YOUNG captain-coach Luke Branighan has dismissed talk the Cherrypickers have been left stranded in the busiest Group Nine player market in years.
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At a time when other clubs have made abundant moves, Young has seemingly been dragging its heels.
Nearly three months after completing their commitments for the season, the Cherrypickers have by far the most lopsided ledger of players coming and going.
The Young out box includes Jack Hetherington (Sydney Roosters), Perry Whitely (England), Tom Bush (Cootamundra), Riley Scelly (Group 10) and Ross Hewitt (Newcastle), while the club has attracted only stylish Englishman Neil Thorman and Central Coast gun Matt Wakefield.
Despite the stark discrepancy, Branighan is far from spooked by the figures.
Ominously, Branighan recently revealed Young was set to make up for lost time last week.
“We’re very close to signing a couple players,” Branighan said yesterday.
“The thing we don’t want to do is say too much before we’ve got the signatures.
“It’s no good going off too soon.”
Branighan is adamant Young is on the verge of a securing a “prized” front rower and a utility player from Group 10.
“We’re just waiting for it all to be official,” Branighan said.
“We’ve made the offers.”
Young’s reticence over its prospective recruits is straight forward enough - giving away secrets to other clubs can cause bidding wars.
Branighan admits he has been stunned at the spectacular turnover of players across the landscape in the past two months.
“It’s been remarkable,” he said.
“I can’t remember so many quality players switching clubs.”
Citing the exodus of Peter Little, Will Merritt and Daniel Fitzhenry from Southcity, Branighan said lower-ranked teams were definitely trying to close the gap on the better performed teams like Albury and the Bulls.
“Little and Merritt were Southcity’s two best players and they’ve gone to Junee,” he said.
“Obviously clubs like Junee, Temora and Tumut don’t want to stay at the bottom.”
Significantly, Tumut has made a serious attack on the player market, recruiting Arana Taumata (ex-Newtown) as captain-coach and Patrick Taumata, Ethan McGuire and T J Sala to bolster the ranks.
Amid the signing frenzy, Young is clearly choosing quality over quantity, with Wakefield and Thorman having impressive pedigrees.
Thorman in particular is expected to be backline sensation, while Wakefield is also regarded as potential game-breaker.
In another boost for Young, crack centre Nayah Freeman has turned his back on a move to Sydney and may play with the Cherrypickers next year.
