2019 Discussion

[franklin2323]

The upcoming trials should be interesting and give us a bit of a picture of what Ivan’s thinking is leading into the new season.

The Parra trial should be the one. Normally that trial is round 1's starting 13

 

[franklin2323]

Lets clean this thread up shall we?

Fangs' Round 1 Lineup:

1.Edwards
2.DWZ
3.Blake
4.Whare
5.Mansour
6.Maloney
7.Cleary

8.Grant
9.Katoa
10.Tamou

11.Kikau
12.Yeo
13.Fisher-Harris

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

Grant has the D along with Tamou. I'm betting Cleary starts them first.

RCG has played his best football from the bench. Yes he should start logically but after the second half of last year + his second broken jaw I have my doubts.

Sele has a name fans can get behind. Certainty off the bench.

Egan/Katoa will both be in the 17 knowing Ivan's fascination with hookers.

Who would be your bench edge backrower in that lineup?

I wouldn't run a 2nd hooker off the bench. Limits where they can play if injuries hit early

 

[franklin2323]

Edwards
DWZ
Blake
Whare
Mansour
Maloney (defending between Whare/Yeo)
Cleary
Grant/Leota
Egan
Tamou
Kikau
Yeo
Sele

RCG
JFH
Fuimoano
Luai

Like Fangs I think Sele will be good. I'd start him due to better defence. I think RCG and JFH 60 mins or so off the bench with better defenders early is the way to go.

I think Nathan could handle a stint at hooker mid game to get Luai some gametime

 

[Fangs]

Who would be your bench edge backrower in that lineup?

I wouldn't run a 2nd hooker off the bench. Limits where they can play if injuries hit early

Preferably I'd develop a guy like May to play there. Too good to play reserve grade but its not clear where he sits in this team.

Cleary is one of the best at getting fringe first graders playing at their potential. So Hetherington, Lui-Toso, Fuimaono etc could spring to life and take that bench spot in 2019. Cleary also demotes players when necessary so I expect whoever is in the 17 will offer value and won't be a passenger.

I think Ivan will play two hookers anyway. Later in the year only one hooker with Luai coming off the bench.

 

[franklin2323]

Preferably I'd develop a guy like May to play there. Too good to play reserve grade but its not clear where he sits in this team.

Cleary is one of the best at getting fringe first graders playing at their potential. So Hetherington, Lui-Toso, Fuimaono etc could spring to life and take that bench spot in 2019. Cleary also demotes players when necessary so I expect whoever is in the 17 will offer value and won't be a passenger.

I think Ivan will play two hookers anyway. Later in the year only one hooker with Luai coming off the bench.

Yeah May could develop into a Peachey type which will help the bench options. you usually write off the year after an ACL. So he should be at his best now. in the trials I hope we see him at centre and backrow etc.

I don't think either hooker can play the full 80 so we do both but on the flip side. Say we have 2 props and a hooker on the bench and a centre goes off with HIA. That is where bench balance probably won't let that happen

 

[Kilkenny]

I much prefer four forwards off the bench, one of whom can play into the outside backs if required and one who can fill in at dummy half in the last 10-15 if absolutely necessary. Tyrone May is probably the closest thing we have to the multi skilled utility who can fill a range of positions. I think Tyrone May needs to lock down a position in the 17 this coming season, if not, it may be in his best interests to pursue options elsewhere where he may have a better chance of playing more games.

 

[Kilkenny]

Nrl Supercoach 2019 Wacko's Whispers lists his top 3 rookies in each position. He mentions Billy Burns (Second Row) & Brian Too (Centre). Since they are outside the top 30, at this time, is it still the case they can only play NRL in the event of injury crisis and have permission from NRL.

 

[Big Mick]

1. Edwards
2. DWZ
3. Blake
4. Whare
5. Mansour
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Leota
9. Egan
10. RCG
11. Kikau
12. Yeo
13. JFH

14. Tamou
15. Hethrington/Ellis/Martin/Fuimoano/Grant - Whoever wins the spot in the trials
16. Sele
17. Luai/May/Katoa - Rotate based on match up and form

 

[mxlegend99]

So on a slightly different note. Who are people backing to cement themselves in our top 17? I have us with 13 established certainties:

1. Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Blake
4. Whare
5. DWZ
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Leota
9.
10. RCG
11. Kikau
12. Yeo
13. JFH

14. Tamou

Numbers/positions could change. But I see this as our 13 certainties.

Hooker could be either one of Egan or Katoa. The other could miss out entirely.

Utility could be one of Egan, Katoa, May, Luai etc. But again no certainty in any. Or even yhat we will opt to have a utility.

Then you have a number of guys with potential but who arent really established fighting for our bench. Anyone willing to back a guy who will be a top 17 certainty by seasons end? Chances are by mid-season we will have a set 17 or close to it. But who's the certainty to force their way in?

