Just going by talent, I think I'd go with Hunt. He was insanely good so early, he was only a year older in his last season than Walsh is now, and already had multiple great years. He lacked some pace but his ball playing was amazing.
Brandon Smith's double digit IQ more or less confirmed that the Roosters and Politis cheat the system. Buying in Sydney when you play for the Roosters will probably cost as much as a house in Inala 20 years ago.
I watched the Fotuaika tackle a few times and it looks like he was just bracing for the tackle to me. He tackles him front on but the blokes head just seemed to line up with his shoulder.
I'm curious if it'll affect players like Dallas Johnson as well, who didn't necessarily get too many head knocks, but hit harder in defence than their size should have really allowed them to, over and over. There would be some real acceleration changes on his brain too.
No one is really a 1 for 1 replacement for Reynolds, the Broncos just need to try to get the next best thing. Townsend was the same in his early 20s, he wasn't much of an organiser. Mitch Moses had one of the weakest boots in the comp when he was this age as well. Dearden will probably keep...
When is he off contract? Could line up with Reynolds retirement. Broncos could go hard and fast then, just do some foreplay for now and keep him in their sights.
It's a team game, the way you change the result by just playing your best. I guess leadership can also come into it, but that comes with age and experience. Still, if you're playing well and the team is not doing so good, it's probably not you that was the problem.