Round 1 2015 Team

[Noise]

Pou, I'm a believer in 1 dummy half too but the Roosters won the premiership with 2 dummy halves in 2013 and I think the dragons used two when they won it in 2011.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The Dragons won in 2010, but I concede your point. The Dragons started with Young because Fien was a weak defender, and then brought Fien on because Young was a shithouse dummy half.

The Roosters used two dummy halves in 2013 because they had a wealth of 80 minute back rowers (and therefore a free bench spot) and so playing Mortimer for 15 minutes a game meant Friend didn't have to play the full 80. But you'll notice they got rid of Morts shortly thereafter. He was a backup, not a genuine interchange hooker that actually adds something when he comes onto the field.

 

[yy_cheng]

But mortz has blue blood.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah blue and white the f**ken little merkin

 

[emjaycee]

So now everybody is getting over their wrist slashing based on Hayne's departure, I thought it would be fun to have a go at naming a starting 17 for Round 1 2015 - based only on who we have on the books today, not potential signings.

1. Hoppa
2. Semi
3. Champion
4. Crooks
5. Faraimo
6. Norman
7. Sandow

8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Junior
11. Tepai
12. Ma'u
13. Edwards

14. Gower
15. Wicks
16. Mossop
17. Pauli

Have a go merkins, either at me or at your own 17.

Revised now we are 4 weeks from season kick off.

1. Hoppa
2. Semi
3. Champion
4. Takaraingi
5. Toutai
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Junior
11. Tepai
12. Watmough
13. Ma'u

14. De Gois
15. Gower
16. Wicks
17. Pauli

 

[Jake the snake]

Revised now we are 4 weeks from season kick off.

1. Hoppa
2. Semi
3. Champion
4. Takaraingi
5. Toutai
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Junior
11. Tepai
12. Watmough
13. Ma'u

14. De Gois
15. Gower
16. Wicks
17. Pauli

Both taka, champion and toutai are stand out weaknesses in this line up. Toutai would
Not get a position in reserve grade if it were up to me. Sure he's strong but he is hopeless in defence and under the highball.it was confirmed to me that he was a dumb player when he dropped the ball over the try line against Souths last year this was amongst other things. Surely we can pick someone else over toutai. He's got no football smarts. I'd give Lavaka or one of the younger guys a shot.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Toutai is a strong defender. He comes in and smashes merkins.

And no he shouldn't 'stay on his wing'. We don't play a sliding defence out wide.

 

[eels_fan]

1. Hoppa
2. Semi
3. Champion
4. Taka
5. Robinson
6. Norman
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Paulo
11. Tepai
12. Ma'u
13. Watmough

14. Joe Paulo
15. Gower
16. Lussick
17. Pauli

 

[Tommy Coco]

Seems only 7 positions are not agreed upon, my votes go:


3 Taka
4 Folau, although likely Morg's/Champion
5 Lavaka, although likely Robinson

14 Gower
15 Lussick
16 Wicks, although likely Sefa Paulo and de Gois somewhere in here as well
17 Pauli

 

[offside ref]

1 hoppa
2 semi
3 taka
4 morgan/champion
5 Robinson
6 norman
7 sandow
8 lussick
9 peats
10 junior
11 tepai
12 mau
13 whatmough

14 gower
15 mannah
16 pauli
17 terepo

I believe mannah offers more coming from the bench as his wuick play the balls will be more effective later in the half.

 

[hindy111]

Guys who i dont think have cemented a spot but fighting for there position id look at it in this order.

1 - tried and tested Lussick- Gower-Robinson-takarangai.Seph.-Terepo.-Pauli-champion

2 - Will do an ok job-Morgan-Fa'asso-faraimo-toutai-quinlan-nelson

3-High hopes-Wicks-lavaka-Falou-goodal but they need to prove themself in wenty first.

4- Bolters who may leapfrog the lot but start bottom of pack for now
DAVIS- ALIOIA - CROOKS - MATTERSON

5- MAy suprise with hard work - Alvaro-Uelsai


For those Bagging Toutai out.I bet if you put him in under 20's last year he would of been a standout.When falou played for wenty last year i bet Toutai's performances outshone him.
Big difference between first grade and under 20's.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Of course Toutai would have shined in the NYC last year, he was 21 after all.

 

[hindy111]

Exactly my point, Falou may become the better player-but at this point he isnt and would be quite silly too sugest he would or should be picked before Toutai for the first few rounds if it was a choice

 

[Obscene Assassin]

So your point is that a player that's too old for the Under 20's would kill it in the Under 20's?

#DukeLogic

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think its fair to say there isn't much difference between a 20 year old and a 21 year old. And Toutai was brung into first grade halfway through his final year of NYC.

 

[hindy111]

So your point is that a player that's too old for the Under 20's would kill it in the Under 20's?

#DukeLogic

My point is guys are basing Falou warranting a spot in first grade on the fact he went well in under 20's last year and a nines game.
If toutai was in under 20s last year he would of blew that comp away.
In wenty and in the centres i read Toutai killed them, Falou apparently looked ordinary given his shot last year.This is from foty20's posts and Ham sanwich who i respect there opinion.
When chosing a team Toutai is higher on pecking order than Falou. Not saying that cant change in future.
I also dont think Toutai has not been as bad as people have made out.Some expect miracle from a guy too early.Give the kid a bit of time before you write them off.Its only fair.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Funnily enough, I'm one of those guys who's opinion you respect haha (tip it isn't Forty20). I don't think Folau is ahead of Toutai, I'd say they're on about the same level. I don't see either as a winger, and hope they aren't picked on the wing in first grade. Toutai is slightly ahead of Folau at this stage because he has played first grade.

Both will probably get a shot next week up in Alice Springs to show something and probably some time in the first half of the Penrith trial.

 

[hindy111]

Im just saying how id pick a team. Id probably make a boring coach thou. But unless i have a definate better option id stay with what i know that way i can make a game plan for them.
Vai was one of the first guys BA signed so he must like something about him.

 

[The Elephant In The room]

It's been a few days since we've had a team guess:

1. Hoppa
2. Semi
3. Crooks
4. Rangi
5. Vai
6. Corey
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Paulo
11. Tepai
12. Ma'u
13. Watbro

14. Pauli Pauli
15. Gower
16. Lussick
17. Seffa

 

[Utey]

It's been a few days since we've had a team guess:

1. Hoppa
2. Semi
3. Crooks
4. Rangi
5. Vai
6. Corey
7. Sandow
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Paulo
11. Tepai
12. Ma'u
13. Watbro

14. Pauli Pauli
15. Gower
16. Lussick
17. Seffa

I like the look of that side, I think Champo will start ahead of Crooks and Robinson ahead of Vai.