Hmmm.
With Cooper and Morris out we will struggle both offensively and defensively on the left hand side. Stanley I think comes into one centre spot and showed promise last year in the position. Tagive would naturally come onto the wing but there are reports he's injured, which is a shame for the guy. Looking abit skinny for depth in the outside backs at the moment.
Still I expect us to grind out a win here. Probably follow the all too familiar script. Blow out the opposition team early and then grind to a win.
Saints 24
Eels 10
If it makes you feel better, mate - our gun centre, Jacob Loko, plays on our left, so he'll be up against Gasnier. I rate Loko very highly, but come on - it's Mark freaking Gasnier! He'll carve him up, unfortunately.
Much as I love my team, we don't really have any strike power out wide aside from Loko - if we could shift him to the right to try and expose St. George's "weakness" (only in terms of missing Cooper and Morris), we give ourselves a chance. But is tinkering with an 18 year old's position really such a good idea? Hmm...
I think we can compete with the mighty Dragons forwards. But we cannot match them in the halves, and their backs (even without Cooper and Morris) are still very classy. I just cannot see how we can score enough points or defend well enough to win. Our ruck defence is OK, but once teams spread the ball wide, we struggle.
But I suppose anything can happen.
