2019 Discussion

[OldPanther]

Did he have an off season op?

I don't know. I haven't heard either way.

well the Australian Cricket team is not offering anything to follow over the summer....

I've forgotten all about them this year.

 

[age.s]

I've forgotten all about them this year.

I think most of us have.

They should be less concerned about their image and more concerned about playing good cricket.

 

[Crashtest]

same with the make up of our bench and I am sure someone we think is safe won't be...Always the case with new coaches

So what are the predictions for who Ivan will pick for the bench spots for Round 1?
I think Hetherington and Leota are the only certainties.

Then for the bench utility probably either May or Egan (or Katoa if Egan is the starting hooker)

Which then leaves Ellis, Fuimaono, Martin & Hame Sele fighting for the 4th spot.

I just hope we don't have a bench utility plus a 2nd hooker on the bench, as we will be lose impact if we carry both May and Egan/Katoa on the bench.

Grant will only get picked by Cleary if there are injuries, so I think no chance for round 1.

 

[Panther Mick]

One thing I noticed with Ivan this year at the Tigers he likes to rotate his players.

 

[betcats]

I think Luai could be a shot for the bench.

 

[MrBlack]

I think Luai could be a shot for the bench.

I like that idea. Would make a good impact player

 

[franklin2323]

I think Luai could be a shot for the bench.

That's what I think. May as a running forward

 

[franklin2323]

So what are the predictions for who Ivan will pick for the bench spots for Round 1?
I think Hetherington and Leota are the only certainties.

Then for the bench utility probably either May or Egan (or Katoa if Egan is the starting hooker)

Which then leaves Ellis, Fuimaono, Martin & Hame Sele fighting for the 4th spot.

I just hope we don't have a bench utility plus a 2nd hooker on the bench, as we will be lose impact if we carry both May and Egan/Katoa on the bench.

Grant will only get picked by Cleary if there are injuries, so I think no chance for round 1.

My pack would be:

JFH
Egan
Tamou
Kikau
Fuimaono
Yeo

RCG
Leota
Sele
May

I don't think we can carry a half/hooker on the bench.

Ivan likes good defence and a smaller pack. I think that is why guys like Martin, Leota and Sele will have good years

 

[franklin2323]

I like that idea. Would make a good impact player

The only thing with that is do we need him playing halves to get better or just up to speed in FG?

 

[Crashtest]

That's what I think. May as a running forward

Would love to see Luai come on around tired defenders. But I think having May & Luai would leave us to light on the bench. As May can cover hooker (although not overly well), might get him preference over Luai.

Could Luai spend time at hooker? Looks to have to light a frame, unless they bulk him up in preseason.

 

[Crashtest]

My pack would be:

JFH
Egan
Tamou
Kikau
Fuimaono
Yeo

RCG
Leota
Sele
May

I don't think we can carry a half/hooker on the bench.

Ivan likes good defence and a smaller pack. I think that is why guys like Martin, Leota and Sele will have good years

That team would certainly give us a mobile pack. But I'm really interested to see if Cleary will change up the team to fit his mobile pack style, or whether he will actually change his style to match the squad of players he has available at the Panthers.

I guess the round 1 team selections will give us an idea of which style of play he has chosen. Personally, I would prefer to see a large aggressive pack.

 

[Kilkenny]

Plenty of competition for spots in the 17 even allowing for the fact a number of the young guns haven’t debuted yet.

Coach Cleary should have no pre conceived ideas and just pick his Round 1 side not on reputation but who has done the work in the off season.

 

[franklin2323]

That team would certainly give us a mobile pack. But I'm really interested to see if Cleary will change up the team to fit his mobile pack style, or whether he will actually change his style to match the squad of players he has available at the Panthers.

I guess the round 1 team selections will give us an idea of which style of play he has chosen. Personally, I would prefer to see a large aggressive pack.

I can't think of too many big guys we have. Nor can I remember back to Ivan ever having a big pack more good defensive pack

 

[franklin2323]

Would love to see Luai come on around tired defenders. But I think having May & Luai would leave us to light on the bench. As May can cover hooker (although not overly well), might get him preference over Luai.

Could Luai spend time at hooker? Looks to have to light a frame, unless they bulk him up in preseason.

Adam Docker and Taylor both played plenty of footy in the pack under Ivan so May's size won't be an issue if he can handle the role. Personally we need Luai in FG somewhere to get up to speed before taking over the 6

 

[Kilkenny]

I can't think of too many big guys we have. Nor can I remember back to Ivan ever having a big pack more good defensive pack

According to the Panthers website Kikau 119kg, Tamou & RCG 115kg, McKendry 111kg and all others 110kg or less. Very mobile forwards across the board while not necessarily having the biggest pack. Our forward depth is very good and we shouldn’t fail in 2019 through lack of talent/depth in the forwards.

 

[betcats]

I can't think of too many big guys we have. Nor can I remember back to Ivan ever having a big pack more good defensive pack

Yeah I think he just likes hardworking and mobile forwards, especially defensively.

 

[martielang]

I think we need to have a specialist hooker on the bench regardless of our starting hooker. I think we got found out last year when Katoa was having an off game & we replaced him with May, who is a decent footballer but a poor hooker, who while trying hard was just as poor in decision making but with slower service.

I think i'd go;

8. Tamou 9. Katoa 10. JFH 11. Yeo 12. Kikau 13. Sele

14. Egan 15. RCG 16. Leota 17. Hetherington

But i'll probably change my opinon tomorrow.

 

[OldPanther]

The only thing with that is do we need him playing halves to get better or just up to speed in FG?

A little from column A and a little from column B.

 

[franklin2323]

A little from column A and a little from column B.

That is how I'd play it. Needs the odd game in NSW Cup but the bench won't hurt either

 

[Crashtest]

I can't think of too many big guys we have. Nor can I remember back to Ivan ever having a big pack more good defensive pack

I think if our starting pack is RCG, Tamou, Kikau, Yeo & JFH, then its a big starting pack. The smallest player would be JFH at 187 cm and 103 kg. The rest are 193 cm, 195, 195 and 195.

Then if we can rotate them with 2 or 3 on the bench from either Hetherington, Leota, Ellis, Lui-Toso, and Grant, we can keep a large pack on the field. Or even 2 of them, and either Fuimaono, Martin & Sele to round out the bench, it is still a decent size bench. That's why i hope we have three genuine forwards on the bench and only one spot for a utility/hooker/half.