Now that the squad is finalised. . .

[Macca]

Can you choose your 17 out of the 25? Iknow there is another thread on this, but some people may have to change a few things now that the sqaud has been named.

Here is the 25 . . .

David Peachey
Matt Rieck
Nathan Merritt
Hassan Saleh
Nigel Vagana
Ryan McGoldrick
Paul Franze
Greg Bird
Russell Aitken
Brett Kimmorley
Michael Sullivan
Dean Bosnich
Jason Stevens
Danny Nutley
Chris Beattie
Dale Newton
Andrew Lomu
Phil Bailey
Matt Hilder
Paul Gallen
Keith Galloway
Sam Isemonger
Matt Bickerstaff
Michael Russo
Jon Green

Which makes my side end up looking like this . . .

1. D. Peachey
2. N. Merritt
3. N. Vagana
4. P. Franze
5. M. Reick
6. B. Aitken
7. B. Kimmorley
8. J. Stevens
9. D. Bosnich
10. C. Beattie
11. P. Bailey
12. D. Nutley
13. A. Hilder

14. A. Lomu
15. P. Gallen
16. M. Russo
17. M. Sullivan

I think we are looking good if we can't find a spot in our top 17 for these guys . . .

Hassan Saleh
Greg Bird
Ryan McGoldrick
Sam Isemonger
Matt Bickerstaff
Jon Green
Dale Newton
Keith Galloway

 

[Sharkie73]

I like your side McSharkie, I'd go with that side I still have a problem with the 5\8 spot though :? If young Aitken can stay fit and he has put a few kilos on in the off season, you might be right having him there. Time will tell!!!! this weekend should give us all a good indication on the starting 17.

 

[wittyfan]

I'd have (with no bias towards any particular players):

Peachey
Merritt
Vagana
Franze
Rieck
Birdy
Kimmorley
Stevens
Bosnich
Beattie
Bailey
Gallen
Hilder

Bench warmers:
Sully
Isemonger
Lomu
Nutley

 

[carcharias]

I would find room for Bickerstaff.

 

[King of the Hill]

Not a bad side McS
Here's mine

1. D. Peachey (In attack playing opposite side of the ruck to Noddy close to the line)
2. N. Merritt (I hope he's as good as everyone reckons, otherwise I'd move Kent in)
3. N. Vagana
4. P. Bailey (Can take an early hit up then drift out to the centres to run at the holes on later tackles)
5. P. Franze (Hope he has some speed left in him)
6. M. Hilder (Solid link-man considering 5/8 is mainly about tackling these days and letting the halfback do the ballplaying, particularly Noddy. No real options here, Bird is an atrocious player and Aitken not ready yet.)
7. B. Kimmorley (The linchpin of our chances)
8. J. Stevens (I'll give him a chance for the first 6 weeks, time to lose the cement in the boots and shape up or ship out)
9. D. Bosnich (For lack of a better option)
10. A. Lomu (Unfortunately I dont think he will turn out to be a revelation - hope I'm proved wrong)
11. M. Bickerstaff (Capable of big things if he gets back to 2002 form)
12. D. Nutley (Going to have to reduce the penalties)
13. P. Gallen

14. C. Beattie (Time to show the mongrel he is known for or piss off)
15. M. Russo (Show us what youve got)
16. K. Galloway (Show some faith in the kid for the first 6 rounds and see how he goes)
17. Sullivan or Isemonger. Sullivan admittedly is good at hitting a hole out of dummy half as a super sub, but the problem is he then drops the ball. He cant pass or kick. Isemonger or some other forward could be the option...stack the bench with forwards I reckon.

 

[Macca]

The reason I have gone with Aitken over Bird and Hilder is for kicking in general play. Some of the pressure has to be taken off Noddy in that department or we are in big trouble. I really liked the idea of Hilder playing 5/8th but we need a guy that can put a solid boot on the pill. Can Hilder kick? If so slot him in.

Bailey in the centres still SS? Fair enough but I din't think Franze is a wingers bootlaces. Centre or nothing for him and I think he has to be in the side, he is a future rep player.

I reckon you are going to get a huge suprise with Lomu there SS. He is the buy of the year. Yep, even bigger than Vagana and Russo. A genuine tackle busting, ball playing forward. If he can get even a 1/4 of his 2002 form back then he will be our best forward.

