I said it on the official forum so I will repeat it here as well.
I would move BMM into our prop rotation. He has the ability to play like Tamou and has the leg drive to make it as a prop. Laterally he is just that fraction to slow in defence on the fringes and would benefit from the tighter structure closer to the ruck. Generally a fellow of his size is more likely to be called as a dominant tackle as well which helps.
It can be well argued that his size and stregth will be missed on the fringes closer to the try line but it is my belief the power and speed of Pettybourne and Thompson more then make up for this.
It leaves us a prop down in ideal rotation but I think we have the depth to cover it as our guys in State Cup and NYC graduates can take up the slack, especially considering the minutes Woods can play in a stint to keep the rotation fresh and not leave them over-exposed.
Bell is a option but I prefer him as a anchor back rower off the bench
I wanted BMM at prop last year. From what I was told the coaching staff released fifita purely because of him. They believed he was just as strong and powerful as fifita however had much better lateral movement. He played prop in round 2 against manly and I thought it was just about his best game of the season.
However with Ellis and heighno leaving I believe he will now be more beneficial to the team as a wide running back rower. We should be fairly well served with depth props with kg, woods, bell, groat, fotuaika, buchanan, the fijian bench prop from BRET (who I heard is in the 25 for 2013) and Blair/Pettybourne able to fill in. Unless vela or Santi progress quicker then expected I'd use him strictly out wide.
Bodene Thompson will be an interesting one next year. I know sheens really wanted him in 2009 when he graduated from keebra but the tits fought hard for him. A few years back During commentary fatty said Trevor gillmeister had told him that Thompson was one of the most talented juniors he had ever seen. He seemed to get messed around a bit, shafted between lock, second row, center and even five eighth...which would be very hard for a bloke trying make his way in first grade. Hopefully a change of scenery and a more definite role in a team (with sheens now gone) we can benefit from his junior promise.
