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[Griffoshark66]

Feki is a starter every day of the week. He takes the tough hit ups early on the count when the forwards are gassed. Has the odd mistake in him, but which outside back doesn't?

 

[Ads]

Feki is a starter every day of the week. He takes the tough hit ups early on the count when the forwards are gassed. Has the odd mistake in him, but which outside back doesn't?

Hes very solid no doubt. But IMO he is the most upgradable in this backline:
1.Barba (assuming he's fully fit)
2. Feki
3.Beale
4.Bird
5.Val

 

[southland]

Hes very solid no doubt. But IMO he is the most upgradable in this backline:
1.Barba (assuming he's fully fit)
2. Feki
3.Beale
4.Bird
5.Val

Yep. Thats the lineup I keep coming back to.. Let's us have Barba, Bird and Holmes all on the field.

Depth:

Leuetele
Saulimina
Drew
Gagan

 

[Weaponhead]

Hes very solid no doubt. But IMO he is the most upgradable in this backline:
1.Barba (assuming he's fully fit)
2. Feki
3.Beale
4.Bird
5.Val

Agree. Feki would make few other NRL starting line ups. He is solid but very little threat.

 

[sharktastic]

Cleeland's defence is the outstanding part of his game.

From the video viewings there is a lot to like about Cleeland and gives us along with Nu Brown a fair bit of depth in and around the the scrum base

 

[cb4]

He will be good cover Maloney during Origin time, I personally don't expect him to play much first grade.

 

[Snoop Shark]

I tend to agree with chewy if flanno decides to run with a utility off the bench.

My pick would be Brown over Barba also. Barba does not seem to have the "zip" like he did back in his days as a bulldog. There were times when Barba would come off the bench this year and despite carrying the odd niggling injury, he just didn't seem to add the killer punch that we needed.

I want Barba to come good however reality tells me he best playing days may be well and truly over

 

[Feej]

There were times when Barba would come off the bench this year and despite carrying the odd niggling injury, he just didn't seem to add the killer punch that we needed.

Hard to be effective when you sit on the sideline for 60 or so minutes and then being expected to turn a game. He came on a lot of the time when the game was already gone. But I guess supercoach knows best. :roll:

 

[Ads]

Hard to be effective when you sit on the sideline for 60 or so minutes and then being expected to turn a game. He came on a lot of the time when the game was already gone. But I guess supercoach knows best. :roll:

Plus let's be honest how often does an impact player actually work? Unless it's at hooker I don't see it as a viable game plan.

 

[southland]

Barba showed enough in the tiny amount of game time he did get to be given first shot at fullback.

 

[Surely]

Hard to be effective when you sit on the sideline for 60 or so minutes and then being expected to turn a game. He came on a lot of the time when the game was already gone. But I guess supercoach knows best. :roll:

He came on at a time when fatigue should start affecting opposition and he still couldn't carve them up.

 

[cb4]

Fatigue may be a factor but what about the timing of the game? He brought Barba on against the Storm at 18-2 down and with no momentum, what is he expected to do?

Yet, when he was originally bringing him off the bench it was after 30 minutes, and that seemed to be more beneficial to the team.

I don't want a utility as Flanno's management of the bench is suspect enough without having to reshuffle a backline.

 

[Madsharkie]

Some just clearly don't like Barba... For mine he should be starting FB with him and Holmes swapping throughout the game, to give Holmes time to improve his talk etc. Got to have the best 13 on the field, and Barba is one of them.

If we're going to have a utility it needs to be Brown. Anyone know how his knee is recovering?

 

[DJShaksta]

Fatigue may be a factor but what about the timing of the game? He brought Barba on against the Storm at 18-2 down and with no momentum, what is he expected to do?

Yet, when he was originally bringing him off the bench it was after 30 minutes, and that seemed to be more beneficial to the team.

I don't want a utility as Flanno's management of the bench is suspect enough without having to reshuffle a backline.

Your last paragraph is my concern too.
Flannos bench use is mind boggling at times.
Hell he left a fresh player on the bench for the entire game in what was our most important game of the season in rd26. If that doesn't raise warning flags I don't know what will.

 

[Ads]

Some just clearly don't like Barba... For mine he should be starting FB with him and Holmes swapping throughout the game, to give Holmes time to improve his talk etc. Got to have the best 13 on the field, and Barba is one of them.

If we're going to have a utility it needs to be Brown. Anyone know how his knee is recovering?

Recovery is done. Will be ready to go when training resumes. He's looking very fit.

 

[Madsharkie]

Recovery is done. Will be ready to go when training resumes. He's looking very fit.

Thanks Ads, that's awesome to hear. Hope he has a breakout year!

 

[webShark]

Some just clearly don't like Barba... For mine he should be starting FB with him and Holmes swapping throughout the game, to give Holmes time to improve his talk etc. Got to have the best 13 on the field, and Barba is one of them.

If we're going to have a utility it needs to be Brown. Anyone know how his knee is recovering?

It's not about liking him or not. I don't think he would even be discussed if not on big money. His form doesn't warrant it. Because he is a marquee signing there is s need to find him a spot. Not on form you can't. Val must be FB.

 

[cb4]

It's not about liking him or not. I don't think he would even be discussed if not on big money. His form doesn't warrant it. Because he is a marquee signing there is s need to find him a spot. Not on form you can't. Val must be FB.

I have seen nothing from Val in his time at Fullback to suggest he MUST be fullback.
He is our best winger, leave him there for the time being.

 

[Frailty]

I would love to see Val at FB, but I worry about what we lose out by having him on the wing with Beale. Their combination was fantastic in 2015, and I think it is easier to cover FB than it is losing that combination on the fringe.

 

[carcharias]

I have seen nothing from Val in his time at Fullback to suggest he MUST be fullback.
He is our best winger, leave him there for the time being.

I agree
Barba at fullback playing 80% would still be a better attacking option than Gordon.

man
val bird and barba running off a bit of Maloney and chad could be awesome.