2019 Discussion

[The Rosco]

Ivan had 4 captains last year, eventually it became clear Lawrence was the captain, and now he has 6. It worked for the Roosters I suppose but I don't like it. One player has to be named captain so the ref knows who can query the calls. We don't know who it is yet.

I wouldn't be trusting ANYTHING Ivan says, infers, speculates, leans towards, suggests or hints at.
Just sayin . . .

 

[Blues Riff]

All last season he was inferring, speculating, leaning towards, suggesting and hinting at coaching Nathan.

 

[franklin2323]

Ivan had 4 captains last year, eventually it became clear Lawrence was the captain, and now he has 6. It worked for the Roosters I suppose but I don't like it. One player has to be named captain so the ref knows who can query the calls. We don't know who it is yet.

Look at the time the launch was. The rest of the captains have kids so prob chose the single one

 

[franklin2323]

Really not a fan of both Egan and Katoa in the team. Surely we could have Luai working on playing a bit of hooker to be our utility.

He could cover the whole spine as a straight up replacement for injury. Or simply inject some energy from the bench. I think he could be perfect since we no longer have a utility available to cover the pack like Tyrone May could have.

Im not sure who should get the 9 out of Katoa and Egan. I think both are average at the moment and its hard to predict if one or both will have a breakout season. So i will be fine with whoever Ivan chooses. My issue with either on the bench is its really only to cover one position that neither has put their hand up for and made their own. While Luai is simply unlucky he has the Origin halves ahead of him.

Problem is with that. Luai needs to spend sometime in the halves before Maloney goes. Egan needs to play hooker too. Every few games I'd rotate them give them games in NSW Cup then 20-30 mins they will be getting off the bench

 

[unKwn]

Really not a fan of both Egan and Katoa in the team. Surely we could have Luai working on playing a bit of hooker to be our utility.

He could cover the whole spine as a straight up replacement for injury. Or simply inject some energy from the bench. I think he could be perfect since we no longer have a utility available to cover the pack like Tyrone May could have.

Im not sure who should get the 9 out of Katoa and Egan. I think both are average at the moment and its hard to predict if one or both will have a breakout season. So i will be fine with whoever Ivan chooses. My issue with either on the bench is its really only to cover one position that neither has put their hand up for and made their own. While Luai is simply unlucky he has the Origin halves ahead of him.

yea I'm not a fan of the 2 hookers idea too

 

[billypilgrimnz]

Bad news guys. Last night I dreamt we lost the opening game 8-7 to a last minute penalty.

On the positive side, it was against Souths, so it is probably not a premonition.

 

[kinghippo]

Problem is with that. Luai needs to spend sometime in the halves before Maloney goes. Egan needs to play hooker too. Every few games I'd rotate them give them games in NSW Cup then 20-30 mins they will be getting off the bench

That’s a good idea.
A rotation system could really help fast track a few players.
Rotate Egan and katoa, maybe hethrington and sele, Ellis and Martin, keep the door open for people to prove they can earn a position.
Maloney should be rested every now and again to give luai a full first grade game, especially before origin.
He was shattered last year and could really have used a break, I think it would probably help Clearys development too.
Of course rotations mess with defence and attack a lot so it would only probably work early in the season or if we get off to a good start.

 

[Panfa]

Isaah yeo was at the season launch so does that mean hes the official captain this yr .Watching the parra trial it was obvious that jerome luai is too good to be left out.If things aren't going too well at the start of the yr id shift maloney to hooker and start jerome alongside cleary.Both katoa and egan at times look very slow around the ruck defensively i prefer katoa offensively i prefer egan they both lack something for mine

 

[franklin2323]

That’s a good idea.
A rotation system could really help fast track a few players.
Rotate Egan and katoa, maybe hethrington and sele, Ellis and Martin, keep the door open for people to prove they can earn a position.
Maloney should be rested every now and again to give luai a full first grade game, especially before origin.
He was shattered last year and could really have used a break, I think it would probably help Clearys development too.
Of course rotations mess with defence and attack a lot so it would only probably work early in the season or if we get off to a good start.

You'd hope at some stage a top 17 will pick itself. Until then you can play around with bench

 

[GongPanther]

Really not a fan of both Egan and Katoa in the team. Surely we could have Luai working on playing a bit of hooker to be our utility.

He could cover the whole spine as a straight up replacement for injury. Or simply inject some energy from the bench. I think he could be perfect since we no longer have a utility available to cover the pack like Tyrone May could have.

Im not sure who should get the 9 out of Katoa and Egan. I think both are average at the moment and its hard to predict if one or both will have a breakout season. So i will be fine with whoever Ivan chooses. My issue with either on the bench is its really only to cover one position that neither has put their hand up for and made their own. While Luai is simply unlucky he has the Origin halves ahead of him.

They'll pull a fast one on game day and name Luai. Ridiculous to have Egan on there as a utility.

 

[PenrithPanther45]

Egan would only be on the bench so that Katoa can then possibly shift to lock and give one of our forwards a spell I'd assume.

