I love how you are able to say Lucas was "discarded" without considering that with his experience he very likely commanded, and possibly asked for a contract which no team could afford to pay a player who would potentially not even make the 23 if all are fit.
How much is he on in France? Would he have stayed here for around $100,000 a season? Because that's really all the reds could afford to offer him. Between JOC (James O'Connor), Hunt and Quade, his two most played positions were well covered by players who were perceived to be in the first choice starting 15 and rightly not expected to drop out of that due to lack of form.
That leaves injuries as the only way for Lucas to make the team.
How can you honestly afford to pay significant money for that player
How many successful teams have quality back up at 10 when they already have an experienced 10?
And how many of those quality back ups don't command a starting spot in another position?
The Reds have made a number of errors in coaching. You just sit here and poke holes in everything from a position of hindsight, without ever considering the realities which they faced when making many of these decisions.
If you honestly believe that in 2014, that you would have prioritised retaining Lucas and Harris, by logic of retaining cover in one of your most stable positions, versus attempting to recruit JOC (James O'Connor) and Hunt to fill weaknesses in the squad, then you are a … edited.
