2014 Team

[pantherpuddy]

I think Moss and probably Moylan are behind Kevin Naiqama. IMO he's our first choice fullback for 2014.

Yeah I guess I was thinking of kevin as a winger but I would like to see get a few games at fullback too. If Moylan was struggling give moss a crack at fullback and u can still have naiqama in the team on the wing which would be a pretty dynamic backline. If naiqama doesn't start round 1 in first grade I reckon it wont take him long to force his way into the backline so the pressure will be on whichever backline in round 1. I also think by the end of the season moss will leap frogged Moylan.
Its exciting times for us panther fans when u start thinking of all the possible combinations

 

[pantherpuddy]

Moss
Jennings
Roberts
Foster
RCG
Ross

Blake, DWZ etc still eligible for NYC

Iain Riccardi is another too I think

 

[maple_69]

Yeah I guess I was thinking of kevin as a winger but I would like to see get a few games at fullback too. If Moylan was struggling give moss a crack at fullback and u can still have naiqama in the team on the wing which would be a pretty dynamic backline. If naiqama doesn't start round 1 in first grade I reckon it wont take him long to force his way into the backline so the pressure will be on whichever backline in round 1. I also think by the end of the season moss will leap frogged Moylan.
Its exciting times for us panther fans when u start thinking of all the possible combinations

I like Moylan and he deserves first crack. Imagine trying to cobtain this backline though.

Naiqama
Nabuli
Idris
Whare
Roberts

 

[mxlegend99]

The thing I love about the backline is that Idris and Whare will create so many chances for those wingers, who will easily have the pace to make the most of the opportunities.

The defence will certainly be in two minds... do the wingers stay on Roberts/Nabouli and allow Whare and Idris to carve up their opposing numbers one on one... either through footwork or pure strength. Or do the wingers come in to try helping mark these guys, and allow two of the fastest wingers in the competition to be unmarked?

I just hope we can get that backline on the field for the majority of the season and have them firing for the finals. If they're all firing, Wallace and Soward would have to intentionally kicking balls out on the full, or throwing them over the sidelines Jarryd Hayne style not to get a heap of try assists to their name. That backline could turn shit kicks into gold, and those centres could still carve up with shit passes and little space. We finally have centres who don't really need a heap of space to be elusive, Idris just overpowers his opposite number and creates his own space. Whare doesn't look overly fancy, but is very elusive and in tight space can manage to draw guys in.

All we need now is for some magic to happen like it did in 2003, and for everyone of our guys to hit peak form at the same time.

 

[Panther Pete]

I think Moss and probably Moylan are behind Kevin Naiqama. IMO he's our first choice fullback for 2014.

Definitely agree with you there. From what I've seen of Naiqama and in particular in last years semis he has more to offer than Moylan who I think is just not fast enough for a fullback.

 

[MaxPower]

Naiqama and Peachey are very talented footballers who have spent plenty of time in reserve grade honing their skills. They will explode onto the scene in 2014.

 

[umina panther]

And both would of been told you're playing first grade if you sign with us imo

 

[MaxPower]

I have no doubt they will both start the season in the top grade, barring injuries.

 

[franklin2323]

Iain Riccardi is another too I think

He's been training with Windsor though. Technically with us still I guess

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Personally, I would rather play Robinson in the back row than Brown. In fact, I would prefer Brown slowly gets phased out of the first 17, as I don't rate him all that highly.

I'm also surprised that so many here seem to think Taylor is going to provide attacking spark in the pack. From seeing a great number of Warriors games (I'm a Kiwi long-time Panthers fan), that's not really his thing. He'll tackle and try the odd stupid no-look pass, but he's not going to carve up the opposition. And the less said about the suggestions he could cover at hooker, the better. There's a reason why many Warriors fans aren't all that bothered he left.

Based on my own personal bias and allowing for the injuries we currently have, here's the team I would like to see at the start of the season:

1. Moylan (too slow ultimately, but deserves his shot there to begin with)
2. K. Naiqama
3. Idris
4. Whare
5. Simmons (if only to see if he can continue his try scoring form)
6. Soward
7. Wallace (don't rate him, but we bought him, and we need to see whether he has magically found an extra spark in another environment)
8. Kite (either he starts, or he's not in the side, I reckon)
9. Segeyaro
10. Grant
11. Taylor
12. Robinson
13. Docker

14. Peachey (he could start in the back row, with Taylor at lock and Docker on the bench, but I think he is better off the bench at the moment)
15. Plum
16. McKendry
17. Brown


Then, in a perfect world, near the end of the season, it would be cool to see this side lining up:

1. Moss
2. K. Naiqama
3. Idris
4. Whare
5. Roberts (never a centre, because his hands are crap)
6. Soward
7. Wallace/John/Moylan (whoever is traveling better)
8. Kite
9. Segeyaro
10. Grant
11. Manu
12. Robinson
13. Taylor

14. Peachey
15. Plum
16. McKendry
17. Cartwright

I would be very surprised if we got into the Top 4 with this side - we would need a pretty much perfect season between the ears (i.e. no stupid penalties, no dropped ball in our own half etc). Ultimately, I still have a question over Cleary's attacking credentials (with the Warriors, he never produced all that many great team plays, relying on either individual brilliance or bombs to Vatuvei) and we are relying a lot on Soward turning up. Ultimately, our best chance of long-term success is holding onto the young players and hoping they reach their potential, and this season is a bit early, I think.

