TLT v Rnd 21 vs Broncos Friday 8pm

[Gronk]

Mitch is back for his 7th game of the year. 15th game in 2 years.

Let's see if you can hang around for a while, buddy.

 

[Gronk]

The bookies reckon we might as well stay home BTW.

 

[Pazza]

You never know, Mitch might just come out on put on a clinic

 

[the phantom menace]

Oh god, the week rolls around quickly.

Will be good to see Moses back, just hope he gets through the game without injury. Might be worth carrying a half option on the bench, just to give Mitchell an early shower after 60mins...?

1. Iongi
6. Papalii - needs NRL game time with Moses on the field
7. Moses - 60mins will do
9. De Silva - may as well start him, but can he do 80min?
13. Walker - worked well when starting last game
17. Hawkins/Smith/Brown - Ryles will have to take his pick of which one

 

[Gronk]

So Junz is out but Luca is back ? Is Jnr injury confirmed or rumoured ?

 

[Joshuatheeel]

1. Simonsson
2. JAC
3. Pensini
4. Russell
5. Lomax
6. Papalii
7. Moses
8. Junior
9. Smith
10. Williams
11. Doorey
12. Guymer
13. Walker

14. TDS
15. Hopgood
16. Moretti
17. Sammy

Reckon we will go close this week.

update for Iongi injury

 

[Chipmunk]

The advantage we get over the last seven rounds is all of the Top 10 teams should continue to take us easy as the Panthers and Raiders have the last couple of weeks.

 

[JokerEel]

 

[JokerEel]

So Brown back to 5/8 Joash to 1

 

[Chipmunk]

So Brown back to 5/8 Joash to 1

That would ordinarily be the likely change, but that doesn't really fit in with why Brown is not playing in the first place.

Interesting to see which way they go with this one. I suspect more experimenting trials will be on the cards.

 

[Chipmunk]

To be fair we've probably seen enough of both Iongi and Kautoga this year that they dont really need to be a part of the end-of-season trials. A rest for the remainder of the year will probably do them some good given their inexperience.

 

[eels_fan]

To be fair we've probably seen enough of both Iongi and Kautoga this year that they dont really need to be a part of the end-of-season trials. A rest for the remainder of the year will probably do them some good given their inexperience.

In Iongi’s case it wasn’t about trials, it was about our spine getting 5-6 games over NRL together to build combinations and fluency. With Iongi out, that now doesn’t get to happen, so it almost throws the concept out the window.

We’re cursed I’m sure of it… I think this injury guarantees not a single game this year did we have our top 17 on the field.

Papalii is our best fullback option without Iongi.

surely we don’t put Russell there… but that will be the easy decision with Penisini back to take the vacant centre spot

 

[Joshuatheeel]

So Brown back to 5/8 Joash to 1

It's the most logical option without future considerations....but don't think it's what we should do.

Papalii biggest issue becoming a 5/8 is defence, so I wouId leave him there to get more experience (and see whether he is a genuine option).

I wouId probably put Simonson back there (and he may be our back up fullback next year). Api isn't ready.

 

[Chipmunk]

In Iongi’s case it wasn’t about trials, it was about our spine getting 5-6 games over NRL together to build combinations and fluency. With Iongi out, that now doesn’t get to happen, so it almost throws the concept out the window.

We’re cursed I’m sure of it… I think this injury guarantees not a single game this year did we have our top 17 on the field.

Papalii is our best fullback option without Iongi.

surely we don’t put Russell there… but that will be the easy decision with Penisini back to take the vacant centre spot

We haven't had our Top 17 on the field since the Preliminary Final 2022.

 

[Chipmunk]

If Iongi is out, for the purpose of a Team List we should just stick Brown in jumper 1 and work it out later. We've got 3 days.

 

[Gronk]

1. Iongi
2. JAC
3. Pensini
4. Simonson
5. Lomax
6. Papalii
7. Moses
8. Junior
9. Smith
10. Williams
11. Doorey
12. Guymer
13. Walker

14. TDS
15. Hopgood
16. Moretti
17. Sammy

Reckon we will go close this week.

Doorey looked like he'd been in a car accident after the Raiders game. I hope he pulled up OK.

 

[King-Gutho94]

We’re cursed I’m sure of it… I think this injury guarantees not a single game this year did we have our top 17 on the field.

Yep i am holding on Ryles and personally not worried about what's going on about his coaching atm.

Its not necessarily the best 17 its the cream of your roster/valuable players availability that is where you have to look at when judging injuries.

The Dolphins have a stack of injuries but there 3 or 4 most crucial players in Katoa, Herbie, Hamiso have all been fit for the season.

Souths are in the same boat with injuries and won 1 more game with the greatest coach of all time.

Cam Murray is there best player and hasn't played a game.

Newcastle have had a horror run as well with just 6 wins & they played finals last year.

We have had 2 senior well paid players Lane & Matto take the piss this year who haven't bought into the new regime.

Its not all doom and gloom he has had Lomax & Moses together for 3 games and one of those games was 4 days backing up from an origin game. Where we pushed Penrith for 75-80 mins.

You can only do so much with the cattle out for this when you have embarked on a plan to play youth and you lose your 2 x elite players for long periods of the season. One of those was in origin camp out of the clubs control.

Recruitment is definitely a concern for next year i suppose Ryles is banking on some of these players getting better with another pre-season.

I guess i will be judging him on that.

Midway through 2027 is 60 games sample size.

Is when you get a rough idea if progress is being made and if this rebuild has been a success.

 

[eels_fan]

Guess we could give Lomax a run at 1. He can still challenge for bombs, and his work rate is that of a fullback.

Simonssen to wing, Penisini to centre

 

[Gronk]

Guess we could give Lomax a run at 1. He can still challenge for bombs, and his work rate is that of a fullback.

Simonssen to wing, Penisini to centre

I could cope with that.

 

[Avenger]

If this is true, and Ryles wants to keep Brown in the Hastings Dog House I’d be putting Twidle at fullback.