If you glance in the direction of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles after their terrible start to the season, the future may appear glum on the Northern Beaches.
Manly sit at the bottom of the ladder with only one victory, a lengthy injury list, a busted-up forward pack, an under pressure club legend as a coach and the terrible truth that two star playmakers Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran will be gone by the end of the season.
There is always hope though. Young Tom Trbojevic could be the next big thing and Clint Gutherson has fantastic potential once he recovers from his season-ending injury.
With Peta Hiku and Jorge Taufua also at the club, there a plenty of quality young backline players at the disposal of coach Toovey in the coming seasons.
The three main questions for Manly should be:
1) How do we replace Cherry-Evans and Foran?
2) How do we reinvigorate our forward pack?
3) How do we cover for the aging Jamie Lyon and Matt Ballin?
I believe the answer to all three questions is the same.
Super League.
Cherry-Evans and Foran are fantastic players who are currently commanding big salaries and are leaving for even bigger pay packets to other NRL clubs. Players currently plying their trade in Super League will command much less money then the stars Manly are losing, leaving more money in the salary cap to add muscle to their forward pack and eventually replace Jamie Lyon and Matt Ballin.
These are the six players should be chasing.
Todd Carney (Catalans Dragons), five-eighth
There is no need for me to explain how good Carney is, just watch him play. Yes, Carney is a risk due to his past problems off the paddock, and there is a chance his contract may not be registered by the NRL. But if Manly don’t at least try, they will never know.
Albert Kelly (Hull Kingston Rovers), halfback
Freakishly talented but also inconsistent, Kelly is currently setting Super League on fire. If he wants to return home, Manly would be silly not to make him an offer.
Alex Walmsley (St Helens), prop
A genuine big-bopper, Walmsley is all about size and aggression. A big powerful carrier of the ball, he would get Manly going forward again, something that has been a problem for a while and is only getting worse.
Walmsley will play for England over the coming seasons. He is only 25 and still improving.
Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves), prop
An England international, Hill has a big strong body with good footwork. He is not an explosive carrier but makes big metres and gets his side on the front foot.
I’d say he’s similar to Kade Snowden, when Snowden is in form.
Michael McIllorum (Wigan Warriors), hooker
A completely different player to Matt Ballin, McIllorum would bring relentless aggression to the middle of the field.
Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos), right centre
The one word to describe Watkins? Classy. Watkins would be the perfect replacement for Jamie Lyon as he is similar to Blake Ferguson without Ferguson’s off-field dramas.
Its fair to say that these players may be happy where they already are, especially the English players, but if you don’t ask you don’t get. Manly need to look to the future, the problems they have will not be solved by pining for Cherry-Evans or Foran.
If Manly wish to remain competitive over the coming seasons, they could do no worse than looking to the Old Dart for solutions.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
Kevin Larroyer is an outstanding player and hopefully we can sign him permanently after this season.
Niall
Roar Pro
I'd like to see him stay in Super League to be honest. The more open style of play lets us fans see the best of him. Interested to hear your thoughts on Kevin Larroyer? He looks pretty good to me.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
SSSSHHHHH!!!! Albert Kelly is having a nightmare of a season at Hull Kingston Rovers and should be left there to rot for the rest of his career!!!!! ;) PLEASE leave him alone!!!!!
Haz
Guest
The name you're missing from your list is Rangi Chase. I would put him as a higher priority than Todd Carney.
Mark Bebbington
Guest
There will be a few clubs keeping an eye on Luke Walsh, back last week for Saints and dropped a goal with almost his first touch of the footy! Best 7 in super league and Players option next year with Saints!
Niall
Roar Pro
I'm a big fan of Whitehead but I'm not sure how successful his transition to the NRL will be. In the right team he could be very good but he needs to be an integral part of the team. He isn't going to be a 40 tackles 20 hitups player in the NRL. He should be a really useful attacking weapon on last tackle options and the target for short balls on the edges. He isn't going to get Canberra on the front foot, but once they are on the front foot he will be a fantastic attacking option. He would have been in my England side as well. Especially with the platform that Graham, Burgess and Hill were setting.
Tripehound
Guest
All are excellent players Niall, Roby is still ahead of the field as far as rakes go. His work rate is phenomenal and he is incredibly dangerous when he bursts from acting half. I would rate McIlorum in second place. I believe Hodgson is performing well for the Raiders (good to see Soliola going well too, rated him highly at St.Helens, he always gave 100%) Clarke has had a somewhat faltering start with his new club Warrington, but it will only be a matter of time before he gets into the swing. Canberra have also made a belting signing with Elliott Whitehead, from Catalan, for next year. A big, strong running lad with plenty of pace and gets over the chalk on a regular basis. I though he was very unlucky not to start for England in last years four nations, he would have been in my run on team.
Max
Guest
The rubbish about DCE reneging on the Gold Coast deal is just a ruse to take away any spotlight on the Sydney AFL derby...
Niall
Roar Pro
What are the odds? I write this piece and Walmsley immediately re-signs with St Helens. Apparently he rejected some NRL offers. McIlorum is a real good footballer, as well as an intimidating presence in the middle. England are blessed with some quality dummy halves at the moment. James Roby, Josh Hodgson, Daryl Clark and McIlorum. All are capable of being the test 9.
Niall
Roar Pro
I personally don't think Myler would be successful I the NRL. He is talented but very inconsistent. He's been dropped multiple times in his career after being billed as the next big thing at the beginning of his career. They'd be better off giving Jack Littlejohn a chance to prove himself than flying Myler over.
Tripehound
Guest
I agree with what Mark says about Masoe, when he gets his dander up he is a handful but it's only in short bursts, a reduction in the interchange rule could turn him into a liability. Earlier in the week on another post I mentioned Micky McIlorum, a proper tough nut but also a genuinely good all round football, an extremely aggressive defender, sharp distributor and knows when to scoot from acting half. He has the ability to get under the skin of the opposition and niggle and intimidate his opposite number. Richie Myler is an interesting case, not the most creative of halves but has the uncanny knack of all ways being in the right place at the right time and scores plenty of tries from excellent support play with a cracking turn of pace over 30 - 40 meters. His missus is a TV presenter in the UK so that may well have an input to if he would relocate., Although I would prefer Super League players to stay where they are there is no doubt it would be interesting to see how they would go in the NRL, from first seeing Walmsley as a raw young prop a couple of years back from the lower leagues you could see he was going to make a top class player but as mentioned he has signed at St.Helens until 2018.
Mark Bebbington
Guest
Big Alex signed a new deal at saints yesterday, he'll keep learning under KC and a future international for sure. Mose already looks like he's back in Aus, been poor this year, any club interested should wait to see if number of substitutions are reduced from next year, as mose hasn't got enough minutes in him!
Louis McIntyre
Roar Guru
There has been talk that Manly are looking at Warrington half Richie Myler. It is an interesting idea with not many many English backs excelling in the NRL in recent years. It could be worth the risk.
Jacktheeagle
Guest
Manly have a fantastic 2nd string hooker is Jayden Hodges he is a first grade player through and through. He has Ballin to guide him into a quality hooker for many year to come.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
lol
Niall
Roar Pro
I hadn't thought of Mose to be honest. That's a good shout.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
consider me signed up and spreading the word. Next stop is T-shirts...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
lol I'm hoping the nickname will catch on...
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Translated locally as...Rine Thoonda-cut Orl
Benedict Arnold
Guest
The best prop off contract in the super league this year is Mose Masoe, I'm a little surprised he didn't get a mention. Word is The dragons and storm are chasing him but would not be surprised if Manly manage to snag him by throwing some money at him.