 

[mxlegend99]

Looking forward to the 9s and the final trial. I'll be able to attend it, so coming up with an ideal team will be much easier. Be interesting to see how much that changes peoples opinions from before we had seen some of our new recruits. Could Kevin Naiqama play himself out of peoples teams? Hope not, but his first trial wasn't very good apparently. So time will tell

 

[Panther_Brendo]

Yeah hopefully it doesn't dampen Kevin Naiqaima's confidence. Sounds like Moylans ahead after last night, but with still the Nines and the Newtown trial to come the race is on. Nabuli had a good game by the sounds of it so Mansour and Kev will have to play well or risk having that left-wing spot taken by the flying Fijian cone round 1. I think Simmons right wing spot is safe at the minute,but I think when Roberts comes back (If he hits form) he could take Simmo's spot.

Roberts has played on the right for the majority of his career and seems to play a lot better when on that side (His lines and step suit the right hand side as well)

 

[franklin2323]

Yeah Moylan looked bigger & was good in defence. Looked dangerous everytime he had the ball.

Nabuli full game on the left wing mistake free got a decent working over. Kev had a shocker no other way to put it but it was only 1 game.

Mansour & Simmons would of scored the try he bombed. Also would of caught the grubber that was dropped for their 2nd try.

I thought Anderson was our best forward followed by VTK. Peachey did nothing to suggest he wouldn't be our bench backrower. Robinson getting injured didn't help his cause.

 

[billypilgrimnz]

I feel sorry for Robinson. I really rate him, but he seems plagued by injuries, meaning he can never get a good long run in the side, not helped by the stack of players we have who can play in the back row.

 

[mxlegend99]

I read that as Roberts and sadly it was equally as accurate to describe his career. Hopefully they can put injuries behind them and still have long first grade careers. Its never easy to do, but you look at guys like Benji, Prince , SBW etc. and they had long and great careers after starting out with injuries that looked likely to cut their careers short.

 

[Kilkenny]

This season can still be the making of James Roberts. Again was said to be looking great in the preseason prior to his injury. Hope he get's back to full fitness and put's pressure on for a position in the top grade. He possesses amazing speed which only few possess.

 

[Kilkenny]

Little under a month out from the season kick off and like the rest of us I can't wait. Always optimistic at the start of a new season but we have so much to look forward to if we can just have a little bit of luck on the injury front. Even though we have built up our depth enormously you still have to worry about the halves combination. Wallace and Soward have to stay fit and healthy for most if not all of this season. We have the depth to cover in most other positions but not in the halves.

Everyone is picking Moylan to start the season in the number 1. I am a huge fan of Keiran Moss. Like Moylan he is small in stature but is genuinely quick and offers so much in attack. I don't know how he has been going in preseason training with the first grade squad but I just think he would offer so much more than Moylan with his try scoring potential. He's my pick for the fullback position.

 

[franklin2323]

I rate Moss very highly manages to pop up in support. Rarely makes an error lighting speed.

The issue with him & a few of the younger guys is they can't get a month of footy under their belts without being injured (again on wkd 3 tries 2 assists then goes down). If he does that he will push Moylan this year.

Leaves Moylan to imo go to NSW Cup as a half go from there. The hope is Wallace/Soward do a job until Scarlett's ready (He looks quality) if they fail Moylan could be an option.

 

[Kilkenny]

I rate Moss very highly manages to pop up in support. Rarely makes an error lighting speed.

The issue with him & a few of the younger guys is they can't get a month of footy under their belts without being injured (again on wkd 3 tries 2 assists then goes down). If he does that he will push Moylan this year.

Leaves Moylan to imo go to NSW Cup as a half go from there. The hope is Wallace/Soward do a job until Scarlett's ready (He looks quality) if they fail Moylan could be an option.

Sheer speed worries the like out of opposition defences. That is why I think there is a case for the likes of Moss/Nabuli/Nagaima as the 1,2 & 5 with DWZ and Roberts when fit and ready waiting for there opportunity. Moss has that Billy Slater touch of genius about him lurking behind the line ready to explode into the back line on the back of go forward or a half break. Give him an inch and he will be through the gap and into open space. At the same time he is sound in positioning and can defend reasonably even given his small stature. Like all of us if is pure guess work given we are not at the daily training sessions and seeing first hand what each individual is doing.

 

[umina panther]

Kev showed nothing in the nines. Mansour has been great and will be on the wing round 1