 

[unKwn]

Bad news guys. Last night I dreamt we lost the opening game 8-7 to a last minute penalty.

On the positive side, it was against Souths, so it is probably not a premonition.

lol same. except we got smashed by Parramatta.

 

[mxlegend99]

Egan would only be on the bench so that Katoa can then possibly shift to lock and give one of our forwards a spell I'd assume.

We forced him to lose weight to become an 80 minute hooker. He was already pretty small for playing in the pack. Im sure he will end up doing that. But really not a fan of that move.

Going for an 80 minute hooker was the right move. I hope we stick to it. Regardless of which hooker we go for.

Luai / May offer more utility value. Luai I think would bringe energy as Peachey did from the bench. While May simply plays as a forward unless needed elsewhere. Neither feels like a waste of a bench spot.

 

[franklin2323]

They'll pull a fast one on game day and name Luai. Ridiculous to have Egan on there as a utility.

Egan played halfback in both trials. Hopefully that is a sign they are training in other positions too. Katoa can cover back row and lock. Just need 1 to able to cover centre. That way we aren't just picking a benchy to possibly play centre if needed

 

[franklin2323]

We forced him to lose weight to become an 80 minute hooker. He was already pretty small for playing in the pack. Im sure he will end up doing that. But really not a fan of that move.

Going for an 80 minute hooker was the right move. I hope we stick to it. Regardless of which hooker we go for.

Luai / May offer more utility value. Luai I think would bringe energy as Peachey did from the bench. While May simply plays as a forward unless needed elsewhere. Neither feels like a waste of a bench spot.

The only it works for me is Luai to FB and move Edwards if we get an injury out wide. I see us needing 2 to cover what Peachey brought

 

[mxlegend99]

The only it works for me is Luai to FB and move Edwards if we get an injury out wide. I see us needing 2 to cover what Peachey brought

If Luai is on bench his ideal role would be yo inject energy if we have no injuries. If we get injuries though:

Fb injury - straight swap
Halves - straight swap
Hooker - straight swap

Centre - Yeo, Jed or Tyrell move. In that order.
Winger - That centre inside him moves to wing. One of the above moves to centre.

We're better covered for injuries with Luai than if we had Egan. If no injuries we just use Luai to inject energy. Not necessarily at hooker dither.

We could even manage Maloney and Cleary through the season giving them the occassional rest outside of also having him replace the hooker. I think Luai proved he should be there ahead of both Katoa and Egan in limited opportunities last year.

 

[martielang]

Not sure the big deal with having a hooker on the bench. No set rule saying you have to have an 80min Hooker. Katoa made errors when he got tired so why wouldn’t you cover that? Both are different players too, bring some unpredictability at the back end of the half.

Yeo can cover backs, Katoa into the forwards.

 

[Matthew Ellis]

Penrith forward Jack Hetherington wants to spend more time on the field in 2019 but knows the only way he can do that is to avoid the NRL judiciary.

Hetherington, 22, is well aware his reputation precedes him in the NRL.

In just 13 NRL games he has been suspended three times, and has copped six charges across under-20s, NSW Cup and first grade in the past three years.

"Every interview people bring it up," Hetherington told AAP.

"Everyone says I'm a fiery character on the field. But that's alright, it's my fault. I can't really blame anyone else but myself."

Hetherington has spoken to new coach Ivan Cleary and his assistants about how to curb the problem but reasons there's little he can do with his game, putting most of the suspensions down to carry-over points.

"To be honest the things I got suspended for, a regular player I don't think would get suspended because I had a lot of carry-over points from my second year in (under) 20s," Hetherington said.

"It was a silly lift I did and the opposing player landed on his head and it was pretty bad. It wasn't intentional, but I got a lot of carry-over points.

"That's the only way I know how to play, going out and playing 100 miles an hour."

Hetherington's hard-man style has even seen him compared to the likes of Mark Geyer at the Panthers by some on social media.

"I'd like to think more for his playing ability," Hetherington said.

"It's an honour to be compared to such a great player. Aggression-wise, the game needs it. I just go out there and play 100 per cent."

He could be asked to start for the first time in his career against Parramatta next Sunday, with Viliame Kikau injured and Trent Merrin departing the club.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/hetherington-balances-style-and-suspension

 

[franklin2323]

Not sure the big deal with having a hooker on the bench. No set rule saying you have to have an 80min Hooker. Katoa made errors when he got tired so why wouldn’t you cover that? Both are different players too, bring some unpredictability at the back end of the half.

Yeo can cover backs, Katoa into the forwards.

The issue is stupidly there is only 4 bench players even for HIA (should be able to have emergency guys for such things) . We already are short a backrower or 2 in our squad. Look at the this week trying to find Kikau's replacement.

To have to move Yeo too is going to make the backrow weak. So to get someone that can play hooker and a few other positions is best.

 

[Panfa]

Hetherington is fit strong and a good defender he justs needs to control his aggression hes a bit of a loose cannon at times sails close to the wind.