Round 1 2015 Team

[lingard]

The back five I quoted above has Hoffman, Hoppa and Semi - all above average players.

Champion can be decent and Robinson has shown plenty of potential before.

It'll be alright.

The one I'm most concerned about in the back seven is Norman.

Me too. I think Norman has got enough skill and a good temperament to play five-eight. But if he isn't fast enough next year to regularly take on the line, he'll just have to go.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Is Hoppa's shoulder right yet? I'll be curious to see how he goes next year if so. But I'm also curious to see how Robbo goes, and it might be a shame not to see him get a go at fullback. As of now, his highlight reel might even shade Hoppa's. Pace isn't the be all and end all, of course, but I do love to see it.

 

[Eelogical]

This is the time for BA to make his mark. The head coach should be highly involved in who gets a jersey at the Eels and who doesn't. If we get quantity over quality it will be on his head and vice versa.

 

[Bazal]

Nah. A bit weak in the centres, there. I'd put Reece Robinson to fullback, leave Hoppoate in the centres with Beau Champion as the other centre.

Crooks is a better player than Champion and Morgan. We shouldn't write him off like.some seem to be. Although depending on how he adjusts he may not start the year in FG, granted. I reckon he might though. I also think, barring signings and assuming Hoppa is going to be fullback, he'll be our best centre within a year or two.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm sure Crooks has potential to be a good NRL centre but there is no f**king way he will play first grade next year unless there are injuries.

 

[WireMan]

I'm sure Crooks has potential to be a good NRL centre but there is no f**king way he will play first grade next year unless there are injuries.

That's what Dragons fans said about Cooper last year.

How about giving some of these players a chance?

 

[emjaycee]

I'm sure Crooks has potential to be a good NRL centre but there is no f**king way he will play first grade next year unless there are injuries.

That's what Dragons fans said about Cooper last year.

How about giving some of these players a chance?

I am with Wireman on this. We need to give some of these guys a chance.
None of us have seen as much of Crooks as Peter Gentle who had a big hand in signing him.

Pou, why are you so adamant that he won't play FG next year barring injuries?

BA has shown that pre-season form goes a long way to picking his round 1 side (Kelly v Sandow in 2014) so if he trains well in the off-season he only has to outshine Morgs and Champion for a centre spot for round 1. Unless BA goes with Hoppa for FB in which case Crooks only has to out-do Morgs OR Champion.

Who would be your starting centres if Hoppa takes the 'chosen ones' jersey?

 

[The Elephant In The room]

From what I've seen on his highlights, I reckon Crooks would make a decent fullback.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I am with Wireman on this. We need to give some of these guys a chance.
None of us have seen as much of Crooks as Peter Gentle who had a big hand in signing him.

Pou, why are you so adamant that he won't play FG next year barring injuries?

BA has shown that pre-season form goes a long way to picking his round 1 side (Kelly v Sandow in 2014) so if he trains well in the off-season he only has to outshine Morgs and Champion for a centre spot for round 1. Unless BA goes with Hoppa for FB in which case Crooks only has to out-do Morgs OR Champion.

Who would be your starting centres if Hoppa takes the 'chosen ones' jersey?

Morgan and Champion of course. I also think we'll sign another centre. But if we sign another fullback then Hopoate will play centre with Morgan/Champion fighting for the other spot.

That said, there's always injuries. When have Hopoate, Morgan or Champion ever played a full season? You'd have to think Crooks is fourth choice centre ahead of Sione Folau.

Then again, players can improve massively over an off season.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Beale and Hoffman can cover both centre and fullback.

Barba can cover fullback and five-eighth, leaving Norman to drop back if he has to.

Izzy can cover the back five.

Stewart seems the only option being talked about that limits our versatility.

 

[bartman]

If Wallabies continue their losing streak, the prospect of staying for the RWC to be knockked out in the group stages by England and Wales shouldn't be enough to keep Izzy in Union. Hopefully he has clauses all over the f**king place that could trigger a release from his contract?

