2014 Playing Roster

[Obscene Assassin]

And lock?

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Kelepi can do second year in.

Lock, still tossing up between: Lussick, or Joe Paulo. The only way Joe Paulo gets a run is if either Sandow or Kelly are the halves. If Hayne and Norman are the halves then there's no chance. Lussick gets it otherwise, I like having a third prop on the field that has a bit more room to move around. My bench would be: Jones, Edwards, Jnr Paulo, and Terepo. All provide impact off the bench and each can play a different role.

 

[Pazza]

joe paulo is a pillow. our ruck defence is going to be garbage if he is out starting lock!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

With all the front rowers in our squad I'd say the plan is to start with a prop in the 13 jersey, with another two on the bench.

If Joe Paulo makes the seventeen it will be in the 14 jersey. We won't carry an extra hooker. Foran will only play first grade while Peats is away for Origin.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

After hearing some info on the training sessions I'm leaning towards a Kelepi start. 11. Smith (Right) 12. Tanginoa (Left) with Edwards off the bench.

I would have gone 11.smith 12 loko but with injured I think you are right that it's either Edwards /kelepi

We could also play fui on the edges in attack and middle in defence swapping with smith

 

[Joshuatheeel]

And lock?

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Kelepi can do second year in.

Either peni or lussick, I would go lussick. Mossop is also an option.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I would have gone 11.smith 12 loko but with injured I think you are right that it's either Edwards /kelepi

We could also play fui on the edges in attack and middle in defence swapping with smith

When Loko comes back he'd definitely start in the second-row for Wenty. Play the rest of the year there, judge how he went and if he proves to be effective then I'd start him on the bench for 2015. See how he goes for 30 minutes per game and if his form warrants it then I'd start him in the second row. It is a long road for Loko and the only way to do it is take baby steps at the start because previous to this he's taken long leaps which have hindered his legs

 

[Joshuatheeel]

8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Junior Paulo
11. Smith
12. Loko , then kelepi / edwards
13. Lussick

14. Pritchard / jones/ Paulo
15. Mossop
16. Peni or allgood
17. Fui

We definitely have a few options but lets hope they perform.


Kelepi is very good and definitely didn't look out of place in his games last year, but don't want to rush him because he is still very young.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

When Loko comes back he'd definitely start in the second-row for Wenty. Play the rest of the year there, judge how he went and if he proves to be effective then I'd start him on the bench for 2015. See how he goes for 30 minutes per game and if his form warrants it then I'd start him in the second row. It is a long road for Loko and the only way to do it is take baby steps at the start because previous to this he's taken long leaps which have hindered his legs

Yeah I agree he starts at wenty when he returns but if he remains injury free I doubt he would remain there for the year.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

With all the front rowers in our squad I'd say the plan is to start with a prop in the 13 jersey, with another two on the bench.

If Joe Paulo makes the seventeen it will be in the 14 jersey. We won't carry an extra hooker. Foran will only play first grade while Peats is away for Origin.

I think that will be the best approach to try and get as much go-forward as possible.

I don't think Sandow or Kelly are capable of handling half of the ball-playing duties and I don't want to see our fullback come in and be a ball-player any more, it's hindered our attack for far too long and the ways to combat this is to either: Move Hayne in the halves, but that has been shunned by Arthur stating that Hayne will play fullback so the only other option is to have a predominantly ball-playing forward on the field.

As for your Peats in Origin quote. You're either being extremely optimistic OR you're saying that Foran will never play.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Yeah I agree he starts at wenty when he returns but if he remains injury free I doubt he would remain there for the year.

We've rushed him too much. He needs to build up the muscle in his legs to take away the shock that legs tackles create. After looking at his most recent photo (on Kaysa Pritchard's instagram) he has chicken legs and when you compare them to when he was in SG Ball they are way too skinny. Needs to build bulk in his legs and get them used to collisions again.

 

[The Elephant In The room]

8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Junior Paulo
11. Smith
12. Loko , then kelepi / edwards
13. Lussick

14. Pritchard / jones/ Paulo
15. Mossop
16. Peni or allgood
17. Fui

We definitely have a few options but lets hope they perform.


Kelepi is very good and definitely didn't look out of place in his games last year, but don't want to rush him because he is still very young.

No room for Pauli?

I'm really hoping we don't have to pick Smith round one.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

No room for Pauli?

I'm really hoping we don't have to pick Smith round one.

Pauli will only be 20 this year and has never played first grade. I'd be giving him some time in NSW cup so he can take bigger hits and get used to playing out wide again, won't be too much of a transition but I'd like to see how he goes when he has props that will lay a foundation.

Smith might be injury prone but he's still a first grade player, barely. I'd still give him a shot not to prove anything but to let our younger players develop a little bit more before making the transition to first grade.

