Round 1 2015 Team

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Gower in Wenty and wicks in firsts?

Jesus Christ.

Give Waporub a chance.

 

[hindy111]

Lussick would not of been that cheap.He was hottest forward prospect when left manly.

 

[eels_fan]

Hoppa
Robinson
Champion
Takarangi
Semi

Norman
Sandow

Mannah
Peats
Gower
Watmough
Ma'u
Morera

Edwards
Jnr Paulo
Lussick
Wicks/Pauli/Mossop

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Fullback: Hoppa
Left Wing: Radradra
Left Centre: Takairangi
Right Centre: Champion
Right Wing: Robinson
Left Half: Norman
Right Half: Sandow
Prop: Mannah
Hooker: Peats
Prop: Paulo
Left Second-Rower: Ma'u
Right Second-Rowers: Moeroa
Lock: Watmough

Bench: Edwards
Bench: Gower
Bench: Lussick
Bench: Pauli

That's the team I'd pick for Round 1.

 

[Craig Johnston]

Fullback: Hoppa
Left Wing: Radradra
Left Centre: Takairangi
Right Centre: Champion
Right Wing: Robinson
Left Half: Norman
Right Half: Sandow
Prop: Mannah
Hooker: Peats
Prop: Paulo
Left Second-Rower: Ma'u
Right Second-Rowers: Moeroa
Lock: Watmough

Bench: Edwards
Bench: Gower
Bench: Lussick
Bench: Pauli

That's the team I'd pick for Round 1.

that looks like the most logical starting line up, but man i'd love to see ryan matterson take a chance and either play centre or push corey norman to fullback and hoppa back at centres. step up son, opportunity abounds. same for john folau etc

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Fullback: Hoppa
Left Wing: Radradra
Left Centre: Takairangi
Right Centre: Champion
Right Wing: Robinson
Left Half: Norman
Right Half: Sandow
Prop: Mannah
Hooker: Peats
Prop: Paulo
Left Second-Rower: Ma'u
Right Second-Rowers: Moeroa
Lock: Watmough

Bench: Edwards
Bench: Gower
Bench: Lussick
Bench: Pauli

That's the team I'd pick for Round 1.

Pretty much my side except mossop for Pauli and lussick to start with Paulo on the bench.

 

[oldmancraigy]

Lussick would not of been that cheap.He was hottest forward prospect when left manly.

The 2 numbers I have been told 425 and almost 200 :shock:

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Pretty much my side except mossop for Pauli and lussick to start with Paulo on the bench.

Me too. I mightn't go with Robinson on the wing either. Could replace him with any of about six or seven merkins.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The 2 numbers I have been told 425 and almost 200 :shock:

Split the difference sounds right.

 

[lingard]

So today starts day 1 of pre-season for 2015. Day 1 without Jarryd at training. Day 1 of BA bringing this mob together and starting to form them into the team that we will all follow with our hearts through the highs and lows of another season supporting the mighty Parramatta Eels.

I can understand why some of us aren't happy with all the signings and are worrying about how we will replace the irreplaceable Jarryd Hayne but worrying doesn't fix things and we need to see what BA and his coaching staff can do for Round 1.

Here is my revised round 1 team now the roster seems to be finalised:

1. Hoppa
2. Semi
3. Brad T
4. Champion
5. Robinson
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Junior
11. Edwards
12. Ma'u
13. Watmough

14. Gower
15. Moerea
16. Mossop
17. Wicks/Fa'aoso

With everyone fit, it's going to leave a pretty strong Wenty pack and a team with some NRL experience.
1. Hunt
2. Faraimo
3. Toutai
4. Morgan
5. Crooks
6. Matterson
7. Kelly
8. Lussick
9. De Gois
10. Allgood
11. Nelson
12. Pauli
13. Seffa

Plus all the young'uns fighting for a spot like Alvarao, etc.
Seems to me like BA understands that game is won in the forwards and he has built up the squad in this area with a combination of youth and experience and enough players to keep the pressure on the top 17 and to cover for injuries if needed.

Can't wait for the kick off to round 1.

I'd be surprised if our recruitment for this year has been finalised. I'd say there is at least one more signing to come - probably an above average centre or fullback (that's purely speculation on my part).
And I feel compelled to say it again - I would keep Hoppoate in the centres. I suspect I'll be proven wrong about that when Hoppoate shines at fullback; but that's what I would do if I was the coach.

 

[T.S Quint]

No one reckons Toutai is gonna get a run?
I'd bet on him being named on the wing in round 1.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I reckon Toutai might be named in round one but I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't either. He is signed until 2017 (along with only seven other players) so the club must see some potential in him.