Im not confident in picking any to stand out. But i think the most likely to nail a jersey is Wayde Egan. He has a long way to go before he can consider the #9 his own. But it seems as though he is ahead of Katoa at the moment and I think Ivan has a pretty good record at getting the best out of spine players with great potential.

 

[franklin2323]

So on a slightly different note. Who are people backing to cement themselves in our top 17? I have us with 13 established certainties:

1. Edwards
2. Mansour
3. Blake
4. Whare
5. DWZ
6. Maloney
7. Cleary
8. Leota
9.
10. RCG
11. Kikau
12. Yeo
13. JFH

14. Tamou

Numbers/positions could change. But I see this as our 13 certainties.

Hooker could be either one of Egan or Katoa. The other could miss out entirely.

Utility could be one of Egan, Katoa, May, Luai etc. But again no certainty in any. Or even yhat we will opt to have a utility.

Then you have a number of guys with potential but who arent really established fighting for our bench. Anyone willing to back a guy who will be a top 17 certainty by seasons end? Chances are by mid-season we will have a set 17 or close to it. But who's the certainty to force their way in?

Im not confident in picking any to stand out. But i think the most likely to nail a jersey is Wayde Egan. He has a long way to go before he can consider the #9 his own. But it seems as though he is ahead of Katoa at the moment and I think Ivan has a pretty good record at getting the best out of spine players with great potential.

The only certainties I see in positions is the backline, halves and backrow. JFH and RCG will be in the 17 just might not start or JFH might not be lock

 

[betcats]

I’m pretty confident I know who the halves, edge backrower s and centres will be. That’s it.

 

[franklin2323]

I’m pretty confident I know who the halves, edge backrower s and centres will be. That’s it.

Our back 3 will be DWZ, Mansour and Edwards it is just which one is the FB

 

[Luke Bowden]

Our back 3 will be DWZ, Mansour and Edwards it is just which one is the FB

Edwards will be. He’s better, been dominating at training and DWZ is now recovering from an injury. Lock it in.

 

[MrBlack]

It's always going to be Edwards.

But - he is coming back form a long term injury so DWZ is a very handy option if Edwards is struggling.

All this talk about DWZ being the NZ fullback is also not really right. He was only there because RTS was missing. Once RTS is back it's back to the NZ wing for DWZ.

 

[franklin2323]

Edwards will be. He’s better, been dominating at training and DWZ is now recovering from an injury. Lock it in.

and what if we get a month in and Edwards gets even a minor injury and DWZ carves up in his place? Edwards hasn't done enough to be guaranteed to FB regardless yet. He is in our best backline

 

[franklin2323]

It's always going to be Edwards.

But - he is coming back form a long term injury so DWZ is a very handy option if Edwards is struggling.

All this talk about DWZ being the NZ fullback is also not really right. He was only there because RTS was missing. Once RTS is back it's back to the NZ wing for DWZ.

Our sets are always better when Mansour and DWZ are starting them off. There is no team better then us at getting out of own area

 

[Luke Bowden]

and what if we get a month in and Edwards gets even a minor injury and DWZ carves up in his place? Edwards hasn't done enough to be guaranteed to FB regardless yet. He is in our best backline

He’s not in our best back line on the wing!
MWZ is a better winger.

 

[Crashtest]

Nrl Supercoach 2019 Wacko's Whispers lists his top 3 rookies in each position. He mentions Billy Burns (Second Row) & Brian Too (Centre). Since they are outside the top 30, at this time, is it still the case they can only play NRL in the event of injury crisis and have permission from NRL.

Under new rules in 2019, development players can be selected in the NRL following the June 30 player movement deadline.

So there are no restrictions on them being able to play first grade after June 30. Which is much better than the development player rules last year, where they could only play in extraordinary circumstances such as an injury crisis to a specific position within the top 30.

 

[Crashtest]

He’s not in our best back line on the wing!
MWZ is a better winger.

Even though he doesn't have much experience on the wing, I can't see Cleary selecting MWZ over Edwards for the wing spot, if he decides on DWZ at fullback.

Edwards first grade debut was on the wing and he went fine.

 

[Crashtest]

I think RCG and JFH 60 mins or so off the bench with better defenders early is the way to go.

I think Nathan could handle a stint at hooker mid game to get Luai some gametime

RCG when fit, is our best front rower. So if his head space is now fine after his 2 broken jaws, he needs to be a starter.

We need to get off to better starts in games this season, and that comes from dominating opposition forwards in the middle. So we need our best forwards starting, or the games could be essentially over by the time he comes on the field after 20 minutes.

Re Nathan spending some time at hooker, I can't see under any circumstances Ivan risking his son by getting him to defend in the middle as a hooker.