For me, like most NRL fans, 2022 cannot come quickly enough.
For some coaches though, they need every day (and then some) to make the decisions that will shape their club's future.
With positions in the eight at a premium, the smallest of decisions can alter a team's season. We've seen it recently with coaches reluctant to make changes, only for fortunes to improve when a difficult call was finally made.
There are a host of big decisions to be made before Round 1 next season. Below are the five I believe will need to be made ASAP and stand to have a huge bearing on early season results.
1. Who partners Adam Reynolds for the Broncos?
We all know that Adam Reynolds will be running out, if fit, for the Broncos in the number seven jersey each and every week.
I do have my doubts about us knowing with any certainty just who will partner him however. I dare say Kevin Walters may be in the same camp.
Albert Kelly, Tyson Gamble and Billy Walters seem the three standout options. Cory Paix shapes as an option, while Ezra Mam had a standout season in the QLD Cup.
Albert Kelly shocked many, myself included, with his performances when called upon on 2021. He and Reynolds would be the most exciting option.
Tyson Gamble showed his grit and abilities at times also. He absolutely bodied the Sharks in their first meeting and showed an ability to get under opposition players skin with ease.
Billy Walters didn't deliver on his undoubted promise at the Tigers. Could his father be the one to extract his undoubted potential?
I genuinely have no idea where Walters Sr goes with this decision. One thing is for sure, he needs to get this decision right.
The Broncos halves jumpers became a carousel in 2021 and it was to the benefit of absolutely no one.
Let us know below where you believe the answers to the above five questions might lay.
Sorry I’ve seen nothing from Cody Ramsey to see him as first grade material let alone fb material. His defence is every bit as bad as Dufty’s, his handling is atrocious, he dropped so many bombs and conceded us so many tries this season it was embarrassing. Also his passing game is weak and he simply did not make up for any of this by scoring a lot of tries. Ramsey should be our fourth choice winger after Ravalawa, and the Fegai’s. Sloan showed more promise in his few games at fb than Ramsey did all year on the wing.
Alas Griffin is clueless and Ramsey will no doubt get the #1 slot and we’ll end up releasing Sloan and Amone.
I agree with Mr Majestyk about Cody Ramsey for exactly the same reasons PLUS he cannot tackle……the guy is an out and out dud whereas Sloane is an up & coming superstar – no doubt about that – if Hook gives Ramsey a start in the Top 17 – let alone fullback – then Hook has to get the Hook!!
Potential Sharks halves: Trindall, Moylan and Hynes. If only it were that simple. Potentially, the best of the lot is Luke Metcalf. Unfortunately, they have not promoted him to a top30 spot, and are seemingly unlikely to do so before the middle of the season. If I were the coach, I would get him into the top 30 now (somehow) and make him a starting half – telling the others they will have to fit in as injury demands.
Or if that is too hard, and Craig Fitzgibbon has no intention of using him, approach Newcastle and offer him – for a transfer fee – for 12 months, until he goes to Auckland.
… or better still, approach the Warriors and see if they want Metcalf a year early – for a transfer fee, of course. Then the Warriors could give Ash Taylor the punt (to Newcastle, perhaps) and have Johnson, Harris-Tevita and Metcalf to provide quality in depth for their spine.