I'm keen to see how he goes next year, and how Arthur's intends to use him.

 

[T.S Quint]

I've been a critic of his, but I just have the feeling he's not as bad as we think.
At the very least he can improve.

 

[hineyrulz]

I'd rather Toutai on the wing then a cat like Robinson.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Me too. I'm keen to see what Arthur's intends to do with Robinson. At fullback he shines behind a strong pack. On the wing he's like Nathan Merritt without the free ride through first grade.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

I like toutai, quite big, very strong runner and makes plenty of metres. Lacks a bit of speed but his biggest problem is catching bombs and some handling issues. Also it wouldnt surprise me if he ends up as an edge forward in a year or two.

 

[Haynzy]

I'd rather Toutai on the wing then a cat like Robinson.

I think it'll be Toutai then Faraimo and then Robinson.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Rather than picking the top 17 you would have more luck dividing the squad into definite top 17 players, possible top 17 players and definite backups. Maybe the middle category could be divided further into probables and possibles.

Definites (IMO):
Hopoate
Mannah
Ma'u
Norman
Peats
Radradra
Sandow
Takairangi
Watmough

So:
1. Hopoate (because we've been told so)
2. Radradra
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
11. Watmough (but playing lock)
12. Ma'u

Then the question becomes where do we play Takairangi. Centre seems the obvious spot but I'm not convinced. Brad Arthur will certainly continue to use the shape with the middle half, and has basically admitted so in his latest interview. And while we've re-signed Joe Paulo, the fact he took so long to re-sign means we don't see him as a key member of the team. I think Brad Takairangi would be perfect in this role, and his utility value (specifically the ability to defend at centre) would be wasted if he was already starting the game at centre. Anyway, where Takairangi plays would depend on who else gets picked in the team (or would who else get picked depend on where Takairangi plays???)

Probable top 17 players:
Champion
Fa'aoso
Gower
Lussick
Paulo Jr

Since we can fit all these merkins in I will go ahead and include them:
1. Hopoate
2. Radradra
3. Champion
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Fa'aoso
11. Watmough
12. Ma'u

15. Gower
16. Lussick
17. Paulo Jr

That leaves two outside backs, one edge forward and a bench spot, with Takairangi to fill one of these. So we're looking for three more additions.

The possibles must surely be out of this mob:
Possible outside backs:
Takairangi
Crooks
Faraimo
Folau
Goodall
Lavaka
Morgan
Robinson
Toutai

Possible edge forwards:
Takairangi
Edwards
Moeroa
Pauli

Finally, that last bench spot will go to a utility or another edge forward.

Possible bench:
Takairangi
Edwards
Moeroa
Pauli

That leaves all the definite backups (i.e. players definitely not in the top 17):
Allgood
De Gois
Hunt
Kelly
Matterson (at least for round one)
Ma'afu
McPherson
Mossop (at least for round one)
Nelson
Paulo, Joe
Pritchard
Terepo
Wicks (at least for round one)

Though as always expect surprises. Some blokes can have a massive off season, others can come back from Christmas with a shit attitude. It was good to hear Arthur's say everyone was in better shape than they were this time last year.

 

[ParraFan09]

1.Hoppa
2.Radradra
3. Takairangi
4.Champion
5.Fairamo
6.Norman
7.Sandow
8.Mannah
9.peats
10. Lussick
11.moeroa
12. Ma'u
13. Watmough
14.Paulo
15.Gower
16. Pauli Pauli
17. Jnr Paulo

 

[hindy111]

Depends what you want from your winger.And how much importance you put on each skill.....
Sure toutai has a better power game then robinson.He will make you an extra 2 mtrs per run-Maybe even 3.Before he is tackled.Will this win you a game of footy thou?
Robinson can make the odd 80 mtr bust.He is faster, has excellent hands and much better under the high ball. Too many times Toutai dropped bombs and some he didn't even have to attempt to catch-Shows you his intelligence.His hands and finishing at times where abysmal.He lost us games with simple errors.Sure they are ones he can fix, but robinson is a far better player other than his running game from dummy half.

Power-Toutai
Speed- Robinson
Skill-Robinson
Intelligence-Robinson
LB ability-Robinson
High ball-Robinson
Support play-Robinson
Hands-Robinson
Finishing-Robinson

Anyone that can make a case that toutai is better in any of those areas? He also has utility value-If hoppa was injured or needed a rest they could swap positions during the game or even alternate pending on attacking raid they want to try.