Gallen isn't a lock.

Bickerstaff is not going to make the side ahead of Gallen, Russo or Galloway, surley.

Sully has to be there, you gotta have a backup hooker.

Have I gone on long enough now?

 

[King of the Hill]

Unfortunately I'm pessimistic about our chances this year
I think we should aim for top 8

I would cut a fair few players and recruit better options
5/8 and hooker are where we have absolutely glaring deficiencies
For those reasons I dont know why we needed McGoldrick and Saleh when we already had Kent and Merritt

 

[Sharkie73]

I always thought Gibbo was a fair Hooker SS I wonder what he's done or hasn't done to be left out of the 25. After all he is a specialst Hooker if he was picked then we only have a 5\8 problem.

 

[TRIALS]

I always thought Gibbo was a fair Hooker SS I wonder what he's done or hasn't done to be left out of the 25. After all he is a specialst Hooker if he was picked then we only have a 5\8 problem.

Gibbo is not a specialist hooker, he has always been a five eighth, he played five eighth in shcool, Jnr Rep, Illawarra and early on at the sharks
....he was a damn good one too, carrying an average red bend side to the finals of the schoolboy comp and even captained cronulla lower grades as a 5/8 ...then all of a sudden he was a hooker ....like most decent young 5/8's ....admittedly he has lost some pace but he still has the skills to be a fine five eighth.

And like i have said before - Lomes will not start as SR has told him that he intends to start the season with developed combinations in the forwards ....so unless he changes his mind between now and then there is not point having Andrew in your starting side.

Peace! ...go the sharks, with this squad and the quality of players we have outside the the 25 i know that stuey has the balls and passion for cronulla to bring us a premiership in the near future ...just as he has done in the past!!!!!

 

[Sharkie73]

If as you say Sharkettes he was a good 5\8 then why was he selected by Langy and Ando as a hooker? if he was as good as you say why didn't the previous coachs picked that up. If what your saying is true then someone at the club needs a kick in the ass. :roll:

 

[Sharkie73]

Oh one other thing, on Lomu he has been the stand out foward in all the trials he's played surely SR would have to pick him on that form alone :?

 

[Macca]

I have edited my side swapping Beattie and Lomu. I don't agree with it but he will play 60 minutes+ anyway, so it doesn't matter.

 

[TRIALS]

Sharkie, not sure why gibbo was pushed into the hooking but it's a shame all the same as he is now regarded as a hooker and with his speed deteriated from njury it's unlikely he will ever get a shot at playing there again.

I agree that Andrew has torn the pre season up and i'd also like to see him start, but i was told otherwise, and reasons why by a source that i would bet my ar$e on.

 

[TRIALS]

Sharkie, not sure why gibbo was pushed into the hooking but it's a shame all the same as he is now regarded as a hooker and with his speed deteriated from njury it's unlikely he will ever get a shot at playing there again.

I agree that Andrew has torn the pre season up and i'd also like to see him start, but i was told otherwise, and reasons why by a source that i would bet my ar$e on.

 

[TRIALS]

sorry about the double

 

[Macca]

who is the source?

 

[TRIALS]

it might as well come from the horses mouth,
i'd rather not jepordize my relationship with the source
and his relationship with the player and club

so i won't throw names around Mcsharkie.

SR may change his attitude by round one but at this stage
lomes has been slated for a start from the bench.

 

[Genius Freak]

I can live with Lomu off the bench. Use him like the Bulldogs use Mason. Having someone of his calibre on the bench speaks volumes for our depth.

 

[Special K]

1. Peachey
2. Merritt/ Rieck
3. Vagana
4. Mcgoldrick
5. Franze (Franze played his best game last year on the wing. Plus I like having a big strong winger)
6. Bird
7. Kimmorley
8. Stevens
9. Bosnich
10. Nutley
11. Bailey
12. Lomu
13. Hilder

14. Beattie (Only because it is stupid not to start Nutley due to him being a 80 minute man)
15. Gallen
16. Newton
17. Aitken

If Mcgoldrick does no good in a game with his tackling, chuck on Beattie into the front row, Nutley to the 2nd row and Bailey to the centres.

It's safe to say this sqaud shits all over the 2003 one :lol:

 

[King of the Hill]

6. Bird

well there goes your credibility hulky
:lol: :lol: