Including players who were called up for the WQC's in the last three months (Plus Singh and Thomas), heres what a 2026 side could look like, with ages in brackets. I cut off at 32, with an exception for Chris Wood who will be 34.
Obviously a lot of water to go under the bridge but that looks like a quality side. Looks like we are in need of a new generation of defenders to replace the Reid/Boxall/Smith generation.
I think we've failed to replace the strike force we had in 2010 (Smeltz, Fallon, Wood, Killen) which is why apart from Wood, we simply don't score goals against non OFC opposition and which potentially cost us a place in this years WC.
Thankfully we've always produced great defenders so I'm sure that there are more Hays, Grays, Evans, Reids, Nelsens etc on their way through (Surman being one). I'm more worried about our strike force and that permanent RB issue. Never know, Josh Laws might be an AW in the future too.