Picking up Watmough plus Falou would offset the loss of Hayne's experience/skill quite nicely, and imo better than Watmough plus Stewart (or Hoffman). You'd think the NRL would come to the party to help us snare Folau, given what happened last time and the loss of Hayne?

1. Hopoate
2. Radradra
3. Folau
4. Champion/Morgan/Crooks
5. Robinson/Toutai
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah (c)
9. Peats (c)
10. Junior Paulo
11. Ma'u
12. Watmough
13. Edwards

14. De Gois / Joseph Paulo(?)
15. Gower
16. Mossop
17. Moeroa
18. Pauli

Guys in bold are as yet unsigned/unannounced... Not too bad a squad and still a chance of scraping into the top 8 - obviously looks weaker if Watmough or Izzy aren't coming.

Also still a bit weak in the halves with no real back up this year (Kelly?), but I'd imagine a halves signing is our priority for 2016, once we scramble to fill Hayne's sudden departure?

 

[lingard]

Hmmm...more deflection with humour....now where did I put that copy of the Kinsey scale? I mean, of course there's no such thing as the Kinsey scale, and even if there were I sure wouldn't have heard of it and it'd be complete rubbish anyway...

Why are you always banging on about the Kinsey scale? It's not that good.

 

[lingard]

Agree Stewart is in the decline but our shitty losing culture sucks. Bringing in Stewart and watmough could really be what the side needs to change that culture.

We've had some lean years. But please don't perpetuate this 'shitty losing culture' routine. If indeed we ever had a 'losing culture', it's over now. Can't you see that? There were some very gutsy and competitive performances this year - the likes of which we haven't seen for a few years. Kearney and Stuart are gone.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We've had some lean years. But please don't perpetuate this 'shitty losing culture' routine. If indeed we ever had a 'losing culture', it's over now. Can't you see that? There were some very gutsy and competitive performances this year - the likes of which we haven't seen for a few years. Kearney and Stuart are gone.

We won games under Kearney and Stuart too plus had some narrow losses. Our problem for the past few years has been quitting when it got hard and getting f**ken smashed. That still happened this year.

 

[Avenger]

1. Hopoate
2. Radradra
3. Folau
4. Champion/Morgan/Crooks
5. Robinson/Toutai
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah (c)
9. Peats (c)
10. Junior Paulo
11. Ma'u
12. Watmough
13. Edwards

14. De Gois
15. Gower
16. Mossop
17. Moeroa
18. Pauli

I couldn't agree more. Hopefully now we can cut Seph Paulo. I would not be committing to a fullback. Hopoate would be perfect there. If Hayne returns he can slot in at 1 or 6 in 2016 especially if he gets to big for his knees.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Even if Hopoate isn't perfect at fullback, he is almost certainly good enough, and you can get a replacement centre a lot cheaper than a replacement fullback.

I'm kind of intrigued though about what will happen with Robinson. He's fairly light for a winger (like Hunt, who is also in our top 25) which doesn't seem to fit Arthur's style. I suspect Robinson is our fullback for 2015, and we intend to spend the remainder of our cap space on forwards (including front loading extensions).

 

[Poupou Escobar]

These outside backs are contracted for 2015, and would have to be in our top 25:

Champion
Hopoate
Hunt
Morgan
Radradra
Robinson

These two could just as likely be top 25 as not:

Faraimo
Toutai

Then there's these who are probably all outside the top 25:

Crooks
Folau (though not official)
Goodall
Lavaka (though not official)

Are we really looking to sign more outside backs? We've got f**ken heaps of them. And three of those can play fullback.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Why are you always banging on about the Kinsey scale? It's not that good.

I think you've mistaken me for someone else. I don't even know what it is.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Maybe Robinson and Hopoate could have a 100m race for the fullback's job.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Maybe Robinson and Hopoate could have a 100m race for the fullback's job.

They'll be 15m apart at the finish line.