 

[Casper The Ghost]

I agree I think Penguin will have a very good yea-He will be trying to get one more contract somewhere.
He looked good years ago but wasn't suited to a team that lacked mobile penetrating forwards.Tanginoa-Loko do offer that and potentially Edwards.With bigger wingers(not burt) offering go forward all of a sudden a guy like penguin can suit the side.Remember he hindy and Lowrie all formed a great backrow at one stage, and none could penetrate

Have you spoken to their misses about this???
Or are you into voyeurism?

 

[Pazza]

I don't think Sandow or Kelly are capable of handling half of the ball-playing duties and I don't want to see our fullback come in and be a ball-player any more, it's hindered our attack for far too long and the ways to combat this is to either: Move Hayne in the halves, but that has been shunned by Arthur stating that Hayne will play fullback so the only other option is to have a predominantly ball-playing forward on the field.

.

I don't understand this train of thought? Football is a personnel driven game and a good coach would build and Taylor game plans to suit the personnel we have. Hayne should be allowed to play what he sees and not limited to a certain role.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I don't understand this train of thought? Football is a personnel driven game and a good coach would build and Taylor game plans to suit the personnel we have. Hayne should be allowed to play what he sees and not limited to a certain role.

We'll lose a fullback for the third year in a row if Hayne is allowed to play wherever he wants. If he wants to play fullback then he shouldn't crowd the halves.

 

[Joely01]

We'll lose a fullback for the third year in a row if Hayne is allowed to play wherever he wants. If he wants to play fullback then he shouldn't crowd the halves.

I don't think he crowds the halves, I think it's more so been the fact not just the halves but everyone thinks s**t I've got nothing here, I'll give it to Jarryd to try and create some magic.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Pauli will only be 20 this year and has never played first grade. I'd be giving him some time in NSW cup so he can take bigger hits and get used to playing out wide again, won't be too much of a transition but I'd like to see how he goes when he has props that will lay a foundation.

You reckon Pauli will play on the edges? I don't see it. He'd want to improve his defence.

Smith might be injury prone but he's still a first grade player, barely. I'd still give him a shot not to prove anything but to let our younger players develop a little bit more before making the transition to first grade.

Smith would surely still be the best defensive second rower in our squad. This is of massive importance with Sandow outside him.

I reckon just leave Smith there until he gets injured. It can't be long.

 

[Eels Dude]

He'd be pretty weak off the bench. Doesn't make much impact on the field, 7m per carry average, I think it was 3-5 offloads all of last season. To me these stats don't impress me that much and unless he plays a trial game brilliantly, if he plays one at all, he should start in Wenty.

This is one thing I'm curious about as in the ESL that stats for forwards are way down compared to the NRL. I looked up his stats a while back and was surprised by the low number, but then when I looked at other top players in the ESL in comparison they were well above average. Slightly different rules may be a part of this, the way they record statistics almost certainly would be. I don't think the journalist who wrote that did his homework in this case.. It's only really relevant bringing up 7m per carry comparing him to the stats of other ESL players, as opposed to NRL players.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don't think he crowds the halves, I think it's more so been the fact not just the halves but everyone thinks s**t I've got nothing here, I'll give it to Jarryd to try and create some magic.

Agreed. Hayne hasn't crowded the halves since 2011. Also hasn't played much since then.

 

[phantom eel]

8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Junior Paulo
11. Smith
12. Loko , then kelepi / edwards
13. Lussick

14. Pritchard / jones/ Paulo
15. Mossop
16. Peni or allgood
17. Fui

We definitely have a few options but lets hope they perform.


Kelepi is very good and definitely didn't look out of place in his games last year, but don't want to rush him because he is still very young.

I think Kelepi was great in the games he played, and should be first choice. Loko is still more a damaging centre imo, not yet a first choice forward.

I still think Smith might not be first choice in my side, but understand if the coach picks him on experience for the early part of the year (or until he gets injured).

My stab in the dark for R1:
8. Mannah
9. Peats
10. Moimoi (getting older, may as well start him rather than save him for impact?)
11. Allgood (20 games last year, not a superstar but knows what to do)
12. Tanginoa (best talent I've seen in years, can't leave him out)
13. Terepo (17 games last year, good enough experience)

14. Joseph Paulo (comes on for lock or five eighth)
15. Lussick (comes into the prop rotation with impact)
16. Mossop (as above)
17. Gower (13 first grade games last year, comes into back row)
18. Jr Paulo (11 first grade games last year)

Smith (Wenty/depth)
Harrison (Wenty/depth)
Edwards (Wenty/depth)
Pauli (Wenty/development)
Santi (Wenty/development)
Lasalo (Wenty/depth)
Ma'afu (Wenty/depth)
Ma'u (Wenty/depth)