EXPANSION was supposed to hit Roar hard.

A few months back the rumours were flying thick and fast that the two new clubs were eyeing off nearly every player on Roar’s roster. If someone scored a goal or even completed a pass while wearing the orange then they were apparently on the shopping list for the expansion clubs.

North Queensland and Gold Coast are yet to finalise their squads but it seems that Roar have rather successfully defended the raids on their playing stocks. So far the two upstarts have managed to poach only one Roar player apiece, both of which are completely expendable.

The first player confirmed to be leaving the club was Chris Grossman. The crafty midfielder was signed by North Queensland with little fanfare in any of the media outlets. Maybe this was because only the most diehard of Roar fans would even recognise his name, let alone acknowledge his abilities.

Unfortunately for Grossman, opportunities have been sparse during his tenure at Queensland Roar. As a mere squad player he has only made seven first team appearances for the club in nearly three years. Although there is little doubt that the boy can play, his loss to the club is hardly going to rip the heart out of the team.

The same can also be said about Gold Coast’s acquisition of Tahj Minniecon. Unlike Grossman, Minniecon has played a large role through the second half of this season. However, it is doubtful that he would have played a major part in Frank Farina’s formation next season.

With Sergio van Dijk and Reinaldo as the two first choice strike options and the wing positions more suited to other players in the squad, there isn’t much room for Minniecon. This is may be the reasoning behind Queensland reportedly offering Minniecon a pittance compared to other clubs. While he is a handy back up he just wasn’t going to be a first team regular.

Whether or not Minniecon will get a guaranteed starting spot on the coast is up for debate as well. With United having signed Shane Smeltz and reportedly looking to secure Joel Porter, it seems likely that Minniecon could be watching next season from the bench. I suppose that bitter pill is a tad easier to swallow with a little more cash in the pocket though.

Perhaps a few other players will be lost as both Gold Coast and North Queensland seek to finalise their playing rosters. Robbie Kruse is off contract at season’s end and I think his retention should be a priority for Frank Farina. However, I seriously doubt Farina is going to lose any sleep at the loss of Minniecon and Grossman. I know that I’m not.