No problem with Hicks or JBS hanging around as squad players personally. They've both had limited chances but haven't looked bad when called upon, and money saved there can be spent elsewhere.
Edit: wait, shouldn't this be in the contracted players thread?
With all due respect there is a hell of a gap in ability between them. JBS may have good technical skills but Hicks appears to my eye to have much cooler head under pressure. I have not seen JBS able to press forward naturally as much as Hicks does. This could be a matter of lack of experience but then this whole point becomes moot - I would rather have Hicks anytime over JBS.
To be fair, if JBS is only a back up, why not use his salary on a kiwi? Seems a waste to keep on an Aussie who's only playing for the Nix ASBP side at a kiwi's expense.