Potential return of Brails is important, though will be setting expectations low for his actual performance - we've understandably seen quite significant drops in performance after each major injury but having 2 actual hookers now allows us to more gently reintegrate him into the side, 25 solid minutes on the weekend would be a big win and progressively eases the load of Phoenix.
Importantly it would allow Cogger and Pryce to combine in Cup and put genuine pressure on Hastings and Cogger.
Hastings' front about being as fit as ever is complete BS, he is playing exactly like a player who has sustained successive career-threatening leg injuries, has zero mobility and running threat, no kicking game, and is repeatedly failing hit his defensive marks and placing pressure on our whole left edge. No doubt he is perhaps the sole organising voice in the side, and those leadership qualities he brings are invaluable, but it will unfold over the next few months how far those qualities can extend his career without the physical ability to back them up.
Hastings and Gamble will probably get another 3 or so matches to prove their worth. They have not earned any more goodwill than that - we were never competing for the league last year despite the admirable run. While Hastings has more career achievements in SL he is now unfortunately a physical shell of that former self and should be taken as such. Gamble has the square root of nothing to his name despite bringing an admirable tenacity to the side last season, and should be assessed on the same level as Cogger and Pryce.
For the first time in a long time, we'll get to see the implications of a squad with genuine spine depth.
