SparkyBlue wrote:
Donstuie wrote:
Brogan's killing them in the showdown at the moment.
Just sayin'

Said this, just like I mentioned Steven King trade time last year.
Shot down as usual.
"Not part of our future, short-term, too many rucks".
Sure we have a lot of ruckmen right now - but name one experienced, hardened, built ruckman that can take the bulk of the pressure off the rest.
We don't have one.
A 2-3 year prospect, big $$$s or otherwise will pay for himself by taking the pressure off Kruezer, Cloke and Co.
Give the kids some time to develop.
Mind you, I realise this entire post will be ignored...

I too hoped we would go after King last year, and I can imagine a few "wtf"s from our recruiting people when the aints got him so cheap. The fact is, the boys need help. Kreuz and Hammer can (and hopefully will) become elite ruckman in a few years, but at this stage they shouldn't have to compete against the monsters of the league (Cox, Sandilands, Lade/Brogan, Jolly) every time they run on to the field. Right now, they're second-string rucks, but they've had to play like first-string rucks so far in their short careers. Cloke tries his guts out, and doesn't get intimidated, but physically he can't compete either.
Getting a ready-made, experience, big-bodied ruckman (who may be within 2-3 years of the end of his career) could be invaluable for the boys' development. In 2-3 years time, when said player retires, hopefully Kreuz and Hammer will have developed to be able to then take on that role, rather than praying that by then their bodies aren't shot to hell. So yes, I definitely see the value in pursuing a ruckman during the trading period.