
Strengths
- Durability. Most of my best 22 typically play 19+ games, especially forward and back.
- Depth, especially forward. I could fairly happily start my F10 if I had to. Could potentially trade some of this away for the right deal.
- Quality in defense, with two of the best defs of recent years in Lloyd and Doc (Docherty also very cheap), alongside Rampe and Hurley. Short should provide a very good supplement in future years once Houli shuffles off.
- High quality, clear #1 young ruck in ROB. Front-ended contract means he could have even greater value to another side as he matures.
- R3 could be quite strong once Kreuzer returns/if Hickey ends up as a starting ruck. Fort and/or De Koning could also prove quite useful in time.
- Reasonable value across a range of names such as Doc, Short, Sier, Ceglar, Kreuzer, Greenwood, Fort, Steven, Mclean and Hill.
- 9 contract years available.
Weaknesses
- Is working too hard a weakness?
- Few mids in the very highest echelon. Could do with another captaincy option or two.
- Some game count concerns around mids near-term (Hunter suspension, Zorko and Hep niggles), albeit most are quite durable in normal circumstances.
- Not many very high draft picks. Talent pipeline is more focused on young emerging players with upside, like Sier.
- Limited ruck back-up right now.
- Very limited salary cap available. First trade may need to be a downgrade/paired with a second trade.
I will pretend I understand!
